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About
Kedumim
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In
1975, a group of young idealistic
pioneers settled on a hilltop in
Samaria.
There had been seven unsuccessful
attempts to settle near Sebastia, the
ancient capital of Samaria, until a
historic compromise was reached and the
community of Kedumim was launched. For
the first time in centuries, Jewish life
had returned to the ancient mountains in
the center of Eretz Israel.
Daniella Weiss, Mayor of Kedumim since
1996, was one of the founders of
Kedumim. Her incredible vision, combined
with a strong commitment to Zionism
and the settlement movement, has
propelled Kedumim towards greater
advances and developments since its very
inception.
During the past 5 years, Kedumim has
grown as hundreds of new families have
moved into the community,
public institutions have been
strengthened and
municipal services expanded
Residents
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Kedumim combines the
essence of Zionist idealism with the
best of modern life, including superb
education, social activities, religious
facilities, health services, residential
and industrial development.
In Kedumim you will find a quality
community, a national-religious
atmosphere,
and people from a variety of backgrounds
who take pride in their Judaism and
the settlement of Eretz Israel. Kedumim
boasts an open, tolerant community, a
model society blending veteran residents
with a constant stream of newcomers.
This rich assortment of native-born
Israelis and immigrants from all over
the globe makes Kedumim a dynamic,
growing populace.
It is precisely this dynamic community
spirit which has led many grown children
of Kedumim to build their own homes in
the community when starting families of
their own.
Education
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Kedumim's
education network serves residents of
all ages, from infants to
golden-agers. The system includes 4 day
care centers, 9 pre-schools,
after-school day care and enrichment
programs, two elementary schools,
a high school for girls, two high
schools for boys and a Yeshiva Gedola
(Rabbinical Seminary).
The Bnei
Chayil Shomron Yeshiva High School
provides a quality education
for boys with ADD and ADHD (Attention
Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder while
ensuring a religious atmosphere and a
full complement of Jewish studies.
Situated in temporary facilities,
Kedumim has just begun a building
campaign to raise funds for a proper
campus. The Ministry of Education has
promised matching funds in order to
complete the project.
The Har
Ephraim Yeshiva High School is a
dormitory facility for boys from all
over Israel. Their unique program in
agriculture and life-sciences has made
it an attractive school for so many
religious teen-agers.
The
Lehava High School for Girls is one of
the finest high schools in the country.
A recipient of the Education Ministry's
Prize for Excellence in Education,
Lehava has long been a pioneer in
innovative curricula. Its creative
programs include agricultural projects
for its life sciences students and a
unique program which integrates
literature and the arts with the study
of Tanach (Bible)Today, there are some
1,000 students at Lehava, including 135
residential students of Ethiopian origin
who have found social integration and
academic opportunity at Lehava.
Tapuach
Hapayis
is a regional center for teaching
science and technology.
The primary goal of the Tapuach
Hapayis is to raise the level of
science and technology in students via
academic achievement. The activities of
the center are presented both in the
framework of formal and informal
education. The center is meant to serve
all educational institutes in our area:
kindergartens, elementary schools,
junior high schools and high schools.
Housing
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Founded
in 1975 by a few families in caravans,
Kedumim now offers affordable housing in
magnificent surroundings. We are
presently completing the neighborhood of
Mitzpeh Yishai, a neighborhood of young
families. It's on a hilltop with a
breathtaking view.
In
the newly founded neighborhoods of
Zofnat and Mitzpeh Kedumim, houses are
being custom built to meet each families
needs. Residents of these neighborhoods
range from newly married couples to
grandparents.
The price of houses in Kedumim begins at
$100,000 and varies according to size,
neighborhood and contractor.
Houses are also available for rent.
Transportation
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Kedumim is within easy
commuting distance to all major cities
in Israel: 30 minutes to Petach Tikvah,
50 minutes to Tel-Aviv, 20 minutes to
Kfar Saba, 60 minutes to Haifa and
Jerusalem, 40 minutes to the Jordan
Valley. Public transportation is both
convenient and frequent with hourly bus
service to major cities.
Cultural Activities
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Cultural events for
adults and families have included
concerts, educational tours, and social
gatherings for holidays and other
special occasions. Memorial Day,
Holocaust Remembrance Day and
Independence Day are always marked with
moving ceremonies and dramatic
performances.
jewelry, Judaica, silver and goldsmiths,
furniture, crafts.
Religious
Life
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Kedumim
is an open community, welcoming of all
Jews regardless of their level of
religious observance. Most of Kedumim’s
residents are Orthodox Jews and
religious services are central to their
lives.
There
are 14 synagogues in Kedumim, including
two Yemenite and three Sephardic
synagogues. The central synagogue,
Mishkan Meir, dominates the landscape in
the center of the community. It includes
a social hall utilized by area residents
for weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvah
celebrations, and other events. In a
number of the newer communities,
residents are currently using temporary
facilities such as shelters and caravans
as synagogues. Efforts are being made to
build permanent buildings in these areas
as well.
The
Yeshiva Gevoha not only serves the
yeshiva students, but also offers
kollel studies for men after work hours,
as well as in the morning for those who
are available.
Kedumim
offers a variety of Jewish education
classes for women, men, and children
including daily daf (daf yomi), talmud
torah for children, women's tehillim and
study groups, and more.
The
Religious Council is responsible for
kashrut supervision, our eruv that
encompasses all 12 neighborhoods of
Kedumim, marriage registration, 4
mikvaot (ritual baths), burial services
in the cemetery in Kedumim, and all the
services that add a spiritual quality to
Jewish life here.
The
Chief Rabbi of Kedumim is Rabbi Zvi
Farbstein, fondly called Harav Zvi by
the community. As a brilliant, young
student, Harav Zvi came to the Yeshiva
Gevoha in Kedumim where he was nurtured
by the revered Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi
Yitzchak Ben-Shachar. Harav Zvi got
married, and together with his wife,
Sarah, and their large family, they made
Kedumim their home and their beloved
congregation.
Community Services
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The
municipality provides a full complement
of enrichment programs and cultural
activities for residents of all
ages.There are close to 50 different
classes given each week, for children
and adults alike, in such areas as art,
crafts, dance, basketball, judo and
computers. Special events for children
include plays and puppet shows, summer
camps and special outings. There is a
swimming pool in Kedumim as well as
basketball and soccer courts and a large
gym.
Kedumim also has a wonderful library,
run mostly by volunteers, complete with
internet access children's games room.
The library also serves special groups,
such as National Service volunteers in
the Yishuv, soldiers serving in the
area, residents of neighboring
settlements, senior citizens, the
physical challenged, visually impaired,
hearing impaired and local
special-education facilities.

The Morrey
Seaman School of Music, donated by the
son. Atty. Dennis Seaman from Cleveland,
Ohio, is already operating in the
beautiful new building, providing music
instruction to hundreds of students.
"Yachdav"
(together), the Senior citizens center,
in Kedumim provides a variety of
activities for the senior citizen
population. Since many of the local
youth choose to make their home in
Kedumim
after marrying,
great grandparents and grandparents have
moved here to be closer to their
families. New immigrant members as well
as the “old-timers” enjoy the warm
atmosphere and individual care of the
center. Activities include regular
meetings, lectures and field trips.
Health
Services
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Clalit, Leumit and
Meuhedet health services are all
available.
Commerce
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Many people are employed
in Kedumim at local industries,
agriculture, and services, while others
find work in nearby towns like Ariel,
Barkan and Karnei Shomron. Some also
work in nearby cities like Tel Aviv,
Kfar Saba and Petach Tikva.
Physical Surroundings
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From Kedumim, one enjoys
a panoramic view of the neighboring
hilltops and
beyond, reaching as far as the
coastline. There are twelve
neighborhoods in
Kedumim, spread across its many hilltops
and valleys.
Greenhouses for house plants, vegetables
and blueberries; turkey and chicken
farms; vineyards and orchards.
Absorption
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For information, please call Henya
Moses, director of the Department of
Absorption in
Kedumim: 972-9-7922075 or
henya@kedumim.org.il
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