New olim
New to Efrat & Gush Etzion? Start here
Efrat and the Gush have large English-speaking communities: Nefesh B'Nefesh names Neve Daniel, Elazar, Alon Shvut, Tekoa and Bat Ayin as Gush communities with many olim. Efrat's council has an aliyah department, and the regional council has its own olim team.
New olim
Start here
6 steps, in the order most people take them.
- 1
Talk to the aliyah department first
Efrat's council asks new olim and returning residents to contact its Aliyah Department before registering children for gan or school.
Go - 2
Register for school
Registration goes by your Population Registry address. If you have not updated it yet, use the council's new or future resident forms; late registration is only into free places.
Go - 3
Find Hebrew lessons
NBN says Efrat has no Misrad HaKlita-run ulpan and that the council runs a two-week ulpan day camp in August; the Gush council offers weekly conversational Hebrew.
Go - 4
Join your giva's council WhatsApp group
The council publishes a WhatsApp group for each of its seven givot, a Telegram channel and a daily newsletter.
Go - 5
Support for children at school
NBN says the Gush council places Bnot Sherut in some elementary schools to help olim pupils with Hebrew, homework and social integration.
Go - 6
Guides
Read next
- Your first week in Efrat & Gush EtzionWho to call first in Efrat and the Gush Etzion yishuvim: the absorption departments, the 106 hotlines, arnona and water, Hebrew classes and the numbers to save on day one.
- Schools and gans in Efrat and the GushHow gan and school registration works in Efrat, the schools and their streams, afternoon programmes, holiday and summer programmes, and help for olim children.
- Getting around Efrat and the GushWhich buses run from Efrat and the Gush yishuvim, how often, where the nearest train is, and how to check times.
Good to know
- The council's education department is on 02-9939330, Sun-Thu 08:00-15:30.
- The 5787 (2026-27) registration window was 19 January to 8 February 2026; expect the next one around the same time.
Community groups
Where people talk
- Efrat Local Council on FacebookFacebook · Efrat Local Council
- Efrat Olim (Facebook)Facebook · Efrat olim community (as listed by NBN)
- Efrat council Telegram channelTelegram · Efrat Local Council
- Efrat council updates: Dagan neighbourhood (WhatsApp)WhatsApp · Efrat Local Council
- Efrat council updates: Dekel neighbourhood (WhatsApp)WhatsApp · Efrat Local Council
- Efrat council updates: Gefen neighbourhood (WhatsApp)WhatsApp · Efrat Local Council
Source
- Nefesh B'Nefesh: Efrat community guide (opens in a new tab)
- Nefesh B'Nefesh: Gush Etzion community guide (opens in a new tab)
- Efrat council: education registration (opens in a new tab)
- Efrat council: late gan registration (opens in a new tab)
- Efrat council: how to get information from the council (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Transport GTFS via Open Bus Stride (Hasadna), Tue 2026-10-06 (opens in a new tab)
This page was written for Efrat & Gush Etzion from the sources above.
