Ashdod, for newcomers and locals
Places checked against their own sources, this week's Shabbat times and weather, what's on, and the practical answers newcomers ask for.
- 17:56
- Candle lighting Friday
- 25°
- Right now
- 20
- Quarters
- 232
- Checked places
Photo: מקף־עברי, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · resized and converted to WebP
This week
This week in Ashdod
כ״ט בְּתִשְׁרֵי תשפ״ז
Shabbat
Parashat Bereshit
Friday 9 October
- Candle lighting
- 17:56
- Havdalah
- 18:52
- Parsha:Parashat Bereshit (opens in a new tab)
- Haftarah:I Samuel 20:18-42 (opens in a new tab)
- Daf yomi:Bechorot 22 (opens in a new tab)
Readings from Hebcal (Israel schedule); texts open on Sefaria.
Coming up
- 13OctAshdod Race 38 in memory of Rafi Hamaoui (roads closed 15:00-19:00) (opens in a new tab)15:00 · Ashdod Municipality
- 13OctItamar and the Magic Hat (children's musical play) (opens in a new tab)17:15 · Ironit
- 14OctApartment for Rent (children's play) (opens in a new tab)17:30 · Ironit
Who are you?
Start where you are
Pick the page that fits you: the first steps, the right places in the directory and the people to ask.
Explore
Everything for life in Ashdod
Local directory
Places checked against their own source
Every listing links to where its details came from and shows the date it was last checked. Filter by language spoken, kashrut and neighbourhood.
The place
A port city built by olim, on the beach
- Declared bathing beaches with lifeguards
- 7Declared bathing beaches with lifeguardsSource (opens in a new tab)
- Of residents are olim, most from the former USSR
- 38%Of residents are olim, most from the former USSRSource (opens in a new tab)
- Languages spoken, by residents from 99 communities
- 20+Languages spoken, by residents from 99 communitiesSource (opens in a new tab)
Aerial view of the Ashdod-Yam fortress ruins on the beach, with the sea in front and Ashdod's high-rises behind
Photo: Bukvoed, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · resized and converted to WebP
New in town
Your first weeks in Ashdod, step by step
The paperwork, the health fund, the bank, the bus card and the arnona office, in the order that saves you trips. Your progress stays on your device.
- 1
Before you land
- Gather original documents
- Check your aliyah file is complete
- Compare the four health funds
- 2
First week
- Install Home Front Command and find your shelter
- Get a Rav-Kav or a payment app
- Open a bank account
- 3
First month
- Register for arnona at the municipality
- Sign up for ulpan
- Meet your absorption adviser
- 4
First three months
- Ask your employer about tax credit points
- Check your National Insurance status
- Decide on health fund supplementary cover
Guides
Practical guides, with the common questions answered
- 01Your first week in Ashdod: what to do, in what orderA day-by-day first week for olim in Ashdod: Ministry of Aliyah, Population Authority, health fund, municipality, arnona, ulpan and Rav-Kav.
- 02Ashdod neighbourhoods compared: which quarter suits you?Ashdod's quarters from Rova Alef to Yud-Zayin, plus City, Marina and Metropol: older vs newer areas and where Russian and French speakers live.
- 03Schools and gan in Ashdod: registration and supportHow and when to register for gan and school in Ashdod, daycare and tzaharon options, and what support exists for olim children.
- 04Health funds and doctors in Ashdod: kupot, after-hours care and doctors who speak your languageAshdod's four health funds, Maccabi centres by quarter, French- and Russian-speaking doctors, after-hours care, Shabbat pharmacies and Assuta hospital.
- 05Getting around AshdodAshdod's single train station, bus terminals and BRT lines, Rav-Kav, parking rules and what runs on Shabbat.
- 06Shopping and kosher food in Ashdod: certificates, markets, malls and supermarketsHow the Ashdod Rabbanut's three kashrut certificates work, which market isn't supervised, and where to find the malls and main supermarkets.
Useful apps
The apps people here actually use
Organisations newcomers use
From our network
Good people I work with
A few organisations from the Consult With Ari network whose work reaches people in Ashdod.
These are not paid listings, and they are separate from the checked directory.
Common questions
About this site
Run a business or a community here?
Get listed free, or get a website that works
I'm Ari, and I built this site. Listings here are always free and never paid placement. I also build websites for businesses, shuls and organisations. If you'd like one, book a free call or message me.
