If the majestic beauty of the Judean desert speaks to your soul,
If passing camels and sheep on your way to work makes you smile,
If you like living in a small, peaceful community, 15 min. from Jerusalem,
If you want to be part of the pioneering effort to build up Eretz Yisrael - then Mitzpeh Yericho is for you!
Location and Climate
20 km east of Jerusalem, on the highway leading down to the Dead Sea. It is about a 20 minute drive to the outskirts of Jerusalem, and 15 minutes to Maaleh Adumim , the nearest city. The yishuv boasts breathtaking views of the desert, and overlooks the town of Jericho and the Dead Sea (both about 10 minutes away).
Population
There are over 450 families living in Mitzpeh Yericho. Most live in regular houses, while the rest live in temporary housing (mobile homes and "eshkubiot"). All families are expected to follow a religious lifestyle. One of the conditions for acceptance to the Yishuv is for women to cover their hair.
The residents are engaged in a wide range of occupations: doctors and kollel students, programmers and teachers, businessmen and social workers. About 10% of the population are English speakers.
Education and Youth Activities
On the yishuv there are day-care centers, pre-K and kindergarten programs. For small children until grade 2, there is also an Activity Center run in the afternoons.
The yishuv has a religious elementary school for grades 1 to 6. All classes are separate for boys and girls. The school moved into its new building in 2004. There are English classes for native English speaking students, organized by veteran English teacher Gaila. For students in grades 1-4, there exists a Moadanit, which provides various educational programming after school hours. And for students from third grade up, there are activities organized by the Ezra and Ariel youth movements.
Most junior high and high school students travel to Maaleh Adumim (15 min.) or Jerusalem. Some boys study in Netivot Yosef, Rav Sabato's yeshiva high school and post high school, located in Mitzpeh Yericho itself.
The Benjamin Area JCC (Matnas) provides many afternoon and evening clubs, such as ballet, judo, drums, etc. There are also privately run clubs (chugim) and lessons for arts & crafts, musical instruments, sewing, etc. Rabbi Bargil runs a very successful afternoon Talmud Torah for 200 children, grades 1 to 6, with classes in Torah, Mishna, Gemara, and Halacha.
Employment
The majority are employed in Jerusalem.
About 20% of the residents are employed locally on the yishuv: in the local school, the Netivot Yosef yeshiva, the Nof Hayarden hall, and in the small industrial park adjacent to the yishuv, where there is an electronics factory, a desert-cooler factory, and the "Young Scientist" company which manufactures and markets educational kits around the world.
There are also two local tourist endeavors, one with bike-trips and the other with jeep tours. The elegant Nof HaYarden restaurant/hall boasts a spectacular view of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. There is also a studio featuring the works of local stain-glass artisans.
Some residents work in the Mishor Adumim industrial park (10 minutes away) and in Maaleh Adumim.
Religious Services
The central synagogue is located in the heart of the yishuv, and is blessed with several minyanim each day. The Sephardic congregation just moved into their new, beautiful synagogue. The Yemenites also have their own synagogue. On Shabbat and Yom Tov, several additional minyanim function, including a shtieble, and a Carlebach "happy minyan".
Torah studies: The Sephardic minyan organizes a "Friday Kollel" for all residents. The chief rabbi of Mitzpeh Yericho, Rabbi Yehuda Kroizer, gives Torah classes each evening in the central synagogue.
The yishuv boasts two mikvehs - one for women, and one for men.
To help with simchas and difficult times, there is a very active Chesed committee. There is a Gemach which lends out chairs, tables, plates and cutlery. There is also a Gemach for baby accessories, and a third Gemach for clothing and Purim costumes.
General and Health Services
We just opened on 2020 a new community swimming pool.
There is a local grocery and a small store nearby. The local library rotates books with the Benjamin area libraries, and has a small English children's section.
The Yishuv has clinics the Klalit and Me'uchedet health providers. Members of the Maccabi health provider use the Maccabi clinic in Maaleh Adumim. In addition, several doctors, dentists, and nurses live locally. The yishuv has its own ambulance. The nearest hospital, Hadassah Medical Center (Mt. Scopus), is 15-20 minutes away.
The yishuv has regular bus service through Egged.
Nearby nature reserves include:
Wadi Kelt, including the St. George Monastery, established in 1,600 years ago on a cliff inside the wadi (5 minute drive);
the springs of Ein Fawwar (5 min.);
the pools of Ein Fashcha off the Dead Sea(20 min.);
the Qumran Caves, home of the famous Dead Sea scrolls (15 min.);
Ein Gedi (40 min.).
Future Plans
The municipal plan for Mitzpeh Yericho calls for 1,200 housing units.
For further information about Mitzpeh Yericho:
Yeshaya Moskowitz
Us Number 516-302-7333
Email [email protected]