Teaser – Perks of a Town, Excellence of a City: The Ideal Home for Torah-Oriented Families

Arutz 7

"We Have the Perks of a Small City Within a Large Town"

Just 20 minutes from Shilat Junction lies a Torah-oriented but not stifling community, offering diversity, renowned educational institutions, and breathtaking natural springs. With 68 new homes being built, you’re invited to join

You know those ads promising a new project “just 20 minutes from Tel Aviv,” only to realize that’s the case only if you’re riding a griffin or hitching a rocket ride?

That’s not the case here. You’ll get the truth, and you’re welcome to check it out for yourself—Neria’s new project places you at the heart of Israel, just 20 minutes from Shilat Junction and 45 minutes from both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Neria, established 32 years ago, is located in the Dolev-Talmonim bloc within the Binyamin Regional Council.

Unlike many towns beyond the Green Line that are often isolated, Neria is part of a cluster of communities connected by internal roads, offering convenient daily living. These roads, used exclusively by Israeli citizens, are supplemented by a scenic promenade linking Talmon and Neria, parks with state-of-the-art facilities, and stunning springs, safe enough for teenagers to explore.

No Nosy Neighbors

Neria began as a few families settling the land, supported by students from the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva. Together, they transformed the area into a thriving community. Leading the town to this day is Rabbi Hershkowitz, one of its founders. In its early years, Neria attracted many Mercaz HaRav graduates seeking a community outside Jerusalem. Over time, it grew and diversified while retaining its strong religious identity.

“In Neria, we have all the community support you could want, but no one is intrusive about it,” says Reut Nahum, a resident and former community coordinator. “It’s rare because in many rural towns, the sense of community can become stifling. That’s not the case here. Everyone decides for themselves how much they want to engage.”

When it comes to education, Neria caters to children from infancy through high school. The town boasts nurseries, about 10 kindergartens, a boys' Talmud Torah, and a Torah-centered girls’ school—all highly regarded. “Some families move here just for the excellent education,” Nahum notes. There’s also a Bnei Akiva ulpana, separate youth groups for boys and girls (Ariel), and dedicated youth coordinators and a clubhouse for teens.

“My kids are teenagers now,” says Nahum, “and they still say they love living here. That says it all. Teens in towns often complain they’re bored and want to leave, but in Neria, you don’t hear that. My son can’t wait to come home from yeshiva.”

Religious life is vibrant, with a women’s midrasha, a halacha kollel, and dozens of weekly classes. There’s also an active beit midrash. Neria is ideal for Torah-oriented families seeking a welcoming, non-restrictive community with top-tier educational options which have already made names for themselves. 

“Over the past decade, Neria has tripled in size,” says Nahum. “We’re constantly opening new kindergartens to accommodate the population growth.”

Oved Perel, who has resided in Neria for the past eight years, highlights the community’s diversity: “We moved here for the variety of people. You can find friends from all walks of life.” Perel, 28, is a communications and strategy professional married to Maor, an ulpana teacher, and they have three children.

“In terms of professions, there’s so much variety—freelancers, high-tech employees, rabbis, doctors, educators, civil servants, and entrepreneurs,” he adds. “The collaborative life in the Talmonim bloc gives us incredible strength. Not just in the knowledge that there are neighboring towns—it also makes us a powerful consumer bloc. Delivery companies come here easily, and there’s no sense of isolation. Security is excellent, and kids feel very safe moving between the towns. If I had to sum up life here, it’s like having the perks of a small city within a large town.

“Neria also offers a wide range of activities for children and adults, a communal beit midrash, and a year-round schedule of events that strengthen the community bonds.”

A Gemach for Every Need

The town also has an array of synagogues catering to different traditions. “Before I came here, I didn’t know about all these streams, but now I see it—Moroccan, Yerushalmi, Baladi, Ashkenazi. Everyone finds their connection to their roots, and it brings people together. You’ll see them moving between services, and we all meet at celebrations—or between the grocery store and post office,” Perel says with a smile.

When asked about Neria’s most notable strength, he responds: “The warmth you feel when a new family moves in or when a baby is born is incredible. These can be challenging times that might feel isolating, but here, they’re the best times. I remember moving here during a scorching summer with a large truck. Within minutes, neighbors arrived with cold, sliced watermelon. After unpacking, another family brought us a full dinner. The community arranges meals for an entire week for new parents, so that they can focus on their baby. These traditions speak volumes about the special character here.”

Neria’s community spirit is also reflected in its extensive gemach network. "We always joke that there’s nothing you could want here that you wouldn’t find," says Perel. "The most commonly used gemach is the cash gemach, which serves as a kind of community ATM. There’s also a gas gemach, a brit gemach, a gemach for hot plates and urns, and one for plastic chairs. The list is so long I can’t even remember it all."

Did we stir up your appetite? A new Harei Zahav project currently rolling out in Neria offers housing options tailored to diverse needs. Tiered units with spacious, high-finish apartments ranging from 5 to 7 rooms start at 1.95 million shekels.

For those seeking ground-level homes, there are semi-detached houses in single- or two-story layouts, starting at 2.5 million shekels.

The new offers are part of the second phase of the Neot Neria neighborhood—a young and developing area at the town’s entrance with breathtaking views—is now on sale. Phase one, fully occupied as of last September, brought in 50 families.

The neighborhood is set to become the town’s center, featuring public buildings, a new synagogue, a future commercial center, and a green park with a new amphitheater for community events. Sixty-eight new units are available, and they’re going fast. Come and see for yourself!

Photo Captions:

1. Neot Neria (Photo: Public Relations)

2. From a bird’s-eye view (Photo: Public Relations)

3. Oved Perel (Photo: Eran Shlomo)