Retire in Israel

How do I meet people in Israel?

When we asked people living in Israel about club and activities where newcomers can meet others, they responded:

"Haifa is a very laid back city with a population of about 300,000. There are about permanent English speaking families and many temps who are studying at the universities or working in hi-tech. The young English speakers (up to age 35), have lots of pub evenings and outrings an they are well organized. There is the Anglo-list on Facebook which has about 2000 members and a smaller grou p - Haifa Young English Speakers too. There is a weekly walk on the beach, there is an English speaking branch of the Freemasons, Rotary, BNI and other similar networks. There are lots of volunteer organization who want English speakers to participate in their activities. There is a large Russian community in Haifa as well. A large Bahai and Filippino community live here too," said a retiree who moved to Haifa, Israel.

"I highly recommend a small French restaurant in downtown Jerusalem called "Cavaliere". They offer a great selection of wines from all over the world as well as great food. It's a bit pricey but a special business lunch menu is available. Also I recommend "Sakura" restaurant for Japanese cousine lovers. It's a small place but offers a great selection of sushi, maki etc as well as salads and other lapanese dishes. In my opinion this is the most authentic japanese restaurant in Jerusalem," said another retiree in Jerusalem.

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What is life like in Israel?

When we asked people living in Israel what life is like and how people spend their time, they said:

"Haifa is a family city. The beach, the forests and nature trails are big attractions. It takes less than an hour to get to Tel Aviv which is the main commercial center. There is a huge hi-tech center in Haifa which employs many expats and it is close to another major hi-tech center - Yokneam. THe city of Haifa is focussing on the younger generation, students etc., and are working hard to improve facilities and housing options for them," said another retiree in living in Haifa, Israel.

"60% of the population is very religious and places close on Sabath (on Friday around 3 pm till Saturday's sunset). You may not be able to find a grocery store that is open around this time, so buy food before Sabath," explained a retiree in Jerusalem.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

Learn MoreGET A QUOTE

What do I need to know before retiring in Israel?

When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Israel, they said:

"If you want a quiet family centered lifestyle go to Haifa. If you're single and want night-life go to Tel Aviv. If you want musuems and history go to Jerusalem," explained one retiree living in Haifa.

"Get used to very poor shopping opportunities, rude people and places closing on Sabath," said another retiree in living in Jerusalem, Israel.

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