Modi'in Illit
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| Modi'in Illit | ||
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| Hebrew | מודיעין עילית | |
| Name meaning | Upper Modi'in | |
| Founded in | 1994 | |
| Government | City (from 2008) | |
| District | Judea and Samaria Area | |
| Population | 40,000 (2007) | |
| Jurisdiction | 6,000 dunams (6 km²) | |
| Mayor | Rabbi Yaakov Gutterman | |
Modi'in Illit (Hebrew: מודיעין עילית, lit. Upper Modi'in) is an Israeli settlement and city in the foothills of the Judean Mountains of central Israel, midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It is often referred to as Kiryat Sefer (lit. "Book Town"), the name of the settlement’s original neighborhood.
Modi'in Illit is positioned within the West Bank, 2.3 km from the 1967 Green Line, 5 km from the 443 highway. Modi'in Illit is unique in that it is built on privately-owned land, and its first homes were completed in 1994. As its name implies, Modi'in Illit is a suburb of Modi'in. The local council of Modi'in Illit was given city status on March 7, 2008, by Aluf Gadi Shamni.[1]
According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), as of August 2007, the town had a total population of about 40,000[1], making it the largest Israeli settlement in the West Bank.[2] The city has a large annual growth rate of 18 percent, due to new home construction and natural population growth. An estimated 70 percent of the population is under age 40. There are many immigrants, mostly from England, France, Switzerland and the United States. The entire population of Modi'in Illit is observant Jews, following strict adherence to Shabbat, kashrut, and tzniut. Most residents are Ashkenazi Jews in the Lithuanian tradition, but there are also Sefardi and Chassidic Jews.
Modi'in Illit has 30 elementary schools and 20 secondary schools (seminaries and yeshivas). The city is home to many commercial enterprises. Because of its sizable English-speaking immigrant population, it has become a center for high-quality "outsourcing" by American companies. There are approximately 80 synagogues. A significant number of men study the Torah full time.
Kiryat Sefer is originally a biblical city, mentioned in the Book of Judges. Kiryat Sefer was destroyed by the Romans in the second century. The remains of the village was the focus of an archeological excavation during the 1990s, which has been preserved within the area of the modern city.
Situated 286 meters (938 feet) above sea level, Modi'in Illit has mild winters and hot, dry summers with temperatures averaging 32°C (88°F) during the day.
The second-largest neighborhood in Modi'in Ilit is Brachfeld, home of the famous Mir Yeshiva. Modi'in Illit's immediate neighbors are Moshav Matityahu (home of Rabbi Zev Leff), and Hashmonaim.
Rabbi Meir Kessler is the Chief Rabbi, and Rabbi Yaakov Gutterman is head of the Municipal Council.
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