Apartment hunting in the Tel Aviv area

B"H 

Iran, Jordan, Syria, Gaza … honestly, I am worried and sometimes question where to move to.

I am planning to move into a new apartment on the 1 June or, if possiblem, even before. Therefore, this month will be the month of an intense apartment hunting. Of course, it isn't easy finding something. A bigger place and affordable. Nevertheless, it is possible and I am hoping for the best.

After far more than a year in downtown Tel Aviv, I need a change and less action. The city is far too loud and even quiet areas are noisy at night. I like the coastal area. Especially due to its variety of people and the infrastructure. New Yorkers say that Tel Aviv is like "New York" and I love living in a bigger city. Hoever, I decided to look for a new apartment in the Ramat Gan / Bnei Brak area. For Bnei Brak, I am not frum enough and, as I have mentioned before, I also need a balance between religion and a daily life. I cannot only see Haredim.:-)

For those of you who don't know much about Israel: Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak and Petach Tikwah – all of those are independent cities but gepgraphically very close to each other.

Entering Ramat Gan from Tel Aviv

 Despite many modern building and the stock exchange, Ramat Gan also has a quiet and romantic side.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Choosing an area to live in can raise many doubts. Iran and all other Arab countries have the Tel Aviv area on their destruction list. Shall I look for a new apartment, get settled in order to being bombed ? I cannot go according to those thoughts while I am looking for a new place. Of course, Jerusalem may be more secure in this respect, as the Arab countries wouldn't dare bombing Israel's capital. Arab bombs could hit their Dome of the Rock or the Temple Mount and then it will be hard blaming the Jews for it. 

On the other hand, though, Jerusalem has a bad infrastructure compared to the coastal area, and the city is in danger of becoming an earthquake victim. Whatever I consider, there is a potential danger everywhere.:-)

I quit my present job until the end of the month in order to start something completely different. It will be a busy and chaotic month of May. Apartment hunting, asking for days off from my job in order to have time for all the necessary things to do. After getting settled in June, hopefully life will be a bit more relaxed. New personal goals and I will be back at chassidic Tishes and report a lot about haredi Bnei Brak. 

Inbeetween, I am planning a brief vacation. Travelling a few days around northern Israel: Tiberias and especially Zfat (Safed). I haven't been there for more than a year and I am really looking forward to a visit at the ARI's grave in Zfat. 

 Photo: Miriam Woelke

Those of you who are interested in information about apartment hunting in the Tel Aviv area, you will find a lot to read on this blog in the upcoming weeks.