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Yad Binyamin
Geographical location: Israel

Geographical coordinates: 31° 48' 0" North, 34° 49' 0" East

Satellite Map Sunrise and Sunset Data available from here

Yad Binyamin, located in Central Israel, with its quiet, pastoral setting, is one of the settlements that comprise the Nachal Sorek Local Council. It is probably unique for Israel in that it combines:

- a religious 'village' lifestyle

- a high proportion of English speakers

- spacious housing

- modern infrastructure

- excellent transport links

History of Yad Binyamin

Yad Binyamin was originally founded as a religious settlement and educational center. It was founded in 1962 by Poalei Agudat Yisrael (Agudat Israel Workers) in partnership with the municipality of Nachal Soreq. It was named after the Minister of Postal Services, Binyamin Mintz. For many years, the community was a center of higher Jewish learning based around the yeshiva in Yad Binyamin, which for 40 years had between 250-300 students until 2002. The yeshiva today has been subsumed into Torat Chaim and Yad Binyamin has effectively been rezoned for residential purposes. Many of the public areas have been upgraded with parks and play areas added, roads repaved and new public buildings. While 5 years ago, the number of residents comprised 2500 people, today the community size has more than doubled.

There are now hundreds of new houses in Yad Binyamin and a new community is developing.

Yad Binyamin forms the municipal headquarters of the Nachal Soreq regional council along with 4 other nearby villages. These are: Hafetz Haim (National Reglious) - A Kibbutz in the process of privatisation Bnei Re'em (National Religious) - A working Moshav of around 250 families Yesodot (Hareidi) - A collective Moshav with around 80 families Bet Hilkiya (Hareidi)

Today, over 200 Gush Katif families reside in Yad Binyamin. Some of them, the families of the Ganei Tal community, will be moving en masse to Kibbutz Hafetz Haim, 100 families will be moving to Nezer Hazani adjacent to Yesodot, while others will be building permanent homes in Yad Binyamin. The total planned size for the entire Yad Binyamin community is approximately 700 families.

Yad Binyamin Facilities Municipal : Clinic (Clalit), Dentist, Eye Clinic, hospice, Baby Wellness Centre, Kindergartens, Nurseries, School, Library, Town Hall, Swimming Pool, Basketball courts

Shops & Services: Mini-market, greengrocers, toy shop, hardware store, Judaica store, lawyer, pizza shop, Gift, Jewelry and Hat shop, Women's hair Salon, Beautician, clothes shop

Other: Yeshiva, Seminary (Midreshet Tohar), Kollel, Mikvaot (Mens, Womens, Keilim), Guest Houses, Matza Factory

Location

Yad Binyamin is located 3 kilometers from the Re’em Junction on route 3 and one kilometer from the intersection of routes 6 and 7 - a thirty minute drive to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva. The railroad from Tel Aviv to Be’er Sheva passes by Yad Binyamin at a distance of less than a kilometer.

The nearest towns are Gedera (10 mins by car) and Rechovot (15 mins by car). Most people use these larger towns for their weekly shopping.

Israel Railroads plan to upgrade and double the track on this route and build a station at Kfar Menachem to serve the area, but it is unclear when this will happen.

Transportation: For bus routes check www.egged.co.il or call *2800 or text message 2800 with the bus line number or the starting point and destination. Up to date schedules are available at the central bus station in Jerusalem and online.

Torah Classes:

There are many shiurim that are given, in both English and Hebrew. Community Composition There are a number of communities who live in Yad Binyamin:

New Residents (Anglo / Israeli),Sephardi, Vatikim, Gush Katif, Torat Chaim At this time no overall Rav has been selected for Yad Binyamin.

New Residents These are a combination of native Israelis and Olim. At present, there are a number of contractors who are building projects in Yad Binyamin that are scheduled for completion throughout 2008 and 2009. The main contractors are: Dona, Chazon & Gallili, Rachamim, Meshulami and Adir. Additionally there are Bnei Beitcha plots although individual plots of land can only be purchased second-hand and are difficult to obtain.

“Yad Binyamin Vatikim Shul” was started by the original “vatik” residents of Yad Binyamin. Nusach: Sphard

Beit Knesset Ganei Tal

Beit Knesset Ganei Tal is composed of the former residents of Ganei Tal. Nusach: Sphard. Location: Beit Knesset Ganei Tal, near the Guest Houses and Midreshet Tohar off Rechov Harel.

Yeshivat Torat Hachaim:

Yeshivat Torat Hachaim is made of up more than 120 married kollel students and 100 yeshiva students under the leadership of the Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Shmuel Tal Nusach: Sphard.

Shirat Katif Nusach: Eidot HaMizrach.

Sha’arei Tzion: Nusach: Yemenite.

The Misrad Haklitah Branch for Yad Binyamin is in Ashdod.

Other Sites on Yad Binyamin

Hebrew Wikipedia Entry