Location
Kiryat Tivon is a town in the Haifa district of Israel, in the hills between the Zevulun and Jezreel valleys. Located 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) southeast of Haifa, Kiryat Tivon is situated on the main road to Nazareth. Kiryat Tivon, with a population of 17,500, has a cultural center, a library, restaurants, and shops, as well as medical and dental facilities.
On the outskirts of Tivon is a Bedouin town called Basmat Tab’un.
About four kilometers east of Kiryat Tivon is the town of Ramat Yishay. It has a center with a number of malls, restaurants, and medical centers.
The city of Haifa, which is a half hour bus ride from Oranim, has beautiful beaches, scenic views from Mount Carmel, and areas for hiking. It is the home of the magnificent Bahai Gardens and Temple, theaters, concert halls, restaurants and museums. In addition, sites of religious worship of the main religions can be found in Haifa.
The Galilee region, to the north of Kiryat Tivon, is one of Israel’s main tourist centers, with beautiful nature reserves and historical and cultural sites.
Public Transportation
There is a bus stop at the entrance to Kiryat Tivon from which direct bus routes travel to and from main cities in Israel, including Haifa (bus line 75), Tel Aviv (bus line 826), Jerusalem (bus line 968) and Nazareth (331/332/333). The same bus lines that travel to Nazareth also stop at Ramat Yishay’s center. From Oranim, one can either walk for 15 minutes to reach the main bus stop, or take a five-minute bus ride (lines 301 \ 302 \ 303 \ 331 \ 332 \ 333) that stops opposite Oranim’s gate.
Most public transportation runs throughout the week until Friday afternoon and then resumes on Saturday night.
Tourist Information
For tourist information on Haifa, see
For tourist information on the Galilee region, see
Health Insurance
International students at Oranim College obtain comprehensive health insurance through Harel Insurance. Students receive a Clalit insurance card (one of the major insurance providers in Israel) giving them access to all Clalit services, including Clalit clinics all over the country. There is a Clalit clinic in walking distance from campus. In addition, the insurance covers home doctor visits through the Bikkur Rofim service. Oranim International School’s insurance agent at Harel is available to answer any questions.
Food
Oranim has two kosher cafeterias, one dairy and one meat, where students can buy meals at reasonable prices. The cafeterias are open from 7am to 5pm. There are also some basic groceries to buy at the cafeteria. Supermarkets are nearby in Kiryat Tivon.
Safety and Security
The safety of our students is our highest priority. Oranim College is a quiet, rural campus. Security guards check every individual coming on to campus and patrol the grounds. A guard is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Accessibility
Oranim College is in the process of making its entire campus accessible to people with special needs, including those with physical and sensory disabilities. An accessibility coordinator is available to help each student meet his or her unique needs.
Languages
Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of the State of Israel. All Israeli school children learn Hebrew, Arabic, and English, and English is spoken by virtually everyone in the country. Israel, whose people have come from some 120 countries, is a multi-lingual country, with large numbers of Israelis speaking Russian, French, Spanish, Yiddish and many other languages. Almost every highway and street sign is in English as well as Hebrew and Arabic, and English language newspapers, magazines, and books are available everywhere.
Weather
The Haifa area has a Mediterranean climate with dry hot summers and mild winters.
Dress Code
Dress is usually informal in the streets and casual for students in an academic setting. When visiting some religious communities, modest dress may be preferred.
Time Zone and Calendar
Israel is in the UTC/GMT +2 hours zone, and uses daylight saving times, with clock changes in March and October.
The workweek is from Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday are the weekend.
Visa Information
For general information on obtaining a visa to Israel, see here
For a list of Israeli consulates and embassies throughout the world, see here