Our branch was formed in 2012 with the aim of providing social contact for the many English speaking people living in the Tiberias/Jordan Valley area. Our members come from a wide variety of backgrounds.  Some new olim and many who have been in Israel all their adult lives,  We have people from orthodox Jewish communities, secular, non jewish and everything in between. Participants join us from towns and the many kibbutzim and yishuvim in the valley and further afield.  One common factor is that many of  our members feel that our branch is like a family.

We arrange monthly events such as quizzes, speaker meetings and outings.  Our lunch group meets every Wednesday in the shopping mall in Tiberias or during school holidays at the dining room or coffee shop at Degania Bet.  We also have a knitting group providing greatly appreciated blankets and clothing for maternity units in our area,

For anyone wishing to take up volunteering activities ESRA provided training for befrienders and the English Tutoring and Chat Away programme which helps young israelis improve their English language skills.  This is really important for access into higher education.

Through our fundraising activities we are pleased to be able to support ESRA projects nationally.  Locally we provide animal therapy sessions for a kindergarten caring for children with autism.

We are always pleased to welcome new friends so  if you are wondering about getting involved stop thinking about it and come and join us. 

Call or WhatsApp Peta 054 255 7286 or Carol 054 255 7229 and we will be happy to arrange to meet you.

Upcoming Events

ESRA Beer Sheva is one of the newest branches to form and has accomplished quite a lot in a short time.  We are a welcoming group to the many olim settling in the capital of the Negev.  The English-speaking immigrants are welcome to meet other newcomers and to join us in developing a viable volunteer base for the area.  We have gone from 0 to over 60 paid members in less than three years and hope for many more new members. 

We offer a wonderfully informative lecture, each month, and have had many very professional and dynamic lecturers in a variety of subjects.  For the past year we have been offering these lectures, as have the other branches, via ZOOM.

To date, we have volunteers participating in ESRA’s English Teaching Program (ETP) and of course we need more.  The object is to help local school children with their English conversation ranging from Primary to High School level. ESRA offers training to those volunteers and no teaching experience is necessary. We enable those children who have studied English, an opportunity to speak it.  We have found this program rewarding – to both the student and the volunteer.

Funds raised through our various activities and lectures, go to support ESRA’s projects in the area. 

Beer Sheva has had a very active program for underprivileged youngsters in a SkateBoard Club in conjunction with the City of Beer Sheva.  We provide and coordinate the equipment needed and the personnel to help them.  Unfortunately, this year has had no activity due to the City not wanting to endanger the health of the youngsters.

We have started and have a very active Knitting Club and have already donated much-needed knitted and crocheted products to the Soroka Hospital for Pediatrics and Newborn Care Departments.  When possible, we meet in person and when we can’t we ZOOM once a week.  We have gained and met many new members and friends.  We have also started a very successful and fun-filled Mah-Jongg Club. 

We have had an entertaining ‘Vintage Movie’ night once a month when possible (according to the Ministry of Health Guidelines). 

We have had a personal appeal to our members and received individual support for furnishing an apartment for a ‘girls at risk’ facility at Kibbutz Sa’ad.  We also have volunteers helping some of the girls out with their high school exams so that they can go on to further education.

Want to enrich your life, meet new friends, and have the most rewarding experiences, - join ESRA Beer Sheva!

 Chair: Ingrid Barzel
054 4-961995 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ESRA Beer Sheva Upcoming Events

ESRA Five Towns branch is a dynamic, socially oriented group for English speakers in the areas known locally as Five Towns.  This covers the region between Hadera and Hof  Hacarmel including Zichron Ya’akov, Binyamina, Or Akiva, Caesarea and Pardes Hanna/Karkur – the number of towns seemed to grow! New members are always welcome and new olim enjoy free ESRA membership for a year. 

One of the main attractions is our Second Story Bookshop, staffed by an enthusiastic team of volunteers.  Situated on the second floor of the Shmura shopping centre in Zichron Ya’akov, it offers bargain-priced, quality second-hand English books in a welcoming environment, and literary events with excellent speakers including local authors.  Young children and their siblings, parents and grandparents are entertained at regular Story Time sessions while enjoying arts and crafts - often tying in with festivals.

Other activities include festival celebrations and parties, brunches at local cafes, a knitting club and speakers on a wide range of fascinating topics, some in-person and some on Zoom.  

The well-established ESRA English Tutoring Project (ETP) offers volunteers the opportunity to assist with English conversation with teachers and pupils in schools and via Zoom. 

Funds raised benefit several local projects.  These include the Riding and Animal Therapy Centre for children with special needs at Kibbutz Magal, and  vocational training scholarships through which local applicants can transform their lives.

Starting in Caesarea in 2003, the branch was the first to open in the north, and soon included membership from the surrounding area, at which point the name was changed to Five Towns.  The first event was a jazz concert and dinner in a private garden for 200 guests.  This was followed by a choir concert on the terrace of the Dan Caesarea.  The bookshop opened in 2008 in Or Akiva, on the premises of the Meir Panim charity and food bank.

Zichron Ya’akov alone has an estimated 15 - 20% of native English speakers, and the Five Towns area as a whole is an attractive region for new English speaking olim.  New members and volunteers are most welcome. 

For further information, please contact:

Hon. Secretary,  Jane Krivine This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  |  Chairman, Lucille Cohen  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.