Shfela

Hashmonaim

A small religious community of about 3,100 people next to Modiin, midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. More than half of residents are native English speakers, mostly from the US. NBN describes it as warm and close-knit, with many young couples who grew up there staying on.

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What draws people

More than half of residents are native English speakers, mostly from the US. source ((opens in a new tab))
Close-knit religious community with ten synagogues. source ((opens in a new tab))
About 30 min by car to both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. source ((opens in a new tab))

What to weigh

No train station; the nearest is Modi'in Center, and public transport to Tel Aviv takes about 50 min to over an hour. source ((opens in a new tab))
NBN notes 'no municipal incentives for Olim at this time.' source ((opens in a new tab))

The facts

Region: Shfela
Location note: Hashmonaim is in the western West Bank, about 2 km east of Modiin, off Route 443.
Population: 3,091 (2024 estimate)CBS 'Regional Statistics' as cited on Wikipedia.source ((opens in a new tab))
English-speaking community: Very large (5 out of 5)· judgment call
French-speaking community: Unknown
Russian-speaking community: Unknown
Religious mix: Mostly religiousReligious Zionist: the community is affiliated with the Bnei Akiva youth movement and has ten synagogues.source ((opens in a new tab))
Rent (family-size apartment): No reliable figure found
To Tel Aviv: About 53 min to Tel Aviv by busAbout 30 min by car (Wikipedia); by public transport about 53 min by bus with a transfer, or about 1 h 7 min by bus and train via Modi'in Center (Rome2rio estimates).source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab))source 3 ((opens in a new tab))
To Jerusalem: About 48 min to Jerusalem by busAbout 30 min by car (Wikipedia); about 48 min by bus 330 (Rome2rio estimate).source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab))source 3 ((opens in a new tab))
Train station: No
Light rail: No
For families: Very high (5 out of 5)· judgment call
Quiet: Very high (5 out of 5)· judgment call

Why these scores

English-speaking community: Wikipedia: 'More than half of the residents were native English speakers, mostly from the United States.' NBN: 'a popular destination for religious, English-speaking Olim.' source ((opens in a new tab))
French-speaking community: No source opened mentions French speakers. Left blank. source ((opens in a new tab))
Russian-speaking community: No source opened mentions Russian speakers. Left blank. source ((opens in a new tab))
For families: Judgment: NBN says many young couples who grew up there stay and rent after they marry. source ((opens in a new tab))
Quiet: Judgment: small community of about 3,100 with a small-town feel (NBN). source ((opens in a new tab))

Some spellings of this name in other languages aren't confirmed by a source yet.

Sources

Checked 8 November 2026

Hashmonaim Local

Listings, guides, neighborhoods and Shabbat times for Hashmonaim, on the city's own site.

Visit Hashmonaim Local

Nefesh B'Nefesh community guide ((opens in a new tab))

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Shfela
Modiin
A planned, medium-sized city in central Israel, about midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
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Israel's capital and largest city, with a large English-speaking population and tens of thousands of Nefesh B'Nefesh olim.
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Israel's main center for business, culture and dining, in a metropolitan area of more than 4 million people.
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