[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

Representatives of Ganei Ha’Ela, a new community in Ramat Beit Shemesh, will be visiting the New York area to meet with potential buyers. Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb, rabbi of the community, and Shelly Levine from Tivuch Shelly, the exclusive agent of the project, will be hosting informational “open house” meetings in the following areas:

• Five Towns / Far Rockaway  |  Sunday, September 7  |  8:00 PM  |  Home of Malky & Yisroel Fulda | 351 Beach 12th Street

• Kew Garden Hills  |  Monday, September 8  |  8:00 PM | Home of  Lauren & Michael Mandelstam | 141-08 73rd Terrace

• Washington Heights  |  Tuesday, September 9  |  8:30 PM | Home of Elana & Ashie Schreier | 475 West 186th Apt. 6F

• Teaneck / Bergenfield  |  Wednesday, September 10  |  8:00 PM | Home of Alyssa & Daniel Barzideh |  34 Laurel Court

In addition to learning about the vision of the community, as well as important housing and financing information, attendees of the open house will be eligible for special pricing options and will also receive a special voucher for $10,000* towards their Aliyah moving expenses – redeemable upon purchase of a home in Ganei Ha’Ela (restrictions apply).

During this trip Ganei Ha’Ela will be introducing two new and affordable home models: the Gilboa, a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom triplex, with a 440 sq. ft. finished attic, for a special introductory price of $385,000* – limited to the first two buyers – and the Hermon, a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom triplex, with a 740 sq. ft. finished attic, for $490,000* – limited to the first two buyers. Both models feature large terraces with spectacular views.

Ganei Ha’ela has already achieved remarkable success with over 60% of the available homes sold. With the infrastructure already completed, final building permits are expected after the Yomim Tovim, and construction is scheduled to begin immediately thereafter. The over 40 families who have already joined Ganei Ha’Ela represent a cross-section of backgrounds, blending recent olim from North America with English and Hebrew speaking families already living in greater Beit Shemesh and throughout Israel.

People familiar with “community building” in Israel have noted that, from the beginning, the process for developing Ganei Ha’Ela has been different than most projects. Typically, a builder targets a specific location, housing models and prices are proposed, and then marketing begins. Ganei Ha’Ela was engineered in the opposite direction. A clear vision of defining values for the community was developed, a core group of families who matched that vision was identified, and lastly, only at that stage, was the location finalized and the builder chosen.

Far from being merely incidental, Rabbi Gottlieb attributes much of the project’s early success to this clear and consistent emphasis on the vision and values of the community – “I truly believe that people are looking to become part of something bigger than themselves and that’s what we hope Ganei Ha’Ela will be.”

Another factor which attracted some of the initial families was the ability to contribute to forming a new community from the ground up. Daniel Fruchter, a dentist who made aliyah last summer, notes that he and his wife were looking for, “a warm and close-knit community where we can contribute and grow along with the kehilla.”

The benefits that living in a community like Ganei Ha’Ela – focused on common values and a shared vision – can offer children is also a strong selling point for many families. As Michal Geffner, a mental health professional who currently lives in Ramat Shilo – an adjacent suburb within Ramat Beit Shemesh – explained, “We are excited about living in a community that truly loves the Torah and Eretz Yisrael. It is important for us to raise our children in such a place and we believe that Ganei Ha’Ela incorporates these ideals.” This was also a deciding factor for Yossi Platnick, a radiologist originally from Flatbush, who noted that, “Of utmost importance to us is to raise our children in a Torah-centric and community-focused neighborhood where they can develop and grow.”

Rabbi Gottlieb further explained that an aspect of the project which has been particularly attractive for olim is the central role that the Beit Knesset will play. With a combined focus on tefillah and Torah study, as well as youth and social programming, the Beit Knesset aims to be the heart – and soul – of Ganei Ha’Ela. While many communities throughout the Diaspora can boast of having such dynamic shuls, this is not a common reality in Israel. Nevertheless, said Rabbi Gottlieb, “we believe that this communal structure is critical, especially for olim, who will face common challenges in a new country and culture.”

To RSVP for the open house or to schedule a private meeting or for any questions regarding the project, email [email protected] or call (646) 783-8408. More information about the project and the various housing options can be found at www.ganeihaela.com

* All dollar prices are based on a 3.5 shekel dollar exchange rate. Prices are displayed in dollars for reference purposes only. All homes will be sold at shekel prices.