Giv'at Shmuel

Found in: Local councils in Israel

'''Giv'at Shmuel''' is a city in the Tel Aviv district, Israel, and is surrounded by the major cities Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Kiryat Ono and Petah Tikva. It is located in Gush Dan and has a population of about 18,500 people (end of 2005). Giv'at Shmuel hosts the largest Friday night Carlebach prayer service in the world.

It has undergone a major expansion and doubled its population from 1998 to 2005. On November 5, 2007, the Israeli Minister of Interior accepted a committee recommendation to change the municipal status of Giv'at Shmuel to 'city'. On July 17, 2008, the city opened a new mall which includes a kosher McDonalds and New Deli.

In less than a year, a leisure and sports center will be established on an area of about 32 dunams in northeastern Givat Shmuel (town plan 3107), which will incorporate tennis courts, fitness rooms, swimming pools, a roller skating rink, a cafeteria and other services. A water park, covering an area of about 5 dunams, is also planned.

Education

Giv'at Shmuel is considered a highly educated town, with 74.3% of high school graduates being eligible for a matriculation certificate.

Sports

Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel, the town's basketball team, currenly play in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball. They reached the State Cup final in 2003, but lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Despite representing Giv'at Shmuel, they play in nearby Or Yehuda.