Netiwot

Understand

Netivot was founded in 1956 to house new immigrants from North Africa. Its current population is around 31,000.

Get around

Netivot is about a 20 minute walk across. In summer, this can be quite unpleasant.

There are 5 local bus routes. All of them begin at the train station and end in the eastern commercial zone, serving various residential neighborhoods along the way.

Route 1 serves the Baba Sali's tomb. However, on the anniversary of his death, there are likely to be special bus arrangements due to the volume of the crowds.

Do

Netivot is pretty boring 364 days a year. Its claim to fame is the burial place of the Baba Sali, a Moroccan-Israeli rabbi who died in 1984. Once a year, on the Hebrew date of his death, thousands of followers descend on Netivot to commemorate him at the . It is a unique example of Moroccan-Sephardic Jewish culture. It takes place on the Hebrew date 4 Shevat (which falls out each year in January or early February), as well as the night before.