Essential Resources for Anglo Dads in Israel

One bookmark-it page of the organisations, services and links that actually help when you're raising a family in Israel as an English speaker. You moved halfway across the world with a stroller and a dream — the least we can do is save you 40 browser tabs. Save this page.

Getting settled / Aliyah

• Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) — the big one for North American and British olim: aliyah paperwork, employment help, a genuinely useful job board and an events calendar. Their "Life in Israel" guides answer questions you didn't know you had yet.
• Yad L'Olim — founded by former MK Dov Lipman; free one-on-one help with post-aliyah bureaucracy, healthcare navigation and school placement. When you're stuck between two government offices pointing at each other, these are your people.
• Chaim V'Chessed — Jerusalem-based advocates for English speakers: visas, Bituach Leumi, hospitals, health funds. Their step-by-step information guides are gold.
• AACI — the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel, since

1. Branches and counselling in the main Anglo centres.

• ESRA — Israel's largest English-speaking community network. Social events, volunteering, and actual humans who'll explain how things work here.
• Telfed — support for South African and Australian olim: employment, scholarships, community.

Healthcare

• Health funds (Kupot Cholim) — you must join one: Clalit (*2700), Maccabi (*3555), Meuhedet (*3833), Leumit (*507). All four have English-speaking phone service if you ask; Maccabi and Meuhedet are popular with Anglos. NBN's comparison guide helps you choose.
• Terem — urgent care clinics, open evenings, weekends and chagim, usually with English-speaking staff. For the 9pm "he jumped off the couch, is that arm supposed to bend like that?" moments.
• Emergency numbers — save these now, not later: 101 ambulance (Magen David Adom), 1221 (United Hatzalah — volunteer first responders, often first on scene), 100 police, 102 fire, 104 Home Front Command.

Bureaucracy & money

• Bituach Leumi (National Insurance) — child allowance (kitzvat yeladim, paid on the 20th of the month), parental leave, and the savings plan for every child. Yes, the state saves money for your kids. No, it doesn't cover their Bamba budget.
• Misrad HaPnim (Interior Ministry) — Teudat Zehut, passports, family registration. Book an appointment through MyVisit or gov.il; never just show up unless queueing is your hobby.
• Gov.il in English — the government portal actually has a decent English side these days. Start here before calling anyone.
• See our guide: Dad's Guide to Surviving Israeli Bureaucracy.

Classifieds, housing & local life

• Janglo — the long-standing Anglo classifieds hub: housing, jobs, services, second-hand everything.
• Yad2 — Israel's biggest marketplace for apartments, cars and second-hand gear. Hebrew only, but right-click → "Translate to English" opens up 90% of the market. NBN has a handy Yad2 walkthrough.
• Madlan — neighbourhood data, school info and price history when you're house-hunting. Also Hebrew; also translates fine.
• Secret Tel Aviv — events, jobs, recommendations and a very busy community.

Community (where the real help is)

• Anglo Dads Israel — our Facebook group and page: events, meetups, honest recommendations from dads who've already made the mistakes.
• Anglo Parents in Israel — broader parenting group, great for school and medical intel.
• [Your city] Anglo / English speakers — search Facebook for your local group. The WhatsApp groups that follow are where the real knowledge lives: paediatrician recommendations, plumbers who show up, and which gan has a spot.

Kids, sport & getting out

• Israel Nature and Parks Authority — full English site for the national parks and nature reserves. The Israel Pass / annual Matmon subscription pays for itself fast if you're a hiking family.
• KKL-JNF forests and parks — free entry, picnic tables, marked trails and playgrounds all over the country. The classic Israeli Shabbat-afternoon move.
• Fun in Jerusalem — English-language listings of family activities, chol hamoed events and indoor options, well beyond just Jerusalem.
• Indoor energy-burners — Funtopia, iJump, trampoline and climbing parks in most cities (see our Amusement Parks & Indoor Fun guide). For the days it's 38°C and someone needs to bounce.
• Kaytana (summer camps) — ask in your local Anglo group for English-friendly options, and book early. "Early" in Israel means Pesach. You've been warned.

Getting around

• Moovit — public transport routing, in English. You can also pay for rides in the app.
• Rav-Kav & pay-by-phone — the Rav-Kav card works on all buses and trains, or skip the plastic and pay by app with HopOn Rav-Pass or Moovit. Kids under 18 get discounted profiles — sort it once, save forever.
• Pango / Cellopark — pay for street parking by app, because nobody carries coins and the inspectors know it.
• Waze — invented here, works best here. Trust it over your instincts.