Destressing the Chocolate Way

There's never a dull moment in Israel and today we decided to be part of the crowd in a fun competition taking place. The company "Elite" that makes yummy chocolates (amongst a few other products such as coffee) has a fun competition on the go. Purchase a slab or chocolate of their Origamoo range or אוריגמו. You can select the design of the paper from a few different wrappers and then the fun begins. Carefully remove the whole wrapper and follow the instructions on youtube for how to make up an Elite cow. 

The instructions are all in Hebrew so you get to practice your reading in Hebrew. They give some nice encouragement along the way too.

Take a photograph and share it on FB along with a tag that Elite requests and you now become part of the "Elite club". 

It's a fun way to de-stress from all that is happening in the world and to feel apart of the larger group of chocolate lovers in Israel. Of course, if you have managed to obtain a wrapper and gone through the process of making an Origami cow, you can now sit back and enjoy the yummy chocolate too.

Those entering have been really creative with their photographs, you'll have to visit the page on FB to find out. The images in this post are two of the ones we took after making our origami cows. Aside from the fun and de-stressing, there is another bonus, you stand in line to win an iPhone. 

Have a blessed day and stay warm as Israel prepares for another storm.

Shoshanah Shear

How to Succeed with Chugim / Courses in Israel

After a very hard and unpleasant experience in trying to do a beading workshop at a hobby store, I decided to share a few tips on how to succeed with taking a Chug / workshop. The teachers of the class I had signed up to take were shop assistants in a hobby shop and clearly have no clue how to teach. So, in order to turn a sad situation to good, here are a few tips.

If you hear about a workshop taking place, especially in a hobby shop or venue that is using the workshop or course to encourage sales, you need to find out the following up front before starting:

- Will you be joining an existing class or starting with a new class i.e. will the teacher be teaching you from the beginning. If the teacher is ending up a series of 10 sessions and plunges you in at the end, keep in mind you will miss out on crucial basics. Remember, in general a human being can not walk before they learn to sit or crawl meaning that there is a sequence to the developmental process. The same is true when learning any new skill, learn at the beginning not at the end. 

- Is the teacher going to be there or will she be going away

- What is their teaching method. If you are paying to learn how to do something, presumably you want to learn how to do that specific task, skill etc. Ask the teacher if she keeps on topic. If the teacher is one who is more interested in discussing her upcoming trip than teaching you how to do what it is you are learning, you will be wasting your money. So find out the teaching method and tone of the workshop / course

- Ask for references and phone numbers before you pay and sign up and make sure to call 2-3 before you part with your money

- Make sure that the teacher respects your finances and materials. If the teacher has no problem wasting the materials you have just purchased then you will learn very quickly their motive is to make more sales and not to teach you how to do whatever it is you have signed up to learn.

- Make sure that all items for the course, materials etc are written down for you in a receipt and double check your change. If you are not careful, you can end up being short changed and losing more than just your time and materials.

- Lastly, if you do sign up for the course and the teacher is clearly just wasting your money and thinks it's fine as it's just "For Keff" meaning for fun, ask for your money back and get out while you can. A teacher who does not respect his or her students is not one to learn from, at least not positively. Of course we can learn from everything and you can learn that it is wrong to waste another's money or time or materials or resources. You can learn that and if that is what happens to you then please do learn so and follow Hillel not to do the same to others. Still, if you sign up to learn a skill, the goal you would have is to learn the skill not to learn how not to treat others.

Hatzlachah. I hope you have better experiences than I just had. 

Shoshanah Shear

Grant Available for Small and Medium Businesses in Jerusalem

Do you have a small or medium size business in Jerusalem? That means you need to be registered with Mas Hachnasa as either Osek Patur or Osek Meusha and paying arnona for your work in Jerusalem. If you travel into Jerusalem to do private work but pay arnona outside of Jerusalem it does not count.

If your business has suffered from the wave of terror, you might be eligible for a grant. The Jerusalem Development Authority is offering grants to those small and medium businesses in Jerusalem that have suffered due to the terror. You can visit their website to find out more details http://www.jda.gov.il/ or contact them to find out whether you qualify. 

The information about the grant is written in Hebrew, a good incentive to learn to read Hebrew. If you have questions, email them for further info. maanak@jda.gov.il

It is wonderful to hear about an organization working to help to develop business and progress in Jerusalem.

If you visited their website and managed to apply with success in receiving a grant, please post a comment to let us know that you managed. It helps to give others Chizuk to know that there are businesses receiving these grants.

Hatzlachah and have a blessed day

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet 

 

Personalised Aliyah Support and Assistance For You!

Are you making Aliyah? Have you just arrived in Eretz Yisrael?

Are you having difficulty understanding the various letters, documents, accounts etc. that come in the mail - all in Hebrew? Are you overwhelmed with the details to be organized and sorted out when you make Aliyah and when you arrive in Eretz Yisrael? Do you need more assistance than you feel you are receiving from your Aliyah counselor / Shaliach or coach? Did you know that you are not the only one feeling overwhelmed?
Is the thought of all that has to be taken care of once you arrive keeping you from making Aliyah?

No need to despair! No need to feel alone! Did you know that we offer a personalized service to assist you with your Aliyah process? If you are a native English speaker, here is what we offer you:

• Before making Aliyah, we can assist you with preparation. This is done through a consultation via Skype with webcam. We are here for you - to answer all your questions and brief you with vital day to day living and tasks in Israel (including all items listed below)
• Regular telephone / email correspondence, even before you arrive, while you go through the process
• Assistance to understand the mail that you receive in Hebrew
• Assistance in basic computer / administrative tasks
• Choosing a cell phone plan and opening your account for you
• Choosing your internet provider and opening your account for you
• Choosing your bank and being with you when you open your account
• Assisting you set up your internet banking, showing you how it works and teaching you how to do it yourself. (Further personal assistance available if required at times convenient to you)
• Choosing your Kupat Cholim (medical aid system) and getting to understand the system
• Assistance with shopping and costing of items (helping you economize your shopping list)

We can assist you to complete all the myriad of tasks that are so crucial but can be very overwhelming when coming to a new country, and especially when that new country means having to navigate the system in a foreign language.

Advantages to our service include:

• Personal service according to your unique needs
• Service from a couple who have been through the struggles that you may find yourself in
• Advice is real, no propaganda.
• We'll hold your hand through the process - you are really no longer alone!
• If you are elderly, have special needs, a disability or have a child or family member with a special need, we can help you too.

Please note: We specialise and focus in the Jerusalem area.
 
We'd love to help you make a success of your Aliyah. Please email us for a quote and for more info. 

Eliyahu and Shoshanah

What Are YOUR Needs for 2016

Dear Reader

We'd love to hear what your needs are for 2016. 

Have you already made Aliyah? If yes, how long have you been here for?

Are you planning on Aliyah? If yes, do you have a date of Aliyah yet?

Are you still deciding whether or not to come to Eretz Yisrael? What questions do you have that will help you to make the decision to come home?

Whatever the stage of your Aliyah, what kind of posts, articles or video clips would you like to see more of? 

Would you like to receive a newsletter with other thoughts, words of encouragement etc?

We'd like to hear from you so that we can plan the type of posts that will best suit you and your needs.

You are welcome to post your response below or to send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Have a blessed day

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

Bambi in Hebrew - Lovely way to gain Hebrew

Do you enjoy the children's movie Bambi? Did you consider searching for this and other kids movies in Hebrew? It's a wonderful way to listen to Hebrew in song. In this way you can get used to the sounds of words, begin to enjoy the language and even increase your vocabulary.

Of course, you do not have to watch a Disney film if you have a preference for something different. I hope you enjoyed this short video.

What kind of short stories or songs do you like to listen to? Try searching for it in Hebrew. If you already know the story or the song, it makes it easier for you to understand it. 

Have fun learning Hebrew, it will make your Aliyah much easier and richer.

Have a blessed rest of your day

Shoshanah Shear