My name is Dovi Holtz, and my family and I recently moved to Natzrat Ilit (Upper Nazareth), a Jewish city in the Galilee, after spending two years at Torah MiTzion’s Religious Zionist London Kollel.

When our friends and relatives heard about our plans, they immediately asked, “Didn’t you just get back? Why
Natzrat Ilit happens to be a beautiful Jewish city overlooking the breathtaking Jezreel Valley in Israel’s heartland.
leave again?”

Well, I replied, Natzrat Ilit happens to be a beautiful Jewish city overlooking the breathtaking Jezreel Valley in Israel’s heartland. It has one of the country's lowest unemployment rates, low priced housing and gorgeous weather, . In short, Natzrat Ilit is a wonderful place to live. The city is a mere ten minutes from Afula, twenty minutes from Tiberias, forty minutes from Haifa, and thanks to Route 6 (the Trans-Israel Highway), only an hour from Tel Aviv.

Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? Our neighbors, the Arabs from the nearby city of Nazareth, agree, and over the past ten years, many of them have been relocating to Natzrat Ilit. Since all the Jewish residents leave whenever an Arab family moves into an apartment building, the Galilee’s main Jewish city is slowly being overtaken by Arab inhabitants.

“So,” you may wonder, “what can we do?”

I’m glad you asked.

Here are several ad-hoc suggestions:

First and foremost, join us. Whether you’re a family moving to Israel, a returning resident, or anyone else who happens to be reading this, we would be happy to welcome you and will do our utmost to help families or singles who would like to join our cause.

Next, we need what’s known in Hebrew as “hasbarah” – pr -  in other words, people who can talk, write, and sing about our cause. I find it to be rather unsettling that most of my friends and acquaintances seem to be under the misimpression that Natzrat Ilit is an Arab city.  It’s downright disturbing that a majority of the world’s Jewish population believes that of a Jewish city in the middle of the Jewish State.

Diaspora Jews tend to buy houses in Jerusalem, where they stay during their visits to the Holy Land. Owning a place in our ancestral home is truly a noble privilege. Yet, the Galilee presents a greater (and far cheaper!) opportunity to actualize Zionism. In fact, when you purchase a house or an apartment in the verdant Galilee, you not only acquire a beautiful place to stay during your Israeli vacations, but you help ensure that the Galilee maintains its Jewish character and nature. This is the essence of true Zionism. Furthermore, these apartments could then be rented out reasonably to young couples, who would come live in the city. I’m told that buying a home in Natzrat Ilit is a good long-term financial investment.

At present, a number of groups are working to create a Jewish front in the city, including the Orot Ilit garin Torani (core group of young, observant couples who move to development towns to teach), Yeshivat Hesder Torat Avraham, Chabad-Lubavitch, and the Bnei Akiva youth group. These groups boost Jewish morale, teach Torah and
Finally, come visit. Bring your family/friends/school/youth group.
focus on outreach and Jewish education. They do this mostly without pay and with little financial backing. Supporting them will attract more people to the city and enable the groups to increase their charitable giving.

 If you’re thinking of starting a new business or expanding your old one, why not consider Natzrat Ilit? Commercial real estate is fairly cheap, and the city boasts a skilled workforce.

Finally, come visit. Bring your family/friends/school/youth group. Organize a trip to the Galilee, and enjoy our beautiful city, refreshing breeze and gorgeous surroundings.

I hope, with G-ds’s help that our prayers and dreams of a more Jewish Galilee are actualized in the very near future