A guide to a place that is almost Heaven on Earth
In August of 2007 I moved with my family from Los Angeles, CA to Tekoa, Israel. It is probably the best thing I have ever done. Since we moved to Tekoa we keep discovering more and more great things about this little village in Israel. I put this page together to share our experience with others who want to know more about Tekoa.
I never thought that a single page on Squidoo could have such and affect. Since I put it up a few months ago it has become one of the top rated pages on Google for the search term 'Tekoa Israel' . This has lead many people to contact me looking for more information and it has been my pleasure to meet them and share with them what I know.
I never thought that a single page on Squidoo could have such and affect. Since I put it up a few months ago it has become one of the top rated pages on Google for the search term 'Tekoa Israel' . This has lead many people to contact me looking for more information and it has been my pleasure to meet them and share with them what I know.
View of Tekoa from atop Herodion.
What is Tekoa?
Tekoa is a Jewish village in the Judea region of Israel located 5 miles south of Jerusalem. Tekoa is mentioned in the Bible as the home of the prophet Amos. Only olive oil produced in Tekoa was allowed in the service in the Holy Temple. This is because it was of such high quality.
In 1978 a small group of Jewish pioneers came back to the site of the ancient Tekoa to found a new Jewish village. Soon Tekoa was incorporated as a mixed religious and secular Yishuv (village).
This is very rare in Israel because most villages are founded to cater to a specific type of people. Generally people move to a Yishuv because they want to live a quiet life with like minded people. In Tekoa we believe that all Jews are one family and that we should be able to live together even if we don't agree on everything.
Today there are over 350 families here. Some are native Israelis. Others are immigrants from America, Russia, France, England etc. Some families are very religious, even Hasidic. Others are completely secular. We all have in common that we believe strongly in the Jewish people and the Jewish land.
In 1978 a small group of Jewish pioneers came back to the site of the ancient Tekoa to found a new Jewish village. Soon Tekoa was incorporated as a mixed religious and secular Yishuv (village).
This is very rare in Israel because most villages are founded to cater to a specific type of people. Generally people move to a Yishuv because they want to live a quiet life with like minded people. In Tekoa we believe that all Jews are one family and that we should be able to live together even if we don't agree on everything.
Today there are over 350 families here. Some are native Israelis. Others are immigrants from America, Russia, France, England etc. Some families are very religious, even Hasidic. Others are completely secular. We all have in common that we believe strongly in the Jewish people and the Jewish land.
Religious and secular boys in Tekoa Preschool.
What's Great About Tekoa
My top 10 favorite things.
- It's a warm friendly place to live.
- Your kids can go to their friends house by themselves.
- The view is breathtaking.
- The cleanest tap water in Israel from our own deep source. It taste better than bottled water!
- Most amazing public school in Israel. Its called Achdut Yisrael (Jewish Unity). There are kids with no kippah in the same class with kids with long peyos and somehow it works beautifully!
- Clean, dry desert air. No humidity.
- People who are not preoccupied with the rat-race. Everyone here is very unique. There are many artist, writers, and musicians.
- Even though you have a choice of synagogues, people don't go only to theirs. Most people will stop in to pray at the other Synagogues also.
- You can really be yourself in Tekoa. Tekoa was founded in order to allow all different kinds of Jews live together and get along and it has worked for 30 years.
- While I sit in my office writing this I can see the Herodion mountain out the window in front of me and all the way to the Dead Sea out the window to my right!
View of Herodion (and my neighbors grape vines) from my office
What's in Tekoa
For a small Yishuv, Tekoa has a lot going on.
- A Makolet (general store) offering all of your day to day needs.
- A small Pizza place that is opened for take out on most evenings. (It's really cool, they operate out of this little hut and they make the best Pizza around)
- A very beautiful public swimming pool. It is half-olympic sized and nicely landscaped. Because some people in Tekoa are religious and others not, they have different hours for mens, womens, and mixed swimming.
- Daycare Center
- Preschool
- An amazing elementary school called Achdut Yisrael (Jewish Unity). When we were trying to decide if we should send our kids, we asked teenagers who had gone there what they think of it. They all said that the best years of their life were at Achdut Yisrael.
- Several synagogues. Ashkenazi, Sefaradi, Chabad and Breslov.
- Many, many beautiful parks.
- A full Tennis court and a full basketball court.
- An amphitheater, community center and library.
- All kinds of youth clubs and classes for all ages. Among them are Karate, art, dance, arobics etc. etc.
- Horse ranch with riding lessons.
- A Yeshiva run by the world famous Rabbi Adin Steinsalz.
- Regular bus service to Jerusalem.
- The Beit Bad is both an industrial olive press and cafe. The olive press is renewing the ancient tradition of olive oil production in this region. The cafe often features live music in the evenings.
- The Tekoa Mushroom farm produces some of the best tasting mushrooms in the world. (The Japanese come here to learn how to grow Shiitake mushrooms)
Tekoa Swimming Pool
Real Estate in Tekoa
I have had a lot of people email me asking if I could recommend a Realtor in Tekoa. I would like to recommend our friend Efrat Ben Asher. She is extremely friendly and helpful. She can be reached at 050 874 2480. If you are dialing from America you would dial 011-972-50-874-2480.
Tell her I sent you, she will be very happy to hear it.
Tell her I sent you, she will be very happy to hear it.
Leave me a message...
If you have questions or comments about Tekoa, Israel, leave them here.
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- Yishai and Adina Leah Mishkan Yishai and Adina Leah Mishkan Nov 9, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
- We are making Aliyah Spring or summer of 2010.What options are there in tekoa for Olim ie. housing ,ulpon etc.
It sounds like a wonderful Place. We have 3 children at the moment and would like a place to fit in.Thank you
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- Aaron_Shaffier Aaron_Shaffier Nov 18, 2009 @ 8:06 am
- Dear Mishkan family. I am not aware of any special service for olim in Tekoa. We found that people were very helpful to us when we moved here from California. You would do Ulpan in either Jerusalem or Efrat. Both places are a pretty short drive or bus ride away.
I would really suggest that you make a pilot trip and check it out. When you come and talk to people and see the school etc. you will probably get really good feeling if it is for you. It seems to me that most people either really love the place or just can't see what everyone sees in it. I haven't come across too many people who are riding the fence.
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- Aaron_Shaffier Aaron_Shaffier Aug 23, 2009 @ 12:16 am | in reply to Tekoa Lynn Johnson
- Thanks for sharing your story. If you are ever in Israel, stop by for a visit and look us up!
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- Tekoa Lynn Johnson Tekoa Lynn Johnson Aug 22, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
- Aaron, I really like and appreciate your site. My given name is "Tekoa" and my younger brother's middle name is "Aaron". Oddly, we are not Jewish... Southern Baptist from Western Kentucky, USA. My grandfather was a "backwoods" bible thumping minister and both sides of my family are Southern Baptist. "Tekoa" was always a tough name growing up. I could just reply that my parents were kinda "early Hippies" and liked "The Wilderness of Tekoa" as a biblical name. I would say that its just a place in the maps in the back of the Bible ..... I was wrong ! Thanks ......
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- Armando orrego Armando orrego Aug 4, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
- Hi, i am from Colombia South America, i´m reading your comentaries of Tekoa, sounds great. We are thiking spend vacation in Tekoa maybe in one or two years. Do you have any information over hotels options. My friends and me are people that love the Israel Culture and in our travel will be great to be in Tekoa some days.
Regards,
Armando
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- Sahnei Sahnei Jul 24, 2009 @ 9:30 pm | in reply to Aaron_Shaffier
- Aaron I am an African American christian and am studying the book of Amos. I have lived in Europe before and I love living abroad. I think this website is fascinating. What do you think Tekoans would think of an African American christian family living there esp. since it's not a completely religious town. Do you think Tekoa is that contemporary yet? I noticed you say "...if you are jewish..."
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- Netanel Moshel Netanel Moshel Jul 22, 2009 @ 9:58 pm
- Hey, Aaron, I like this article, you write well!! and nice design.
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- Steve norman Steve norman Jul 8, 2009 @ 3:45 am
- Hi modern tekoans ,
I am interested in Tekoa after studing the book of Amos in Hebrew scriptures. Among other things I am a student at Oxford University here in England. One thing some Christian writers say is that the strategic location of tekoa as a fortified settlement may have given the old prophet his internationalist outlook. Any comments ? Can you see the lands outside ancient Judah from modern Tekoa? Would it have been used as an observaton point in the past ?
Secondly for today- Do you have much contact with Arabs and even non-arab christians in your locality? What is the attitude in the Yishuv to the non Jewish population of Israel? I am Interested to know wether modern tekoans have an internationalist outlook too.
Thanks for your comments
Steve Norman
sgnorman@doctors.net.uk
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- gary berlind gary berlind Jun 17, 2009 @ 12:41 am
- Hi again Aaron:
It's been a couple of weeks since i responded to your questions about my original posting, and I haven't yet heard back from you. Are you making any progress? I really would like to connect with one or more of your Tekoa musicians. Please get back to me if you can; i seriously need the connection as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Gary Berlind
gberlind@berlindpr.com
[in reply to Aaron_Shaffier]
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- michelle michelle Jun 4, 2009 @ 8:51 am
- Shalom all. We've recently begun construction of our house in Tekoa --- It's rather exciting. Meanwhile, we're interested in renting a house (large caravan?) in Tekoa until our house is ready (Jan-Feb?-- G-d willing). We are a family of 8 so we'd probably need a minimum of 4 bedrooms- - (depending upon square meters).
I know this seems far fetched to find such a short term rental in a smallish yishuv but (for those who are unaware) in the holy land, if you put your wish out there and it's meant to be-- IT HAPPENS!
Thanks in advance for your help.
michelle
peacewoman9@yahoo.com
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In short...If you are Jewish, and you are a nice person, Tekoa is for you.
So...What are you waiting for?!
Get on a flight and come visit. I'll be happy to show you around.
Good for free 30 minute walking tour.
Come to Tekoa and look me up and I'll be happy to give you a walking tour around the Yishuv. No charge.
by Aaron_Shaffier
Torah scribe and teacher. Owner of MezuzahStore.com, an online store selling Mezuzahs and other Judaica items. (more)
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