2022
ESRA is Israel's largest English-speaking community, aiding the integration of olim,
while working toward equality in Israeli society through its education and welfare projects.
Oct2023

About ESRA

ESRA, the home of English speakers in Israel, is committed to making English speakers feel right at home in Israel by serving as a supportive community network. It provides services, offers activities, and acts as a platform to give back to olim of all ages and at all stages of their integration. Our emphasis lies in three key areas:
1. Strengthening personal resilience (emotional, financial, improving understanding of the Israeli systems, skill development, and more).
2. Offering a rich social and cultural framework (learning and enrichment, social and business networking, leisure activities, knowledge of Israeli heritage, and more).
3. Meaningful volunteering opportunities in English, both within ESRA and in the community through educational and welfare projects that we run for various populations in peripheral areas.
As a platform for giving back, and with ESRA’s growth, we have expanded our aid to additional waves of olim, primarily from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. We lead projects aimed at narrowing socio-geographic gaps, including those stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, for immigrants from Ukraine.
Our projects focus on educational reinforcement, English promotion, excellence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), enrichment, self-growth, and the development of social skills for children, youth, students, special needs individuals, and families in need.
Both ESRA and its founder and honorary life president, Merle Guttman, have received numerous awards for their initiatives and achievements, including the President's Award for Volunteering, presented for contributions to Israeli society and immigrant absorption, and the Midot Seal of Effectiveness awarded for ESRA's commitment to results-driven projects, constant improvement, leadership, and social impact.

Presidental Award
for Volunteerism

Midot Seal of
Effectiveness

Continuing our impact for good during the pandemic

Quickly adjusting to the new pandemic reality, ESRA expanded its welfare services, held many events online, and creatively continued running important education and welfare projects. Such as ESRA Students Build a Community, whereby financially stressed students receive free housing in exchange for mentoring local schoolchildren and becoming community activists alongside shifting ESRA English Tutoring Programs online.

ESRA Branches: Beer Sheva, Five Towns, Haifa, Jordan Valley/Tiberias, Karmiel/Misgav, Modiin, Netanya, Raanana, Ramat Aviv, Ramat Hasharon, Rehovot, Tel Aviv.

ESRA 40+ Community >

ESRA Five Towns branch

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 email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  |  Chairman, Lucille Cohen  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.