About Kiryat Arba back to top^
The Hebrew name קרית ארבע means “Town of the Four Giants”, and is home to the four couples in the cave of Machpela. Biblically, it is generally regarded as another name for Hebron.

Kiryat Arba is made up of four neighborhoods, not including the Jewish community in Hebron proper. The central and largest is in the Kiryah, and is made up mostly of older apartment buildings. North of it lies the small neighborhood Ashmoret Yitzhak and the larger Ramat Mamre (also called Harsina), which consists of newer houses and duplexes. The last is Givat Avot, located at the entrance to Hebron. Surrounded by Arab buildings, it sits next to the Israel Police Station for Hebron, the Jabra. Kiryat Arba is located just 30 minutes south of Jerusalem by car, 40 minutes from the Central Bus Station and 60 minutes north of Be’er Sheba.

Recent History

In 1968, a group of future Gush Emunim members led  by Rabbi Moshe Levinger and a group

of future Gush Emunim members led by Rabbi Moshe Levinger and Rabbi Eliezer Waldman founded Kiryat Arba immediately to the east of Hebron. Settlements around Hebron like this are claimed to be justified also in the light of the 1929 Hebron massacre and the continuing presence of the Jews in the area until then. Building began on the abandoned military base in 1970, and the residents moved into the base in 1971. The township is a self-sufficient community, with pre-nursery through post-secondary educational institutions, medical facilities, shopping centers, a bank and a post office. Kiryat Arba obtained local council status in 1979. The population of Kiryat Arba in December 2006 was  approximately 7000, with an additional 2700 Israelis living in a number of smaller surrounding settlements, including immigrants from the CIS and a community of Bnei Menashe from Manipur and Mizoram. While Kiryat Arba is located within the territory of the Har Hebron Regional Council, it is an independent local council. Beit HaShalom, was established in 2007.

The Chief Rabbi of the town is Rabbi Dov Lior, who also serves as the Rosh Yeshiva of the local “Nir Yeshiva”.

Origin of the Name of Kiryat Arba

In the book of Joshua (14:15) it says: “Now the name of Hebron previously was Kiryat Arba, He [Arba] was a great man among the giants [Anakim]….” According to the Rabinnical commentator Rashi, Kiryat Arba (“Town of Arba”) means either the town (Kiryah) of Arba itself, the giant who had three sons, or it is referring to the four giants: Arba and his three sons, Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmi who were described as being the sons of a “giant” in Numbers 13:22: “On the way through the Negev, they (Joshua and Caleb) came to Hebron where [they say] Ahiman, Sheishai and Talmi, descendants of the Giant (ha-anak)…” which according to the Targum and Saadia Gaon but some say that Anak (Giant) is the proper name (Targum Jonathan and Septuagint) and that he, Anak, may have been the father of the three others mentioned in the Book of Numbers as living in Hebron, which the Book of Joshua says was previously called  Kiryat Arba.

Residents  back to top^
 

Education back to top^
Kiryat Arba has a very vibrant education system, including: 2 day-care centers (Ages 0-3),  18 kindergartens (8-Ages 3-5,10-Ages 5-6), 6 elementary schools (5 Mamlachti, 1 Dati), 2 junior high schools, 2 high schools (Yeshiva Techini and the Girls Ulpana have both junior high and high school), one hesder yeshiva in "Yeshivat Nir-Kiryat Arba. 

Education provided outside of Kiryat Arba includes: special education, public education systems, Charedi education, post high education with boarding facilities.

Housing back to top^
 

Transportation back to top^
Kiryat Arba is located just 30 minutes by car from Jerusalem and 40 minutes from the Central Bus Station.

Public transportation: Buses 160 (Jerusalem - Kiryat Arba and 440 (Jerusalem - Kiryat Arba - Be'er Sheba). The 160 bus times vary from every 15 minutes during peek times to every 45 minutes. Buses 51, 61, 69 also run from Kiryat Arba to the Southern yeshuvim.

Cultural Activities back to top^
Many activities are available for all ages. Music center: music lessons, recitals by local musicians, movies and much more

Senior Citizens club, including meals-on-wheels (food provided for senior citizens at the Midrasha).

Religious Life back to top^
Kiryat Arba offers a diverse and yet cooperative community setting. Approximately 60% dati - Charedi - Breslov - Knitted Kippah (National Religious) - Ashkenaz - Sepharadi, etc.. True Ahavat Israel!

Community Services back to top^
Library, Moadon, youth groups (Bnei Akiva and Ariel), sports center featuring tennis/basketball courts and fitness facilities, indoor heated swimming pool, etc..

Health Services back to top^
Kupat Holim: Leumi, Meuhedet and Clalit. Our modern medical centers provide the latest health care facilities, including: family practitioners; specialists in all fields; ultrasound, x-ray, daily blood tests; pharmaceutical and dental services.

Emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day, including a fully equipped emergency room that can handle everything from treating casualty victims to delivering babies. 

A fleet of modern ambulances are available to transfer patients to nearby hospitals in Jerusalem and Be’er Sheba.

Commerce back to top^
Local commerce is diverse and strives to expand year by year. Many of the local industries include: supermarkets, printing shops and bookbinding, technical incubators employing engineers and scientists (Mainly CIS immigrants), car garage, retail shops (women and children’s clothing), hardware computers, disposable cooking and serving supplies, bakery, Judaica, real estate and many eateries.

Physical Surroundings back to top^
Beautiful views of the surrouning Judean Hills….

Absorption back to top^