Swimming Team from Raanana

Check out this article about the swim team of 13 and 14 year olds that represented Raanana (and Israel in fact) at a swimming competition in Poland this week. The swim meet focused on integrating able-bodied and disabled swimmers.

The kids came from various Raanana schools - Sharon, Rimmon, Maytarim, Royee Klien.

Europe wiothout Barriers

Want to volunteer with animals?

If you're interested in doing some volunteer work here is an opportunity involving dogs. At Raanana's Municipal Kennels dogs are kept for various reasons (some because they have lost their owners) and these dogs need to be taken out for walks regularly. Volunteers are needed who will take the dogs from the kennels (which are next to Kfar Nachman, on the road which leads to the cemetery adjacent to Kiriat Sharet) for a walk.

If you are interested in walking dogs from the kennels this is done every morning except Tuesdays, between 09:30 and 11:30 and on a Friday between 08:30 and 10:00. You can volunteer for as many or as few hours as you can. The dogs really need some loving attention.

Another opportunity is to volunteer at the Raanana Park on a Saturday to help with the "adopt a pet" day which happens there regularly. These dogs really need homes and lots of love.

To volunteer to walk dogs from the Raanana Municipal Kennels call: Noa 050-4505051
To volunteer at the park for adopt a pet day on Saturdays call:Ruty 054-2581100

Where to find organic products in Raanana

There are a suprising amount of organic stores in Raanana, in fact you won't have any difficulty finding the products you are looking for from fruit and veg to cleaning products you can find organic and natural preoducts at one of the following stores:

• Bio Center for Organic Food


• Nitzat HaDuvdevan


• Supersal Deal - Supersal Green


• Mega - Eden Teva

To read more details about these stores and get their addresses and website addresses read this article:
Where to find organic food in Raanana.

Venue for weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Raanana?

Looking for an "Olam Iruim" in Raanana, well there are plenty of great small event venues and restaurants that can be used for small events, but larger events normally have to be celebrated outside of Raanana. Well there are at least 2 event halls in Raanana which can cater for approximately 200-250 guests. Both are in the Raanana industrial area. The first is Migo, which was once called something else and before that it was the Hanger store. It is situated opposite the Mall (Kanion) at 15 HaTa'asia Road. From personal experience I can tell you the meat is about the best I've tasted at an Israeli events hall and they serve large helpings. They also have a deal where you can get the "design" (table decor, balloons etc), D.J. snacks for kids, sound and lighting for an all inclusive price. There is an upstairs area for kid's games during the event, and they have a resident D.J. you can choose to use or not. I know their average price but I'm probably not supposed to say, if you want more info leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.

The other events hall in Raanana is quite new, it is near the present location of Hanger at 10 HaTa'asia Road and is called Yoma Zoar and can be contacted at tel: 09-7466555. Sorry I don't know that much about it and couldn't find their website, but the adverts look good.

Where to get a bicycle fixed in Ranaana?

There are several good bike stores in Raanana but I can recommend the one at 31 Rechov HaNegev, between Hanken and Macabbi behind the Elram Center on Ahuza - Ranaana Bike. A few of the things I like about this cycling store are:

• They also buy and sell second hand bicycles.



• Their prices are reasonable - for example 20 shekel to fix a puncture.



• They sell all the accessories, motorized bikes, kid's bikes and professional bikes.



• The service is friendly. They help you get the bike in and out of the car.



• They work quickly, if they're not busy you can wait while they repair a bike and if they're busy it takes an hour or so. Of course it depends what's wrong with the bicycle.

Other bicycle stores include:

Techno Bike - 3 Ben Gurion
Rosen and Minch - 12 Haitsira
Ofna Avi - 146 Ahuza

Try my favorite:

Raanana Bike
31 HaNegev
Tel: 09-7462620
Open hours 09:30-19:30 and till 15:30 on Fridays.
Website:(Hebrew)
Raanana Bike

Where to buy fresh fish in Raanana?

Looking for fresh fish of all varieties try the small hole in the wall store - Super Fish - or - Super Dag - on Motskin street. Enter Motskin from Ahuza and soon you will see a row of stores on your right. There is this fresh fish store which also delivers. Although small people come from far and wide to buy their fish here.

Falafal for Parties in Raanana

If you need falafel for a party or gan/school event most of the falafel shops in Raaanana will gladly sell you the individual falafel balls, hot and ready to serve. This means that you will still need to put them in pita bread and add any extra humus or salad. The falafel should cost something like 0.80 - 1.00 each. I have bought falafel balls from Yafa and Sarah, the restaurant at the entrance to Kfar Batia on Jerusalem Road, Falafel shop and Kippa Adama also can prepare for you falafel balls in quantities. The bigger problem is getting the hot falafel balls at the time you want. For example if you are having a party at nursery school and need the falafel for 10.30am a lot of the falafel restaurants are not yet open, and you have to ask them nicely to open up early for you.

Alternatively the Falafel Hatuka on the corner of Hanken Street and Ahuza can offer you a different and more cost service. For 500 shekels they will bring all their food preparation equipment to your event and prepare the falafel meals on the spot including chips, salad, cabbage, humus and tichina. The total price is 500 shekels plus a price for each serving of falafel.

Kids Days Out Israel!

This is a great blog full of fun ideas of what to do with the kids. These kids activities are across the country, not in Raanana, but definately worth looking at.

KID'S DAYS OUT ISRAEL!

English Info about new recycling system in Raanana

You may have seen the posters and bill boards about the new laws for recycling household waste and seperating waste into wet and dry items in brown and green bins. Well you can download an English guide to the new recycling system which became law in July 2011. Find the English guide at Adamvateva.

Swimming lessons for kids in Raaanan

Although there are private swimming teachers in and around Raanana (including in Kiryat Ganim and Givat Chen) the municipal swimming pool also offers courses, one on one lessons and training. The team of teachers is highly professional and experienced and the swimming school is run like clock work. They teach toddlers, first time swimmers and have training groups which in 2012 will start competing in competitions against other swimming schools. Their prices are also reasonable: For older kids ( about 10years - eighteen) training is twice a week for an hour and costs 260 shekels a month. A course for a 6 year old who doesn't know how to swim consists of 8 lessons (2 a week) and costs 400 shekels. There are about 8 kids in each group.
For more information call the pool at09 700700 and speak to Ya'ara.
http://factoidz.com/raanana-living-guide-raanana-municipal-swimming-pool/

How to dispose of a dead dog/cat's body in Raanana

Believe it or not the municipality does not have a service which takes away dead animal's bodies and disposes of them. But if you bring your dog to the Municipal veterinary services they will put the dog down and take care of the body for 234.5 shekels. Alternatively you can go to a vet who will put the dog down for 450 shekels and take the body off of your hands for approximately 350 shekels or you can go out into the fields which surround Raanana and bury the dog or cat yourself. If your pet needs to be put down you can contact the Moked at 107 . Take into account that if you have the Municipality put your dog to sleep you cannot be with the animal when it is given the fatal injection. The Municipal veterinarian services are located next to Kfar Nuhman, on Kfar Nachman Road.

Where to get something engraved in Raanana?

After searching high and low for somewhere in Raanana to get a special lock engraved for my husband's birthday I found that at "Matanot L'Gever" - "Gifts for Men" not only engraves items they sell but also any item you can to bring in to them. They charge 15 shekels a word/symbol and it can be done within the hour depending on how busy they are. You can find Matanot L'Gever on the corner of Ahuza Street and Bar Ilan Street, next to the men's clothing store. The entrance is from 124 Ahuza.

Matana L'Gever
124 Ahuza Street
Raanana
Tel: 09-7603 633

Travel Tips

Although this is not directly related to Raanana I would like to tell you about the best way to book your travel. I haven't been too successful in finding a service orientated travel agency in Raanana, although some friends have recommended the one behind Yad Lebanim, next to the Yad Lebanim parking lot. So what I do is book my travel online, it's not as scary as it sounds and once you get used to it it is much cheaper and easier than dealing with an agent. After much trial and error I can whole heartedly recommend:

For flights try Baltic Air, Czech Air, Berlin Air and my favorite at the moment Arkia. Arkia has the most amazing prices and as Israel is Arkia's home country all their European flights are direct. I recently flew to Moscow for $200 and will soon be flying again to Europe for the same price.

For Hotels I used to search the net trying a few sites but then I discovered a Hotel search engine, it's like Google but just for hotel booking sites. So you type in your destination or hotel name and Hotels Combined scans the net and directs you to where the lowest hotel rates are. Only then do you go to the hotel booking site offering the lowest deal.
Try Hotels Combined for 5* hotels at 3* prices.

Raanana Living Guide: More Great Raanana Cafes

This is a list of my favorite cafes in Raanana, I actually had to split the article up into two as there are so many cafes in Raanana. There are even more than I put on the list but this covers most of them. IF you can think of others then feel free to leave a comment and add your favorite Raanana cafe to the list.

Raanana Living Guide: Top Raanana Cafes

Raanana Living Guide: More Great Raanana Cafes

Where to get a sewing machine fixed in Raanana

Finding where to get a sewing machine fixed is one of those annoying things to have to find but here is the answer! Jock Kahn is a South African expat living in Raanana, he is a professional as far as sewing machines are concerned and very knowledgable in his field. Jock fixes all makes of sewing machines and also restores and sells second hand machines for extremely reasonable prices. Jock also accepts trade-ins and offers free advice and help in person or over the phone about your sewing machine problems. Being an ex-South African you will have no problem with the language as he speaks English. To get your sweing machine fixed you won't have to go far either, Jock works from home on Moshe Dyan Street which is off Ahuza Street a little past Merkaz Golan.
Jock Kahn
Repairs - all makes and models
Sales-new and used sewing machines
Trade-in's accepted
Free advice and help
Address: 44 Moshe Dyan Street, Aprtment 2, Raanana
Phone: 052-4672113 or 09-7741568

Where to rent a wheelchair in Raanana

If you want to rent a wheelchair in Raanana your first stop should be Yad Sarah, thier building is next to the electricity company opposite the entrance to the Levinstien Mega supermarket. You could also try calling Meir hospital or Levinstien hospital.

Yad Sarah also rents out other medical equipment such as respirators and crutches.

Blue squares painted at bus stops

You may be wondering what is the significance is of the large blue squares painted on the sidewalk next to Raanana bus stops. It is just the sign telling you that the new bus company - Metropolitan stops here. By the way if you want to see Metropolitan bus schedules online go to: Metropoline
Unfortunately only in Hebrew.

The Best Burgers in Raanana!

If you haven't discovered this place yet then run don't walk - the absolute best hamburger in Raanana is at BurgersBar. If you haven't been there yet then it is probably because it is not in the center of town, although it is on Ahuza. All the BurgerBar hamburgers are 100% beef and they really look like the homemade ones people used to make. There are a variety of sauces and trimmings to add to your huge burger bun. You can also try chicken salad, portobello mushroom burger, chicken nuggets, a selection of salads and french fries. If you like burgers this is the place to go. There is a deal on a burger, chips (french fries) and a drink for under 50 shekels.
You can find BurgersBAr on the corner of Ahuza Street and Hayoval, this is close to Merkaz Golan.

Where to buy spices in Raanana?

For starters you can get herbs and spices in Raanana supermarkets - Supersal, Mega, Yanot Bitan etc. Perhaps of all the supermarkets Mega in the industrial area has the largest selection and the spices are in their organic section and sold by weight not in pre-packed bags.

Apart from the local supermarket there are two spice stores I can recommend, both are run by old Yemeni men and contain a wide variety of spices. You can get Indian, Yemeni, Moroccan and European spices and other dry products in both these stores. They also sell beans, ginger, sugar rock sweets, dried fruits, pasta and some nuts. The spices are sold by weight from sacks or jars.

Neither of these stores is better than the other but the location and personalities of the owners may make you prefer one or the other. The spice store owners are real characters!

Sarum Spice Store

On Ahuza street on the side of Yad Lebanim on the block between Jabotinski and Brandes Streets. As seen in this photo.

Yeffet Spice Store

In the Yemeni neighborhood of Rasko . The entrance to Rasko is on Witzman Street almost opposite Karen Hayasod and next to the nursery.

Where to have alterations done to clothes in Raanana?

Although there are several excellent tailors in Raanana who work out of their homes as a new comer to Raanana you may have trouble finding one. Luckily there is a efficient and proficient tailor that does all kinds of alterations both big and small in Raananim Mall. If you go to the food court in the mall and head towards the Tokyo Park amusement arcade you will see stairs leading up to an exit. Go up the stairs and on your right you will see the tailor's store. Prices are reasonable and they work fast. They handle anything from a hem to curtains. I've had them mend a large cigarette burn in a prominent place on a pair of jeans and the job was excellent.

Where to get your shoes re-heeled in Raanana?

There is a real small hole in the wall cobbler opposite the entrance to the Giron Center in Jabotinski Street. The cobbler is at one end of a passage which starts on Ahuza Street and ends in a little lane on Jabotinski. The store also sells shoe laces and other strange cobbler things I can't identify!

Raanana Purim Parade 2011

It's time again for the happiest holiday in Israel - Purim! Every year Raanana and the rest of Israel celebrates Purim with a street parade called the AdLoYaDa. The parade will take place in 2011 on the 18th March. Find out where, when and how to see or take part in the Raanana Purim parade by following this link:

RAANANA PURIM PARADE

Voleh - Volunteer Oleh Help

Here is a very useful site for new immigrants to Raanana and all of Israel, it is the Volunteer Oleh Help Organization. On their site they say:

Their mission is to ease the immigration and absorption process for new Olim to Israel...provides helpful articles, guidance, and the assistance of volunteers who have themselves been through the process.

VOLEH

Raanana Travel Agents

I'm sorry to say it but I haven't found a Raanana travel agent that I like. If you have one to suggest then I'm open to ideas but only if you have personally been a satisfied customer!
If, like me you book your travel online then you will love this site which I have just discovered: HotelCombined.com it is a hotel search engine, which means it searches all the hotel booking sites online and the hotel sites and brings you a list of the best offers!

To try it out go to:
HotelsCombined.com

Raanana Mikvot - did you know there are two?

There are actually two mikvot in Raanana and they are very different in charactor and location, you should try them both out and see which suits you best. There is one in the eastern corner of Raanana and one in the center of Raanana just off of Ahuza. You can read here all the details of open hours; price, location and other details:

Raanana Mikvah