Beit Shemesh Municipality's Absorption Committee met and reviewed the activities of 2025 and presented the goals for the coming year.

2025 was another record year for the city's immigration intake, with 870 new immigrants being absorbed in Beit Shemesh during the year. In total, since 1989, approximately 30,000 immigrants have made their home in the city, a figure that positions Beit Shemesh as one of the leading cities in Israel in immigration intake. Community Division Director Moran Yitzhak noted that new immigrants are attracted by the city's supportive community and vibrant mix of cultures.

Mayor Shmuel Greenberg intends to set up a new branch of "Beit HaOleh" in Ramat Beit Shemesh A. The move is intended to provide a response to the accelerated urban development and make the services of the absorption department accessible to the neighborhood's residents, while continuing the activity in the existing building.

In addition, it was decided to create a community representatives forum, which will consist of representatives from the city's immigrant communities and will serve as a permanent channel for conveying needs, initiatives and challenges from the field. The forum is expected to convene for quarterly work meetings, and the first meeting is scheduled for February 2026.

City Council member and head of the absorption portfolio, Yona Kaufman, said "We focus absorption activity on in-depth programs in the areas of education, service and connection to the community. Successful absorption does not end with initial service, but rather in creating true acclimatization and a long-term sense of belonging in the city."

Photo credit: Chaviva Gordon-Bennett