New olim
New to Zichron Yaakov? Start here
The council says about ten percent of Zichron's families made aliyah in the last 15 years, mostly from North America, South Africa, the UK, Australia and France. Its Social Services department has a dedicated olim team, English-speaking staff and a set of English WhatsApp groups.
New olim
Start here
7 steps, in the order most people take them.
- 1
Contact the council olim team
The olim project in the council's Social Services department helps with bank accounts, Bituach Leumi, arnona discounts, bills and school or gan registration, in English.
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Book the Ministry absorption counsellor
Meetings with the regional Ministry of Aliyah and Integration counsellor are booked through myVisit (website or app); the Ministry personal area handles most applications online.
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Join the English WhatsApp groups
The "ZY English Community" groups (Emergencies, Zichron Events, New Olim with K-12 Children, New Olim 55+ and others) are joined by sending your name and number to the council contacts on its page.
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Start Hebrew
Options listed by the council: the free intensive Ministry ulpan in Hadera (referral needed), Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael's ulpan for young adults, Ulpan Ve'Ahavta (paid, two mornings a week) and a free Hebrew reading group at Zamarin.
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Register children for gan and school
Registration for the next school year runs in January-February (19 January to 8 February 2026 for 2026-27); olim without residency in Zichron cannot register for Zichron schools.
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Arnona
The occupier pays arnona; bring a lease of at least a year or a purchase contract to change the name on the account. Olim discounts are applied by the arnona department.
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Use Nefesh B'Nefesh and AACI
NBN's Zichron community guide covers where olim live, schools by stream and housing sites; AACI's northern counsellor helps members of any nationality.
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Guides
Read next
- Your first week in Zichron Yaakov: what to do, in what orderThe first-week list for new olim in Zichron Yaakov: the council offices, the olim team, the 106 hotline, emergency numbers, English groups and where Hebrew classes really are.
- Schools and gans in Zichron Yaakov: zones, registration and the optionsHow school and gan registration works in Zichron Yaakov: the primary and high schools, registration dates and documents, zoning, afternoon care and who to call.
- Zichron's neighbourhoods compared: the moshava, the ridges and the new eastThe 15 official council zones of Zichron Yaakov, when each was built, where English-speaking olim tend to live, and how arnona differs between them.
- Renting and buying in Zichron Yaakov: arnona, discounts and the paperworkZichron's 2026 arnona zones and rates, the discounts (olim, seniors, reservists, standing order), changing the occupier, the contract you need for gan registration, and where to look.
- Health funds and health care in Zichron YaakovWhich kupot have clinics in Zichron Yaakov, English-speaking doctors, blood tests, pharmacies open on Shabbat, and where to go at night and on weekends.
- Registering for gan and school in Zichron Yaakov (2027-28)When and how to register children for gan, first grade and high school in Zichron, the documents new residents and olim need, zones, afternoon care and where to get help in English. The 2027-28 dates were not out yet on 9 October 2026; the 2026-27 process is given as a reference.
Good to know
NBN notes that olim are spread across town by religious affiliation: Dati Leumi olim often near Ohel Yaakov and Moed in the Moshava, and HaShmura, Halomot Zichron and Neve HaBaron are popular with other olim.
Community groups
Where people talk
- Five Towns Israel email groupOther · Volunteer administrator (community-run)
- KEF Club (English speakers 55+): WhatsApp and email bulletinsWhatsApp · KEF Club, sponsored by the council's Department of Social Services and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration
- Nefesh B'Nefesh Communities Facebook groupFacebook · Nefesh B'Nefesh
- ZY English Community: EmergenciesWhatsApp · ZY English Community (listed by the council olim team)
- ZY English Community: Local Volunteer OpportunitiesWhatsApp · ZY English Community (listed by the council olim team)
- ZY English Community: New Olim 55+WhatsApp · ZY English Community (listed by the council olim team)
Source
- Zichron Yaakov Local Council (opens in a new tab)
- Zichron Yaakov Local Council (opens in a new tab)
- gov.il (opens in a new tab)
- Zichron Yaakov Local Council (opens in a new tab)
- Zichron Yaakov Local Council (opens in a new tab)
- Nefesh B'Nefesh (opens in a new tab)
This page was written for Zichron Yaakov from the sources above.
