Local directory
English-speaking services, doctors, kosher food, shuls, schools, ulpan and help for olim. Each listing shows its source and the date it was checked.
277 places
Help for olim · Efrat
The council's absorption department for new olim and returning residents. The education department asks olim families to contact it before registering children for gan or school.
Wineries & places to visit · Gush Etzion Junction
Mehadrin winery at the junction with a viewing bridge over production and a tasting gallery above the barrel room; harvest events open to the public.
Community, youth & libraries · Efrat
An Efrat youth movement for children who don't fit into the other movements. Each child has a personal mentor, and groups meet on Tuesdays and Shabbat at the youth HQ club.
Schools · Efrat
Enrichment centre for pupils who were identified as gifted in Ministry of Education screening. It takes pupils from Gush Etzion, Efrat, Kiryat Arba-Hebron and the south Hebron hills.
Schools · Dagan
Grades 1-6 in the 'meshalev' stream, where children from religious, traditional and secular homes learn together. Families don't have to define their religious stream.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Across the Gush
A family guesthouse above the cliffs of the Arugot stream with a view of the Dead Sea, deliberately without screens or attractions.
Hostels · Across the Gush
A desert khan with yurts, a guest cabin, ancient-crafts workshops and an ecological pool above the Arugot stream, near Ibei HaNahal in the eastern Gush.
Schools · Gefen
State-religious school with about 610 pupils in 33 classes. Grades 1-6 are mixed and grades 7-8 are girls only. It has won the national education prize.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Bat Ayin
Three boutique cabins at the edge of Bat Ayin B, one for a couple with up to two children and two for couples only.
Parks & playgrounds · Alon Shvut
Picnic tables in the forest on Givat HaTzehuba on the way to Deer Land, a short walk from Ein Abu Caleb spring; bins and parking but no water or toilets.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Neve Daniel
Smoked-meat house and bar (asado, brisket, burgers).
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Te'ena
Cafe in the Te'ena commercial centre.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Meat baguette outlet in Kanyon Harim.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Te'ena
Catering business.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Local bar serving local beers and wine; private events on Sundays.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Dairy country-style chef restaurant inside the Gush Etzion Winery (fish, pasta, stone-oven baking); private room for events up to 80.
Pharmacies · Efrat
BE pharmacy in Efrat (Efrat Center address), listed in Maccabi's pharmacy finder.
Shuls · Dekel
Chabad house with Shabbat minyanim in the Dekel commercial centre.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Gush Etzion Junction
A guesthouse and event garden in the Bracha Valley on Route 60, with a synagogue and dining room, used for Shabbat simchas, bar mitzvahs and large groups.
Shuls · Dekel
Shul listed on GoDaven; GoDaven names Rabbi Refael Kadosh as rabbi.
Wineries & places to visit · Neve Daniel
Small winery founded in 2011 in Sde Boaz using grapes from a vineyard near Emek Bracha; about 2,400-3,000 bottles a year.
Wineries & places to visit · Dekel
Winery in Efrat under Efrat Religious Council mehadrin supervision.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
New York-style pizza at the junction.
Councils & government · Te'ena
A National Insurance service point next to the stairs in the council building. It gives information, helps with forms, sends documents and issues certificates. You cannot make payments there.
Attractions & sights · Elazar
Part of the water system Herod built to carry water to Jerusalem, on Route 60 just south of Elazar and minutes from Efrat. You wade through an underground tunnel with thigh-high water, so bring a torch, water shoes and dry clothes.
Photo: Utilisateur:Djampa - User:Djampa, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
Sport & pools · Elazar
Bike rental at the Biyar Aqueduct, the start of three marked Gush Etzion bike trails, in several sizes for riders aged 5 and up.
Community, youth & libraries · Gefen
Efrat's oldest Bnei Akiva branch, next to the matnas in Gefen, with about 100-150 members.
Community, youth & libraries · Zayit
Bnei Akiva branch in Zayit near the agricultural school, with about 300-350 members and a group for children in special education. It runs the Amishav project for olim children together with the council's Aliyah Department.
Schools · Rosh Tzurim
Bnei Akiva girls' high school (grades 9-12) on Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim. Listed on the Efrat council schools page.
Schools · Zayit
Bnei Akiva high-school yeshiva for boys.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Te'ena
Burger restaurant (meat) in the Te'ena commercial centre.
Buses & getting around · Efrat
Express line that runs the length of Efrat to the Central Bus Station / Binyanei HaUma area in Jerusalem. Operated by Electra Afikim, according to the Ministry of Transport timetable (GTFS, 6 October 2026); the council's page still names Egged Ta'avura. Check the timetable before you travel.
Buses & getting around · Efrat
Line that picks up across Efrat's neighbourhoods and goes to the Talpiot area in Jerusalem. Operated by Electra Afikim, according to the Ministry of Transport timetable (GTFS, 6 October 2026); the council's page still names Egged Ta'avura. Check the timetable before you travel.
Buses & getting around · Efrat
Line from Efrat to Beit Shemesh railway station. Operated by Electra Afikim, according to the Ministry of Transport timetable (GTFS, 6 October 2026); the council's page still names Egged Ta'avura. Check the timetable before you travel.
Buses & getting around · Efrat
Line between Efrat and Beitar Illit. Operated by Electra Afikim, according to the Ministry of Transport timetable (GTFS, 6 October 2026); the council's page still names Egged Ta'avura. Check the timetable before you travel.
Buses & getting around · Efrat
Line between Efrat and the communities in the east of Gush Etzion. Operated by Electra Afikim, according to the Ministry of Transport timetable (GTFS, 6 October 2026); the council's page still names Egged Ta'avura. Check the timetable before you travel.
Buses & getting around · Efrat
Intercity line from Jerusalem via Efrat and Hebron to Beersheba. Operated by Electra Afikim, according to the Ministry of Transport timetable (GTFS, 6 October 2026); the council's page still names Egged Ta'avura. Check the timetable before you travel.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Branch of the Cafe Greg chain with a dairy menu, view terrace and events up to 150.
Attractions & sights · Across the Gush
A counter-terror and security academy in the Gush Etzion industrial park that runs bookable visitor programmes: paintball, combat rappelling, krav maga, demonstrations and target shooting.
Shuls · Dekel
Central synagogue of the Dekel neighbourhood, known as the Round Shul.
Attractions & sights · Tekoa
Israel's second-largest karst cave, beside Tekoa on the west bank of Nahal Tekoa, named after the 4th-century monk Chariton. Mapped passages total about 4 km on four levels, so it is for equipped, guided groups.
Schools · Alon Shvut
State-religious elementary school for girls. Listed as active in the Ministry of Education institutions register.
Health fund branches · Alon Shvut
Clalit clinic in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion.
Health fund branches · Efrat
Clalit child development institute (developmental assessment and therapies for children).
Health fund branches · Efrat
Clalit primary-care clinic on the 4th floor of the Efrat Center building, with lab and nursing services.
Health fund branches · Te'ena
Clalit primary-care clinic in Te'ena with family medicine, women's health and a blood-test lab (by appointment).
Health fund branches · Kfar Etzion
Clalit clinic in Kfar Etzion, Gush Etzion.
Health fund branches · Migdal Oz
Clalit clinic in Migdal Oz, Gush Etzion.
Pharmacies · Efrat
Clalit pharmacy on the 4th floor of the Efrat Center building.
Pharmacies · Te'ena
Clalit pharmacy at the Te'ena clinic.
Health fund branches · Rosh Tzurim
Clalit clinic in Rosh Tzurim, Gush Etzion.
Sport & pools · Across the Gush
Bolted rock-climbing routes on the cliff along the Path of the Patriarchs between Elazar and Neve Daniel, opened in 2020 with the Israel Climbers' Association.
Councils & government · Efrat
The council bills both arnona (property tax) and water. Discounts, for example for active reservists or by income test, are applied for through the council's collections pages.
Parks, trails & springs · Dagan
Accessible playground and lawns at the entrance to Dagan. The "Aqueduct trail" walking route starts here, and there are children's shows in summer.
For kids · Kfar Etzion
A park in the forest next to Kfar Etzion with a petting zoo and a large activity area: climbing wall, bungee trampoline, archery, paintball, horse riding, jeeps and a 400 m zipline over a canyon. Barbecues are allowed.
Gan & daycare · Efrat
The council runs 27 public gans for ages 3-5 in 2026-27, including special-education and communication gans. Children are placed by their registered address. Kasum, an enrichment centre for the gans (science, music, art), is at 34 Zayit Shemen St.
Councils & government · Efrat
Registration for gan and school is online and goes by your Population Registry address. New olim and returning residents are asked to contact the council's Aliyah Department before registering. Families not yet registered at an Efrat address use the new/future-resident form.
Therapy & counselling · Gefen
Council psychologists who serve Efrat's gans and schools. They carry out assessments, guide staff and parents, and give short- and long-term therapy to students and parents.
Childcare & after-gan · Efrat
A Ministry of Education programme the council runs in all Efrat gans and elementary schools (Mishlav and Mamad in Tamar, Orot Etzion Junior Division, Aseh Chayil) during the Chanukah and Pesach breaks, for gan children and grades 1-3.
Childcare & after-gan · Efrat
The Ministry of Education's summer programme for grades 1-3, held 1-20 July each year in all of Efrat's elementary schools and run by the Efrat Matnas.
Schools · Zayit
Farm school used by schools in Efrat and across the Gush, with vegetable beds, a poultry coop and an ecological pond among other areas.
Community, youth & libraries · Rimon
Day club for residents aged 70+ from Efrat and Gush Etzion, with transport and a hot lunch. Activities include exercise, Torah classes, literature, music and crafts.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Rimon
Air-conditioned guest rooms in Efrat's Rimon neighbourhood for up to 5 people in 3 rooms, aimed at guests for Shabbat events and visiting family.
Community, youth & libraries · Gefen
Chugim, sport, dance, a music school, day camps, special-education programmes and events. It has branches in Gefen, Dagan, Dekel, Zayit and Tamar, plus the Scheinfeld seniors centre. Registration and tickets are online.
Parks, trails & springs · Efrat
Three fenced dog runs: by the grocery in Zayit, by HaShibolim HaLochashot on the Te'ena slopes, and in Rimon opposite the multi-purpose shul. Dogs must have a valid rabies vaccination.
Groceries & bakeries · Te'ena
Bakery that sells its baked goods and also runs a restaurant.
Councils & government · Te'ena
The council building houses the council departments (education, collections, engineering, welfare) and the religious council offices. The council site has an English section, and the Efrat app sends alerts and takes hazard reports.
Childcare & after-gan · Efrat
The Efrat Matnas runs afternoon programmes (tzaharonim) for gans in every gan complex with enough children, and for schools, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour; working mothers can apply for a subsidy.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Gefen
Evening and Shabbat urgent-care centre in Gefen for Efrat and the surrounding area. At night, the kupot hotlines can give you a phone referral to a hospital ER.
Ulpan & Hebrew · Efrat
Two-week ulpan day camp in August, listed by NBN under Efrat's municipal aliyah services.
Pharmacies · Efrat
Private pharmacy listed in Maccabi's pharmacy finder (also sells glucose test strips).
Community, youth & libraries · Gefen
Free for Efrat residents. It has about 93,000 books, including books in English, French and some Spanish. The catalogue site is in Hebrew, English and Russian.
Councils & government · Te'ena
Opens marriage and single-status files and issues the certificates. It also runs the mikvaot, local kashrut supervision and the eruv.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Efrat
The council's security operations centre, staffed around the clock. Call it about security incidents in or around Efrat; after hours it also takes municipal calls. In a medical emergency, call MDA on 101.
Community, youth & libraries · Rimon
Runs activities for about 1,600 teens in grades 7-12, including leadership, volunteering, pre-army preparation and summer programmes. It also coordinates the five youth-movement branches.
Parks & playgrounds · Neve Daniel
A 1.5 m-deep spring pool at the entrance to Sde Boaz, near Neve Daniel, with benches, shade, a swing and a viewing deck built by Neve Daniel's youth.
Parks & playgrounds · Bat Ayin
A spring at Bat Ayin whose water runs out of an ancient tunnel into a square pool about 2 m deep, with old terraces and a Second Temple-period burial cave nearby.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Across the Gush
A stone-built retreat at the edge of Metzad beside a large natural pool, with a panoramic view of the Dead Sea.
Parks & playgrounds · Bat Ayin
A spring in the Livne stream below Bat Ayin, with clear water in a small pool and a deeper concrete pool (about 2.5 m) under big shade trees. The last stretch is a walk down a green-marked trail.
Parks & playgrounds · Bat Ayin
A spring pool about 1.5 m deep in Wadi Sajma ("Garden of Eden valley") on the way to Bat Ayin, with shade and picnic tables; Dubek's Pool is a 200 m walk further down.
Parks, trails & springs · Rosh Tzurim
Two shallow wading pools (40 and 60 cm) in nature with seating, a swing and plenty of shade; good for families.
Parks & playgrounds · Gush Etzion Junction
A lookout on the second floor of Harim Mall at the Gush Etzion Junction over the Bracha Valley, the Path of the Patriarchs and the Russian Monastery hill. It is wheelchair and stroller accessible, with toilets and cafes in the mall.
Groceries & bakeries · Gush Etzion Junction
Bakery/cake shop at the Gush Etzion Junction.
Attractions & sights · Tekoa
A family-run organic winery in Tekoa D on the edge of the Judean Desert, founded in 2010; visits and tastings by arrangement.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Across the Gush
Regional rescue unit number listed on the council's essential-phones page.
Therapy & counselling · Te'ena
Regional centre for Beitar, Efrat and Gush Etzion. It offers free, discreet emotional care for children, teens and adults coping with stress or anxiety linked to the security situation.
Community, youth & libraries · Dekel
Ezra branch in Dekel by the commercial centre, with about 300 members. Its "Olim BeOz" project pairs teens with new-oleh children in grades 1-2.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Dagan
Falafel stand on the promenade at the entrance to Dagan.
Hostels · Tekoa
A hand-built khan (desert lodge) in Tekoa D overlooking the Judean Desert and Nahal Tekoa, for overnight stays and small events.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Across the Gush
Fire service emergency number 102 plus a local landline listed by the council.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Zayit
Meat restaurant in the Zayit centre.
Community, youth & libraries · Gefen
Public football pitch in Gefen. Outside these hours you can rent it through the matnas.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Coffee cart in the Oz VeGaon grove serving pastries, special pizzas and salads.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Bat Ayin
A large couples' tzimmer with a jacuzzi and two balconies in Bat Ayin B.
Sport & pools · Zayit
An indoor Ninja Warrior-style obstacle centre in the new Zayit mall in Efrat, for ages 6 and up, with a waiting area for parents and toddlers.
Buses & getting around · Across the Gush
Bus lines link the Gush yishuvim with Jerusalem (Binyanei HaUma and Talpiot), Efrat and Beitar Illit; the network was planned with the Ministry of Transport. The council's route list (June 2021) names Egged Ta'avura, but the Ministry of Transport timetable (GTFS, 6 October 2026) lists Electra Afikim as the operator of every Gush line. Check current timetables.
Community, youth & libraries · Alon Shvut
Regional community centre running classes (chugim) for all ages, culture events at the Heichal HaTarbut, youth and young-adult programmes, a gym, after-school care and camps, with an Eastern Gush branch.
Wineries & places to visit · Kfar Etzion
Sound-and-light show telling the story of Gush Etzion's settlement, fall in 1948 and return; a guided museum tour can be added. Adult ticket 39 NIS (reductions for seniors, students, soldiers, groups).
Buses & getting around · Gush Etzion Junction
The main bus interchange of the Gush on Route 60: on a weekday (6 Oct 2026) lines 380, 381, 382 and 384 to Jerusalem's Central Bus Station, Kiryat Arba and Hebron, and 440 to Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva, stopped here, all run by Electra Afikim.
Community, youth & libraries · Alon Shvut
Gym operated by the regional community centre.
Councils & government · Across the Gush
Round-the-clock council hotline for municipal issues (hazards, faults, requests); also by WhatsApp and an online form with photo upload.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Across the Gush
Local police station line for the Gush; for emergencies dial 100.
Councils & government · Across the Gush
Municipal authority for the Gush Etzion yishuvim (Efrat is a separate local council). Residents reach most departments through the 24/7 service centre (106) or the department contact forms on the council site.
Help for olim · Across the Gush
Council olim team that helps prospective and new olim choose a community and housing, register children for school, and after aliyah connects them to local resources, job search and paperwork help, and runs trips, events and workshops.
Community, youth & libraries · Alon Shvut
Regional library in Alon Shvut that also supports village libraries across the Gush; lends English, French and Russian books, offers Libby e-books, Wi-Fi, computers and a copier.
Councils & government · Across the Gush
Regional religious council (kashrut supervision for the Gush, marriage registration, mikvaot). Marriage registrar line: 02-9959419.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Across the Gush
Regional security hotline listed by the council's security division.
Community, youth & libraries · Across the Gush
Programme for residents aged 60+ with lectures, sport, art, films, volunteering and trips around Israel.
Wineries & places to visit · Migdal Oz
Regional tourism body listing attractions, trails, springs, wineries, food and lodging across the Gush; publishes a downloadable sites booklet and tourist map.
Ulpan & Hebrew · Across the Gush
A voucher ulpan meets locally (Zoom option) 2-3 times a week in groups of 4-10; olim within 10 years of aliyah are reimbursed by Misrad HaKlita with 80% attendance. The council also runs subsidised weekly conversational Hebrew classes for all residents.
Wineries & places to visit · Kfar Etzion
Wine shop and tasting centre with workshops for groups and individuals and a summer wine bar.
Wineries & places to visit · Elazar
Non-profit winery beside the Inbei HaGefen vineyard in Netiv HaAvot (Elazar) that hosts visiting groups.
Parks, trails & springs · Gefen
Park linking Gefen and Dekel, used for community ceremonies and activities. Park at the MAHAR car park.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Bat Ayin
A B&B in a 30-year-old family orchard on the hill at Bat Ayin, looking towards Jerusalem.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Across the Gush
Jerusalem hospital (Ein Kerem and Mt. Scopus campuses) that Nefesh B'Nefesh lists for Efrat residents.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Alon Shvut
Snack bar at the Givah Tzehuba council/office hill.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Te'ena
Meat sandwiches with chips, potatoes and onion rings.
Parks, trails & springs · Zayit
Grove opposite Orot Etzion girls' school with picnic benches, play equipment and a view of Herodion and Jerusalem.
Parks, trails & springs · Te'ena
Wooded grove on the slopes of Te'ena. It has a sculpture park of stone slides and hiding places, and picnic corners. There is a dog park at the entrance from Sderot David HaMelech, and the Yuval lookout faces Elazar and Neve Daniel.
Photo: Smadar Shiftan, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
Groceries & bakeries · Zayit
Neighbourhood grocery in Zayit.
Shops & malls · Kfar Etzion
Shopping compound at the entrance to Kfar Etzion with about 40 shops, from a large supermarket and books to fashion and restaurants.
Sport & pools · Alon Shvut
Riding stables on Givat HaTzehuba (the Yellow Hill) with rides through vineyards, to springs or along the Path of the Patriarchs, therapeutic riding lessons and a small petting farm.
Shuls · Dagan
Neighbourhood shul in Dagan. Weekday and Shabbat times are in the religious council's yearly prayer-times table.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Tamar
Catering of meals adapted to customers' dietary needs.
Shuls · Te'ena
Te'ena (Lev Efrat) shul; visitors are asked to park on Te'ena and walk down the short HaGo'el cul-de-sac.
Parks, trails & springs · Across the Gush
Desert hilltop fortress, palace and tomb of King Herod run by the Nature and Parks Authority; includes a film on Herod. Adult 31 NIS, child 16 NIS. Stairs - not stroller-accessible.
Photo: Jan Helebrant, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · CC0 1.0 (opens in a new tab)
Yeshivot, seminaries & colleges · Alon Shvut
Academic college beside Yeshivat Har Etzion training religious teachers, especially in Tanakh and Jewish studies; programmes include English-teaching tracks.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Hummus restaurant serving warm, freshly ground hummus; upstairs space for groups up to 40.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Small homey hummus place with a terrace.
Attractions & sights · Bat Ayin
Remains of a Second Temple-period farm by the Bat Ayin access road, with a large rock-cut mikveh whose steps still show the partition between those going down and those coming up.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Dekel
Falafel in the Dekel commercial centre.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Branch of the Japanese/Asian restaurant chain in the Kanyon Harim mall.
Buses & getting around · Across the Gush
The nearest railway station to Efrat and the Gush, about 15 km north beside Jerusalem's Central Bus Station. On a weekday (6 Oct 2026) about 60 trains left it, mostly towards Herzliya (42) and Modi'in Center (18).
Shops & malls · Gush Etzion Junction
Shopping centre at the Gush Etzion Junction next to Rami Levy; houses restaurants such as Japan Japan and Cafe Greg, with a rooftop viewpoint over Emek Bracha.
Shuls · Zayit
Zayit shul with a Shabbat-morning Mishna Brura shiur.
Schools · Alon Shvut
State-religious co-ed elementary school. Listed as active in the Ministry of Education institutions register.
For kids · Across the Gush
A working farm in the eucalyptus and pine forest outside Gvaot with workshops (cheese making, pita baking, traditional building, nature skills) and camping in teepees and big tents.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Across the Gush
Camping in teepees, large group tents or your own tent at Kashuela Farm in the forest outside Gvaot, plus a self-contained guest unit.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Zayit
Cafe and ice-cream parlour: Belgian waffles, crepes, shakes and fruit.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Ice-cream and frozen-yogurt parlour also serving waffles and crepes.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Kfar Etzion
A campsite at the Kfar Etzion Field School facing the Bracha Valley, with toilets, hot showers, barbecue areas and cooking facilities; hot meals can be ordered.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Kfar Etzion
A 51-room guesthouse on the lawns of Kibbutz Kfar Etzion, run with the field school that guides tours across Gush Etzion, Jerusalem and the Judean Desert; there is also a large heated tent, bike rental and jeep driving.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Kfar Etzion
Twenty tzimmers (cabins) on Kibbutz Kfar Etzion, each with a private yard and jacuzzi, set among lawns facing the Hebron hills.
Groceries & bakeries · Dekel
Grocery opposite HaAsor park.
Sport & pools · Kfar Etzion
An indoor, air-conditioned climbing wall and bouldering room in the Hatzar HaKfar shops at Kfar Etzion, for ages 4 and up, with staff guidance for beginners.
Shuls · Zayit
Zayit shul that prays in North African nusach.
Community, youth & libraries · Alon Shvut
Torah and Jewish philosophy study programme for seniors, supported by the council's social services.
Wineries & places to visit · Across the Gush
Liqueur producer founded in 2004; tours include liqueur-making and tastings.
Groceries & bakeries · Kfar Etzion
Bakery in Kfar Etzion.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Bat Ayin
A couples' room above Wadi Livne in Bat Ayin, facing a pine forest and a deep canyon.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Te'ena
Deli in the Te'ena commercial centre.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Across the Gush
A two-bedroom family suite in Ma'ale Amos, about 35 minutes from Jerusalem, for up to 5 adults and a baby, with a private rooftop over the desert.
Health fund branches · Efrat
Maccabi Healthcare Services branch office in Efrat in the medical emergency centre (Mahar) building; Maccabi lists the facility as having a standard protected space.
Health fund branches · Tekoa
Maccabi clinic in Tekoa (eastern Gush Etzion).
Groceries & bakeries · Kfar Etzion
Supermarket in Kfar Etzion (the large grocery at the Hatzar HaKfar compound).
Groceries & bakeries · Kfar Etzion
Boutique patisserie in the Hatzar HaKfar compound.
Schools · Tamar
State-religious school in Tamar with about 320 pupils in 13 classes. Grades 1-6 are mixed and grades 7-8 are girls only.
Community, youth & libraries · Dagan
The community center's branch in the Dagan neighbourhood, for sport and chugim.
Community, youth & libraries · Zayit
The community center's branch in the Zayit neighbourhood, with a sports hall used for chugim and sport.
Groceries & bakeries · Neve Daniel
Factory shop of the Mazuyins bakery selling breads, bagels, rolls and pastries.
Groceries & bakeries · Te'ena
Butcher shop also selling fish and related products.
For kids · Elazar
A small family animal park in Elazar, about 10 minutes from Jerusalem by car, with hundreds of animals you can go in and handle, from parrots and alpacas to reptiles, plus a riding ring.
Shuls · Tamar
Neighbourhood shul in Tamar. Weekday and Shabbat times are in the religious council's yearly prayer-times table.
Attractions & sights · Rosh Tzurim
Culinary workshops on Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim (focaccia, Jerusalem bagels, pita to falafel, farm-to-pizza) by reservation, plus a coffee shop open Sunday to Thursday.
Health fund branches · Alon Shvut
Meuhedet health fund clinic in Alon Shvut.
Health fund branches · Efrat
Meuhedet health fund clinic in Efrat on Sderot HaMelech David.
Health fund branches · Elazar
Meuhedet health fund clinic in Elazar.
Health fund branches · Neve Daniel
Meuhedet health fund clinic in Neve Daniel.
Pharmacies · Alon Shvut
Meuhedet pharmacy in Alon Shvut.
Parks, trails & springs · Zayit
400 m walking and cycling promenade cut along the hillside between Pitum HaKetoret St and HaMenora St in Zayit. It has a changing photo gallery and views of Wadi Pirim, Dagan and Tamar.
Yeshivot, seminaries & colleges · Migdal Oz
Women's beit midrash on Kibbutz Migdal Oz with an overseas program and an English-speaking peer group; overseas students share dorm units with Israelis and receive three meals a day.
Shuls · Rimon
Small Shabbat and holiday minyan (nusach Ashkenaz) with slow, tuneful davening and a weekly kiddush.
Shuls · Zayit
Zayit shul (also called Shemen HaMishcha) with a daily Daf Yomi; the Efrat wiki lists a weekly Tuesday-night shiur in English.
Parks & playgrounds · Neve Daniel
A lookout tower at 1,000 m, the highest point in Gush Etzion, between Neve Daniel and Sde Boaz. On a clear day the view runs from Jerusalem and the Herodium to the coast, and there are binoculars.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Neve Daniel
A couples' tzimmer in Neve Daniel at about 950 m with an 11 x 5 m pool in a garden overlooking the Judean hills.
Councils & government · Efrat
Report hazards (street lights, rubbish, water leaks) and ask general questions. You can also report through the Efrat app.
Gan & daycare · Dagan
Six gans. Dolev (3-4) and Hadas (3) are at HaZor'im 43. Ashlim (4) and Nachshon (3-4) are at HaKatzir 6. Telem-Chabad (5) and Shovel (5, mechina) are at HaOmer 11.
Gan & daycare · Dekel
Four gans. Yitav (age-5 mechina) and Sion (special education) are at Netzach Yerushalayim 2. Chever (5) and HaRo'eh (special education, 4-5) are at Nechemya 2.
Gan & daycare · Gefen
Three gans at HaGefen 58: Peleg (age 3), Sorek (3-4) and the Rimon communication gan (mixed ages).
Gan & daycare · Tamar
Six gans. Tamar (5) and Arbel (3) are at HaDvash 13. Te'enim (5) and Shikma (4) are at HaMoriya 8. Netafim (3-4) and Yuval (5, mechina) are at HaMoriya 24.
Gan & daycare · Zayit
Eight gans. Ayalon (3-4) is at Zayit Shemen 3. Afikim (4), El-Al (3), Besor (5) and HaEla (special education) are at Matityahu HaKohen 7A. Ma'ayan (5, mechina), Hermon (4-5) and Yarden (special education) are at Matityahu HaKohen 15/15A.
Parks, trails & springs · Dagan
3.5 km black-marked trail (about 2.5 hours) along Second Temple-era aqueducts that still carry water in places, with a section you can walk through underground.
Parks, trails & springs · Dagan
Trail down the wadi between Zayit and Dagan, with small waterfalls after rain and the remains of a Byzantine monastery. It is stroller-friendly as far as the parking area; the goat paths below need proper shoes. The gate is open 07:00-17:00.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Pizza and coffee cart serving Neapolitan-style pizza, salads and desserts.
Groceries & bakeries · Zayit
Bakery in the Zayit centre.
Help for olim · Efrat
NBN's Efrat page covers population, kupot, hospitals, schools, transport and municipal olim contacts; NBN also lists volunteer English-speaking contacts by Efrat neighbourhood.
Help for olim · Across the Gush
NBN's Gush Etzion page covers olim incentives, the Anglo coordinator, and short profiles of olim-friendly yishuvim (Neve Daniel, Elazar, Alon Shvut, Tekoa, Bat Ayin).
Shuls · Rimon
Rimon shul whose building also hosts the 'Rav Tachliti' multi-minyan schedule.
Schools · Neve Daniel
State-religious elementary school for boys. Listed as active in the Ministry of Education institutions register.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Te'ena
Sandwich restaurant in the Te'ena centre.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Family-run Italian pizza bar with gluten-free pizza and knafeh options.
Groceries & bakeries · Gush Etzion Junction
Health-food store branch at the Gush Etzion Junction.
Groceries & bakeries · Zayit
Natural/health-food store.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Tekoa
A couples-only tzimmer in Tekoa.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Across the Gush
A private couples' cabin in Ma'ale Amos facing the Judean Desert.
Parks & playgrounds · Nokdim
Four shallow pools (about 50 cm) spread over 400 m in Nokdim, with shade trees and a wide view; good for small children.
Sport & pools · Nokdim
An outdoor pool in Nokdim with designated hours for women, men, families and mixed swimming.
Shuls · Dekel
Dekel shul with a vatikin (sunrise) Shacharit minyan per the Efrat wiki.
Attractions & sights · Bat Ayin
The forest and surviving bunker of Kibbutz Masu'ot Yitzhak, one of the four Gush Etzion communities destroyed in 1948; the rock-cut cave was an oil press and served as a shelter for the wounded.
Schools · Te'ena
Torani community high school for boys in grades 7-12, part of the Ohr Torah Stone network.
Schools · Dekel
Torani state-religious boys' school for grades 4-8, with about 350 pupils in 17 classes, 4 of them special-education classes.
Schools · Zayit
Torani state-religious girls' school for grades 4-8, with about 315 pupils in 14 classes, 2 of them special-education classes.
Schools · Zayit
Torani state-religious school for boys and girls in grades 1-3, using the Barkai method. Pupils continue to Orot Etzion Boys or Girls.
Shuls · Zayit
Sephardi shul in Zayit with daily minyanim and shiurim.
Parks, trails & springs · Gush Etzion Junction
Grove by the junction with pergolas, picnic tables, a playground, toilets, a splash area and ball courts, a trail to a lookout, and summer camping (40 NIS adult / 15 NIS child per night).
Parks, trails & springs · Zayit
Playground on three levels for different ages. It doubles as a lookout over Tamar, Dagan and Jerusalem.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Branch of the Jerusalem Pinati chain: grilled meats, hummus and home-style stews; Friday ready-food fair for Shabbat; events up to 50.
Parks, trails & springs · Dagan
Short family trail, about 30 minutes, not suitable for strollers and marked white-black-white. It starts at the park at the entrance to Dagan and passes an orchard and the shafts of the ancient aqueduct on the way to the Roman dam. The gate is open around the clock, and the whole route is inside the eruv.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Small pizzeria next to the mall and Rami Levy; gluten-free and vegan options.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Zayit
Pizzeria in the Zayit commercial centre.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Te'ena
Pizzeria and fast food (dairy) in the Te'ena centre.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Zayit
Meat catering.
Groceries & bakeries · Dagan
Mini-market on the Dagan promenade.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Fast-food grill at the junction: shawarma, burgers, falafel in baguette or pita.
Groceries & bakeries · Gush Etzion Junction
Rami Levy supermarket branch at the Gush Etzion Junction.
Attractions & sights · Alon Shvut
Guided ATV and jeep tours of Gush Etzion, the Judean hills and the Judean Desert for individuals, families and groups.
Shuls · Dagan
Neighbourhood shul in Dagan. Weekday and Shabbat times are in the religious council's yearly prayer-times table.
Community, youth & libraries · Gefen
Religious Scouts troop in Gefen, next to the youth HQ and above the MAHAR car park, with about 120 members. It brings children from special education into its regular groups.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Gush Etzion Junction
Smoked-meat restaurant in the historic Etzion fortress building at the junction, with private rooms for events.
Attractions & sights · Gush Etzion Junction
A 954 m hill above the Bracha Valley where the Russian Orthodox Church built a pilgrims' monastery in 1892; a key position in the 1948 battles for Gush Etzion, with mikvaot and burial caves on its slopes.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Neve Daniel
A boutique couples' tzimmer at Sde Boaz, next to Neve Daniel.
Community, youth & libraries · Rimon
Classes and activities for older residents of Efrat and the area, such as exercise, coaching, art, Yemima and petanque, at a flat monthly fee.
Community, youth & libraries · Tekoa
Social club for seniors of eastern Gush Etzion, run for Hebrew, English and Russian speakers, with transport from nearby yishuvim.
Emergency lines, urgent care & hospitals · Across the Gush
Jerusalem hospital that Nefesh B'Nefesh lists for Efrat residents (Efrat has no hospital).
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Falafel and pita shop in the Hatzar HaKfar compound.
Shuls · Te'ena
Carlebach-style shul founded in 1993 at the Neve Efrat Retreat Center, known for its lively Friday-night minyan.
For kids · Across the Gush
An exotic-animal farm at Sde Bar, below the Herodium, with over 100 species (reptiles, mammals, birds), a petting corner and camel rides. It also runs a wildlife rehabilitation corner with the Nature and Parks Authority.
Groceries & bakeries · Zayit
Food-chain supermarket in the Zayit commercial centre.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Dagan
Coffee and pastry cart at the entrance to Dagan.
Groceries & bakeries · Dekel
Supermarket in the Dekel commercial centre.
Groceries & bakeries · Tamar
Supermarket in the Tamar neighbourhood.
Groceries & bakeries · Elazar
Supermarket in Elazar.
Groceries & bakeries · Neve Daniel
Supermarket in Neve Daniel.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Across the Gush
A private ground-floor unit in a stone villa at Pnei Kedem, about 10 minutes south of Efrat, with a secluded heated pool and views of the desert and the Dead Sea.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Bat Ayin
Three self-contained lodges in the centre of Bat Ayin, including a family lodge with three and a half bedrooms, near springs and walking trails.
Parks, trails & springs · Tamar
About 4 dunams of playground next to the school in Tamar. In summer it hosts shows and events for families.
Attractions & sights · Tekoa
A centre for over 100 local artists in Tekoa with a gallery, studios, an art shop and a cafe; tours and workshops for groups.
Parks & playgrounds · Tekoa
A pine wood on the edge of the Judean Desert that is the gateway to the Nahal Tekoa reserve, with paths, picnic tables, a pool and views of the Herodium. The 7 km Nahal Tekoa trail runs from the Herodium to Tekoa.
Photo: Bukvoed, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab)
Sport & pools · Tekoa
Horseback rides in Tekoa with desert views: 70-minute family, parent-and-child and couples' rides.
Sport & pools · Tekoa
Tekoa's outdoor pool, open in the summer months, with set hours for separate and mixed swimming.
Attractions & sights · Tekoa
One of Israel's first boutique wineries, carved into a hill above the Judean Desert; founded in the 1980s and restored in 2023, with grapes from the Kanub ridge.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Alon Shvut
Pub in Alon Shvut with draught beer, burgers and Friday schnitzel-in-challah.
Parks & playgrounds · Rosh Tzurim
A lookout and promenade between Rosh Tzurim and Alon Shvut in memory of Gil-ad Sha'ar, Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Frenkel and Ezra Schwartz, looking over vineyards towards Beitar Illit and Beit Shemesh, with audio explanations.
Parks, trails & springs · Alon Shvut
Centuries-old oak that is the symbol of Gush Etzion, with a 3D model of the Gush, children's play equipment, public toilets and an audio story station.
Photo: Yair Aronshtam from Israel, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab)
Guesthouses & zimmers · Tekoa
A stay inside a converted 1970s bus in Tekoa, on the edge of the desert.
Museums & heritage · Kfar Etzion
A small museum at the Kfar Etzion Field School with household utensils and work tools typical of the Hebron hills.
Attractions & sights · Across the Gush
A boutique estate winery near Ibei HaNahal in the eastern Gush that ages its wine in an ancient cave and has a visitors' centre.
Parks & playgrounds · Across the Gush
Two spring pools at Pnei Kedem Farm on the edge of the Judean Desert: a 1.6 m-deep upper pool for swimming and a shallow lower pool for children, with a shaded pergola. Entry is free.
Shuls · Dekel
Dekel shul with a daily Daf Yomi; the Efrat wiki lists a Tuesday-evening Parashat HaShavua shiur in English.
Health fund branches · Efrat
Mother-and-baby health station (Tipat Halav) run by Clalit: infant check-ups and vaccinations.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Rimon
A tzimmer with a private entrance and yard in Efrat's Rimon neighbourhood, for a couple with a baby and two more children, near the Te'ena shops, parks and bus stops.
Kosher restaurants & cafés · Kfar Etzion
Restaurant in the lower Hatzar HaKfar compound.
Wineries & places to visit · Alon Shvut
Interactive visit showing how halacha and technology combine (Shabbat cooking, security devices, accessibility aids); suitable from age 8; 45 NIS per person.
Ulpan & Hebrew · Efrat
Ulpan for olim registered as active with the Ministry of Education (institution code 180802, adult education, Jerusalem area).
Schools · Across the Gush
Girls' high school (grades 9-12) with about 300 pupils. The office also takes WhatsApp messages on its number. Listed on the Efrat council schools page.
Schools · Across the Gush
Girls' high school (grades 9-12) with about 555 pupils. It is owned by the Gush Etzion and Efrat councils and the Ohr Torah Stone network. Listed on the Efrat council schools page.
Yeshivot, seminaries & colleges · Kfar Etzion
Full-time advanced learning for women; overseas Shana Alef students (about a third of the cohort) learn in Hebrew alongside Israelis with English-speaking staff and an English Gemara review class.
Yeshivot, seminaries & colleges · Alon Shvut
Hesder yeshiva around which Alon Shvut was founded. Runs the Dr. William Major Overseas Program for post-high-school students and a post-college track; partners with YU's S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Alon Shvut
Guest rooms for groups and families at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut, including rooms for large families.
Schools · Alon Shvut
Recognised high-school yeshiva for boys, with a dormitory. Listed as active in the Ministry of Education institutions register.
Schools · Te'ena
High-school yeshiva for boys, with a dormitory.
Schools · Efrat
Recognised high-school yeshiva for boys in Efrat, with a dormitory (Ministry of Education register).
Help for olim · Efrat
Serves Efrat residents aged 18-35. New recruits and national-service volunteers get a gift, and discharged soldiers get personal guidance on their rights, studies and work. There are also workshops and a young-parenting centre.
Guesthouses & zimmers · Alon Shvut
Three large furnished rooms in the centre of Alon Shvut, within walking distance of a pool with separate swimming.
Parks, trails & springs · Zayit
12,000 m2 park between upper Zayit Shemen and Matityahu HaKohen, with play equipment and seating.
Shuls · Zayit
Large Zayit shul whose community is mostly young couples and families, a mix of new olim from around the world and long-time residents; the website is in Hebrew and English.
Shuls · Zayit
Carlebach minyan of Givat HaZayit that meets every Friday night and Shabbat morning in the Zayit school, with a community kiddush.
Wineries & places to visit · Neve Daniel
Family winery (about 7,000 bottles a year) hosting wine tastings with food, private meals and events up to 50 at the family home in Sde Boaz.
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