Eli Birnbaum, Tekoa
Eli Birnbaum, Tekoa
I have been a resident of Tekoah for over 20 years and made aliyah a few years prior to that. I am the father of five boys from 10-24. By profession I am a counseling psychologist but spend most of my time running the Web site and on-line information center for the Jewish Agency.
Eli Birnbaum
elibir@jafi.org
02 6202689
02 9964124
Tekoa
Tekoa is situated at the edge of the Judean desert about 650 meters above sea level. It was founded in 1974 as a Nachal settlement. It became a civilian community in 1977. Today there are over 250 families residing there.
The mixed Yishuv - The ideal of Tekoa is to provide a community where each person could live as he/she desires without imposing their beliefs or practices. Tekoa is proof that religious and less observant people can live together without any difficulties.
In practice people can drive on Shabbat and no one will say anything. At the same time those who do not observe Shabbat do not have garden parties either. This ideal makes it easy for people at all levels of observance to come to one of the 4 Shuls (including Chabad) on Shabbat and feel comfortable.
In addition there is a yeshivat Hesder run by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz which is growing and will begin building its own campus next year.
Social
What makes Tekoa great is the heterogeneity of the community. There is a definite feeling of new immigrants whether, French, Russian or English speaking. In addition the community believes in social integration and has a strong Sephardi community as well as a small group that is affiliated with Chabad.
Culture
There is active "community center" on the yishuv, which offers a wide variety of recreational activities for children and Adults. Last year there were four concerts given by members of the yishuv who play in professional orchestras. As well as well run library with books in various languages
Travel
There is a bus to the Yishuv every two hours. Since the outbreak of the current violence all of our buses travel though gush Etzion but the army is currently building a by-pass road that will make travel to Jerusalem about 20 minutes
School
Tekoa has a full pre school system. Its elementary school won the Knesset prize last year for one of the top innovative schools in the country. It is a mamlachti Dati school and follows the normal curriculum at the same time it leaves open possibilities for those from less religious homes to learn about our heritage in depth without feeling like outsiders
Building today
There are currently three possibilities. One is a build your own home schemes all homes sits on a half dunam (500 sq. meters). The plots themselves cost about $25,000 - 30,000 and includes infrastructure. There are also about 30 houses being built by Amana and go for around 120 K. In addition there is new building in tekoa Bet in which houses sit on larger plots.