Shfela
Modiin
A planned, medium-sized city in central Israel, about midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
English-speaking community
Large (4 out of 5)Facts and sources
Shfela
Rehovot
A science city south of Tel Aviv, founded in 1890 by First Aliyah pioneers and once a center of citrus growing. It is home to the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Hebrew University Faculty of Agriculture, has a reputation for welcoming olim, and has a large English-speaking population by Israeli standards.
What draws people
- Large English-speaking population by Israeli standards, and a reputation for welcoming olim. source ((opens in a new tab))
- Municipal Absorption Department runs an Oleh House with Hebrew classes, activities and an Anglo oleh coordinator. source ((opens in a new tab))
- Train station by the Weizmann Institute; the ride to Tel Aviv is about 30 minutes. source ((opens in a new tab))
What to weigh
- A large city of about 155,000 people, so neighborhoods differ a lot; Anglo olim are spread across it rather than in one area. source ((opens in a new tab))
- About an hour to Jerusalem by car. source ((opens in a new tab))
The facts
- Region
- Shfela
- Population
- 155,049 (2024 estimate)source ((opens in a new tab))
- English-speaking community
- Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment call
- French-speaking community
- Unknown
- Russian-speaking community
- Unknown
- Religious mix
- MixedMixed: Modern Orthodox and Masorti (Conservative) congregations serve English speakers, the Sha'araim quarter has many traditional Yemenite shuls, and the city has a large secular population around its science institutions.source ((opens in a new tab))
- Rent (family-size apartment)
- No reliable figure found
- To Tel Aviv
- About 30 min to Tel Aviv by trainAbout 30 minutes by train, or 30 to 45 minutes by car (Weizmann Institute International Office).source ((opens in a new tab))
- To Jerusalem
- About 1 h to Jerusalem h.mode.undefinedAbout 1 hour by car (Weizmann Institute International Office).source ((opens in a new tab))
- Train station
- Yes
- Light rail
- No
- For families
- High (4 out of 5)· judgment call
- Quiet
- Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment call
Why these scores
- English-speaking community
- Weizmann Institute: 'a large English-speaking population by Israeli standards'. NBN: Anglo olim live throughout the city, many near the Berman and Chatam shuls. Scored 3 because the community is spread out in a large city. Judgment call. source ((opens in a new tab))
- French-speaking community
- No source opened describes a French-speaking community. Left blank. source ((opens in a new tab))
- Russian-speaking community
- No source opened describes a Russian-speaking community. Left blank. source ((opens in a new tab))
- For families
- Judgment: the municipal Oleh House runs children's activities and Hebrew for preschoolers, and the city has many schools and neighborhoods. source ((opens in a new tab))
- Quiet
- Judgment: a city of about 155,000 with a busy center; quieter residential neighborhoods on the edges. source ((opens in a new tab))
Some spellings of this name in other languages aren't confirmed by a source yet.
Sources
- Nefesh B'Nefesh community guide: Rehovot ((opens in a new tab))
- Weizmann Institute International Office: Rehovot City ((opens in a new tab))
- Wikipedia: Rehovot ((opens in a new tab))
Checked 11 November 2026
Rehovot Local
Listings, guides, neighborhoods and Shabbat times for Rehovot, on the city's own site.
Visit Rehovot Local ((opens in a new tab))Other cities
Shfela
Hashmonaim
A small religious community of about 3,100 people next to Modiin, midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
English-speaking community
Very large (5 out of 5)Facts and sources
Jerusalem area
Jerusalem
Israel's capital and largest city, with a large English-speaking population and tens of thousands of Nefesh B'Nefesh olim.
English-speaking community
Very large (5 out of 5)Facts and sources