Iriya registration + school assignment
- Lease address determines neighborhood school — choose your area before signing.
- Register with Iriya (municipality) immediately on arrival: Gan spots are limited and filled by order of registration.
- Required documents: Teoudat Oleh or Teudat Zehout, child's birth certificate, lease contract.
- A level assessment interview may be arranged by the school to place the child in the right class.
- Keep digital copies of all documents to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth.
Tzaharon (after-school care)
- Tzaharon covers afternoons after school (typically 14:00–16:00 depending on school).
- Seats are limited by city and neighborhood — register at the same time as the school.
- Costs vary: subsidized based on income (Shekel Hadash); ask the Iriya for the fee schedule.
- Some Tzaharonim include meals, sports and homework support.
- Olim may qualify for partial Tzaharon fee coverage via Misrad Haklita.
Vaccines and school health follow-up
- Updated vaccine record required at enrollment — get it translated or validated at Tipat Halav.
- Catch-up vaccines available through Tipat Halav or Koupat Holim — covered in the national health basket.
- Inform the school early about any medical need: allergies, chronic treatments, prescriptions.
- A school nurse (Ahot Beit Sefer) is present in most public schools.
Mamlahti vs Dati
- Mamlahti: general secular state school — follows official Ministry of Education curriculum.
- Dati: state school with religious orientation — integrates Shabbat, Jewish holidays, Torah study.
- Haredi (Torani): ultra-orthodox system with a distinct curriculum — rarely suited for non-Haredi immigrant children.
- Choose based on family values and project, not only neighborhood.
- Both systems offer the same academic standards in science and mathematics.