Get Exposure - Sell Yourself With a Simple Attractive Webpage!

IT'S TIME (For You) TO GET ONLINE!

and we are here to help!

If you're new to living in Israel, having just made Aliyah, or even if you've been here for some time, you might want to increase your exposure of the business you're involved in. Hiring a professional skilled in all areas of website design to design a website for you with all the bells and whistles sounds wonderful, but it can also be expensive. To add to this, you might find yourself wanting to add things on your own at later stages down the line and find that the coding is so overwhelming that you don't know where to begin.

Another Challenging Day with Cell Phone Companies

Our saga of sorting out which cell phone company to use continues. After much difficulty with one of the companies we were recommended to contact the Consumer Rights Organization in Israel. It took quite a few tries to send the information but finally it looked like it went through on our side. In the meantime, with another billing date approaching we looked into other companies. Finally we decided to make a move. All sounded good until the SIM cards arrived and we had to begin the process to activate the SIM cards and transfer from one cell phone company to the new one. We felt like guinea pigs being sent from person to person and pillar to post. For some reason there was a problem that they could not understand.

Finally in desperation we did what perhaps we should have done to begin with. We had been at it for hours, losing precious time which we needed for work and other important tasks. So, I put some coins in a Tzeddakah box in the merit of some Tzaddikim that we might be freed to focus on what we need to do instead of this crazy distraction. At the end of the day, finally we succeeded with half of the process and have more to do next week. Giving Tzeddakah definitely helped, there was a sudden break through just after putting the coins in the Tzeddakah box. 

Our lessons for today have been: - we are not sure that any of the cell phone companies are Yashar (straight, honest) and easy to work with. Each of them have a way to waste time and charge hidden fees. Perhaps all of this is a test from Shamayim to waste our time in mundane, useless tasks that don't get us anywhere is to force us to turn to Hashem and appeal for the time to involve ourselves in Torah, Tefillah, Tzeddakah and the tasks necessary to leading a Torah lifestyle in Eretz Yisrael. After all, it is due to our turning away from the Torah path in the Holy Land that has lead to our Exile.

- Next lesson has been that when you are making Aliyah, you need to have a budget for wasted time and wasted hidden costs. The only thing that might help to reduce this is giving Tzeddakah to appropriate reliable causes with a Tefillah to be free to lead the lifestyle G-d wants us to here in the Land where we belong.

I wish everyone much success in the journey to settle in Eretz Yisrael. There are many stresses and many challenges but at the end of the day, each time that you succeed or get past one of these major road blocks, you achieve enormously. If you can manage to continue living in Eretz Yisrael despite all these frustrations, then you have really succeeded.

Have a blessed day. Looking forward to honest service providers.

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

5 Dangers of the Minimum Wage Mentality

When I was a student, I was aware of the concept of minimum wage from the point of view of human rights. It is important not to pay someone below a certain amount. That part I understand. However, after making Aliyah, a different angle was introduced to me which is actually very dangerous and rather troubling. The idea is that of pushing Olim into minimum wage work. Actually, I have seen it also with the orphan Chatanim and Kallot that we assist, even those who are born in Israel. Most troubling is the extent to which someone who comes to Israel with a profession or a skill and have a desire to strive towards earning a decent income will be encouraged or even pushed into minimum wage in general and very often this will be menial tasks such as cleaning houses.

This ideology is very damaging and I often wonder if this is what has contributed to the high percentage of unemployed and poverty in Israel. 

Let us take a look at some of the dangers:

1) A person who earns minimum wage will have a limit to his or her income. This means that if anything arises (which happens in life) that requires more than the very basic minimum, the earner is unlikely to have the means to pay for it. 

2) Many food items that are necessary for a healthy, balanced diet do not fit into the budget for a minimum wage worker which can result in health problems. This can lead to other expenses or loss of earning potential and a risk of becoming a strain on the community.

3) Someone who is earning a minimum wage is often unable to afford courses to be able to improve his or her situation in life. This then becomes limiting and has detrimental psychological or emotional consequences.

4) A person who earns a minimum wage will probably be unable to afford a down payment on an apartment. This forces the person to rent and can result in the person moving frequently. Moving is one of the highest stressors. Stress has a direct negative impact on health and can negatively impact many aspects of the persons daily functioning.

5) If someone remains in minimum wage work once they have children, the expense of providing for a child or children can become too much for their budget. As a result, a vicious cycle can and often does arise of poverty for the next generation. Items that low wage earners often begin to scrimp on are toys and educational materials, amongst other items, which can then lead to limitations on the learning potential of the child (children). 

These are the first five dangers that come to mind, it could be there are more. If you can think of others, please do share them in the comments below. Though there is a role of minimum wage to make sure that the general population is not taken advantage of, there are risks of forcing people into minimum wage. One of the biggest dangers is creating a society that believes that earning adequately to cover all of ones needs is anything from wrong, impossible, not accepted etc. The truth is that everyone has not only a right but an obligation to determine for themselves what their budget is to cover their daily expenses and to strive towards obtaining an income that will enable them to meet these goals and needs. 

If earning above a minimum wage is important to you, do be in touch for the occupational therapy services of Shoshanah Shear with a special interest in empowering widows and orphans.

Have a blessed day

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet

Occupational Therapist, Freelance Writer

Author and Aliyah Coach

One of those Days!

There are some days when the challenges in Israel make one wonder, "What was I thinking in coming here?" The last few hours have lead us to start asking "What the...! What happened to basic honesty?"

On those days, once I calm myself down, the best thing that helps is to remember that Israel is a holy land and we are here to do some repair work to get it to the stage ready for the final Redemption. It is the only thing to help keep us sane.  

What is the answer? Ask questions. Join groups for Olim. Search for solutions and do what you can to improve what is possible to be improved. Spend some time doing some Tehillim and praying to Hashem for assistance. Give some Tzeddakah, do some Torah learning and stay focused in your role as a Jew in Israel. Remember, there is the right way to do things and when it comes to Israel that can only be the Torah way. If it means asking and asking and asking, lots of prayer, learning patience, lots of work, then do so. Remember, your effort can help in some way to repair something that needs repairing.

Remember also, we are all Olim here, the question is just whether it is you who is the Oleh / Olah or your parents or grandparents. Only a few Jews remained in Israel after the fall of the Beis HaMikdash and the exile of Am Yisrael. For the rest of us, we are all Olim so there is much to be fixed up.

We really urgently need Moshiach and Redemption.

What do you do to give you strength when things become challenging? We'd love to hear, so please post a comment at the end of this post.

Have a blessed day! Stay warm, stay dry and stay safe. 

Shoshanah Shear

ChessedVe'Emet

Functioning to Your Optimum in Israel of today

If anyone knows the profession of occupational therapy, yes, the title gives away that I am an OT. We are living in times that are very volatile, uncertain and stressful. We have lives to live but how is it possible with everything that is going on?

It is easy to get caught up with the chaos taking place and the fear that naturally arises. Since my profession is all about helping others to function to the optimum I decided to put my mind to what can we do. Many ideas you might have seen posted on various social network groups, but it sometimes helps to have the information written in a point form list.

1) The first tip is to remember to breath, take deep breaths and force yourself to be calm. If you notice fear coming up, concentrate on your breathing.

2) Keep talking to Hashem. Remember, the eye of Hashem is on the Land of Israel every moment of every day. Pray for peace, pray for the right leadership in Israel, pray for our Redemption. Pray for your safety and the safety of all Israel. Tell G-d what you are feeling and ask Him to help and guide you.

3) Take on a page of Torah to learn and / or a Mitzvah to fulfill to help to increase peace in Israel and the world at large. If you need guidance as to what Torah to learn, how to learn or what Mitzvah would be most suited to you, do be in touch with Chessed Ve'Emet, we are happy to guide you through this.

4) Be prepared that means: 

   - do regular exercise to make sure you are fit in case you need to run

   - take a self defense course, preferably Krav Magar

   - find out the law related to Pepper Spray and make sure you have one in case of need and have

     learned how to use it.

   - learn about first aid at the time of a potential attack. If you are able to, prepare a first aid kit to 

      have with you.  Of particular importance are gloves that are non-allergic and bandage that is 

      secure in it's packaging to be sterile and clean in case it is needed to use.

   - make sure to eat a healthy balanced diet, adequate nutrition is very important to maintain your

     health in general and in a time of stress in particular. 

5) Keep informed as to what is happening but put a limit on this so that you can free your mind to function effectively in your daily life. Spending all day watching the news or social networking will interfere in your time to carry out important tasks of daily living as well as increasing your stress levels.

6) Make sure you have time for some kind of creative outlet. It can be your daily exercise if this is what you enjoy most, it can be listening to music, drawing, writing, something that helps you to feel good about being you and alive in this world. 

7) Spend a few minutes or longer looking at the beauty of nature and creation. It helps to give us strength and to re-focus. If you need to look at nature in books or on a slideshow or a youtube video, that is fine too, as long as you are looking at something calming and beautiful. If you are able to interact with nature whether it is arranging flowers, tending to plants, caring for a pet, bringing some colour and beauty into your life, these activities are rejuvenating and calming.

8) Do an act of kindness every day. It can be listening more attentively, helping your fellow, smiling at your neighbour, taking care not to disturb your neighbour, learning how to be kind or any other act of kindness . Kindness is what helps the world to function and can tip the scales in favour of peace.

9) Limit your time on social networking and especially the nature of posts you put up. Be especially careful when wanting to share news of what is happening. It is easy in the moment of hearing that  something occurred or seeing something to want to tell everyone. Learn what is permitted and what is not. Remember, there are times that keeping quiet is also important for security reasons. There have been a number of posts requesting that we refrain from sharing certain information, if the request is from an authority e.g. IDF or retired soldier, it is being shared to be adhered to.

10) Spend some time learning the laws of Shmirat HaLashon (guarding your tongue), very powerful to help to bring peace. Make sure too to put the laws you learn into practice.

11) Maintain regular contact with friends and family. If you are going out somewhere, let a friend or relative know where you are going to and when they might expect you home. If you live alone, get to know your neighbours and find a community that is warm, caring and offers some kind of support. If you need to, join a group of some sort it can be exercise, art, photography, synagogue, music any type of interaction with others where you can develop the type of relationships with others that someone will know and care about where you are and what you are doing. 

If you are feeling stressed, stress management and relaxation sessions are offered for women and children in Israel. 

I hope you have found these thoughts helpful. Do you have any tips to share? Any important links that should be included? If so, please let us know for a future post or to revise this one.

Stay safe and may we all merit the immediate redemption

Shoshanah Shear

Chessed Ve'Emet                        

What Kind of Water do You Drink in Israel?

I recently treated a patient who had difficulty deciding what kind of water to drink in Israel. With the heat we have been experiencing, I decided to ask in 3 different FaceBook groups what kind of water people prefer to drink in Israel and why. Here are some of the results:

114 responded that they drink regular tap water

73 responded that they drink filtered water

45 responded that they drink mineral water

2 responded that they drink bottle water

2 responded that they drink Soda Water

3 responded that they drink: tap water, bottled water, whatever is on sale

Among the comments that gave a bit more insight, we received the following responses:

- One person said she used a filter situated after the water meter. When asked if this was removable for those who rent she said that it's not worth removing when move.

- Some use a Brita and some a Dafi Jug. For the Dafi jug, one can purchase 3 filters for NIS 60, with one filter lasting about a month. The person to give this info was not able to quantify how many litres were used in a month, obviously this would depend on how many people drink the water from the same Dafi jug in the month. 

- Someone stated that she uses Reverse Osmosis Filter which is removable. 

- One said she purchased a filter from a Home Place store  for NIS 300. While another said she found using Electra Bar was preferable as it gives boiling or cold water at NIS99 a month.

- Two mentioned using Tami 4, but did not clarify what this is. 

- Someone reminded the group that the water in Israel is hard water and high in high in calcium and other minerals, this is the reason for the sediment that forms in kettles and the need to filter the water. 

Some complained about the taste of the tap water and it became evident that there are a number of different water supplies which seems to affect the taste of the water. These include: Tzfat, Kineret, Springs in Gilboa, which is checked every 2 weeks, Spring in Nachal Kziv

- For filtered water from the tap, we had a few options offered. One stated that she uses "this spout installed at my sink & it has a filter attached under the sink that they come to change every 6 months. I opted to pay for the insurance as it covers changing the filter twice a year and if I move they will move it for me and reinstall for free. here is the link for what it looks like. http://www.cleartech.co.il/32447/berez"

Another said she paid 700 shekels for my under the counter filter with the spout and I pay 39 NIS a month for the insurance which covers the filters being changed twice a year. With the amount of water we drink it 1) it was far better than having to carry up those 6 packs of big water bottles every shopping and 2) the amount I was spending on the bottles turned out to be the same as putting in this filter.

A third said that the under counter filter costs about NIS 600 to install. Filter needs to be replaced once a year at a cost of NIS 100. It is recommended have a plumber install it. 

The mini survey raised a few other questions which we still have to address. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you. What do you drink when in Israel and why? Please share your preference.

In this heat, remember to drink enough fluids to keep yourself hydrated together with a balanced diet. The fluid intake does need to include water.

This blogpost is prepared for you by 

Shoshanah Shear

Occupational therapist and healing facilitator

Chessed Ve'Emet

Healthcare and the Toshav Chozer - Returning Oleh

Healthcare / medical issues for a returning immigrant Toshav Chozer.

Yesterday it came to my attention that someone who had returned to Israel had run out of important meds for a chronic health condition. His neighbour put out a request asking if anyone has that type of medication to spare. This bothered me for various reasons, so I decided to find out the situation for someone who had made Aliyah and returns after a period of time. In particular I was interested in their rights for healthcare.

From asking in two social networking groups I discovered the following.

- Those who are returning Olim are usually notified prior to returning of the delay in their Kupat Cholim being reactivated.

- It takes anything from 5-8 months for the Kupat Cholim to be reactivated and hence returning Olim need to be prepared, the following solutions were offered if someone has a chronic illness and will be in need of medication.

  - Bring enough meds to carry you through for about 6 - 8 months

  - Bring your prescription with you with sufficient funds to purchase meds from a pharmacy such as   Superfarm in the event that you run out of your chronic medication. 

  - Pay ₪10 000 and your Kupat Cholim will be automatically reactivated. Some of this money might be reimbursed to you at the end of the year.

 - Take out travel insurance to last for 6 months or private health insurance to cover you until your Kupat Cholim is reactivated. It is up to you to figure out whether taking private health insurance or paying the ₪10 000 is more cost effective for you. 

 - There are some Gemachim for medication that might assist but will require a prescription. Meds obtained from them will have to be returned once you obtain your own medication.

 - Remember your health is important and you are the one responsible to take care of your health, especially if you have a chronic health problem. Make sure you find out all the facts and details before moving countries so that you are prepared. 

I hope this post has been helpful for you. If you have a chronic health condition do what is necessary to make sure you have access to the medication you require. 

This post is prepared for you by 

Shoshanah Shear

Occupational Therapist and Healing Facilitator

Progress on the Hebrew Version of our Book

 

A few months ago, we brought out our first children's book, "Tuvia Finds His Freedom". With all the excitement about our bridal gowns I have almost forgotten the book. Thank goodness my husband has been hard at work behind the scenes. 

Our good friend Dana Baum has done a superb job of translating the book from English into Hebrew. Then came a challenge as to how to add the vowels or Nikud. We looked into many options and purchased a program only to find it did not work quite as advertised. After lots of hard work, many many hours of laboriously adding in the vowels, it is complete.

After adding all the vowels, next came formatting the manuscript to look just like the English one. The cover has been quite a challenge. Since the cover design was done using a template on CreateSpace, we spent time figuring out if it could be reversed at all. Our only solution was to design a new cover which my husband has done using Photoshop.

We are not yet sure if the book will print in the direction we intend it to as required for a Hebrew book. We are waiting for the CreateSpace team to review the manuscript and cover. If it passes their checks we move on to ordering our proof copy.

WOW!! We are much, much closer to having both an English and Hebrew version of the same book. This means that for those of you who would like to help your children improve Hebrew or maintain their English or ensure the level of both languages is on a par, you will have a fun way to do so. Stay tuned for how to purchase a copy of our English "Tuvia Finds His Freedom" AND a copy of the Hebrew "טוביה יוצה לחפשי"

Thank you to Dana Baum and to my husband, Rabbi Eliyahu Shear for an outstanding job in turning this book into a Hebrew equivalent of the English book. I am so looking forward to seeing it in print, hope you will enjoy too.

Shoshanah Shear

Co-Author of Tuvia Finds His Freedom

Integrating into Life in Israel

I have probably mentioned this in another blog post, but one of the best things I have done to help in feeling a part of the community where I live, is to start a Gemach. It does not matter what Gemach you begin, but giving to others and taking the time to interact with Hebrew speakers is a wonderful way to get to know the system, your neighbours, to improve your Hebrew and much, much more. 

Our latest two Kallot, both orphaned from their mother, were born in Israel to Israeli parents. Needless to say, in order to interact with them we have to speak in Hebrew. As I SMS'd the step-mother of one, in Hebrew, and prepared an email to the other, in Hebrew, I had to stop myself.

I have been Israel for over 12 years and I came here knowing the Alef Beit and a few simple phrases to say or ask in Hebrew. More than that, I was stuck. I could not really read and could not write at all. But I forced myself to speak whenever the situation arose and to keep working on reading, writing, typing, speaking. 

I am not yet completely fluent, but every day I notice something more that I have accomplished. Yes, I do still need to check my spelling and then have my husband proof read what I have typed or written. I do still make mistakes when speaking but I am not afraid to ask a Hebrew speaker to describe a word so that I can understand or how to say x and to give a description of the word or tense I need. 

For those looking for a way to integrate into life in Israel, the best thing I can suggest is to help others. Volunteer, start a Gemach, go to shiurim or events and make an effort to learn the language. By giving to others you will benefit in ways you never expected possible.

Enjoy the blessing of being in Eretz Yisrael. It is the most special place to be.

Have a very blessed day

Shoshanah Shear

Occupational Therapist

Low Cost Vision Testing Available in Israel

           

The question is often asked: What is the situation with eye tests in Israel? Are eye examinations covered under the medical aid system (Kupat Cholim)? If not, what exactly are my options?! Those with weaker vision know well the constant need to go for regular eye tests for prescription glasses. Of course – glasses are one thing, and the health of the eye is quite another. If it’s an actual eye test for the purpose of the health of the eye you require, you’re going to need to contact an ophthalmic surgeon / ophthalmologist.  If it’s new glasses or contact lenses you’re in need of, you’ll need to make an appointment with the optometrist! In this post, we’re going to show you your low cost choices as well as an option that will give you free testing for glasses and offer frames and lenses at practically cost prices!

Continue reading...

What Can One Do With Coins?

Someone asked what he can do with all the small change that builds up. Since we manage a Gemach and are at times given a bag or jar of coins, we have had a bit of fun finding out this answer.

Here are the responses we have been given.

Banks:

You can prepare your coins into bags of e.g. ₪10 worth of 10 agarot coins and take them to deposit into your bank account or to be changed into larger denominations of coins. The bank has patience for ₪10 coins or possible 5's, but for 10 and 50 agarot coins we were informed that there is a service charge. How much will depend on your bank.

Post Offices:

You can pay off postage in coins at post offices but if you wish to change coins for larger denominations, there is a service charge. Make sure if you are paying for something in small coins to only do 1-3 Shekels worth at a time. If you try to do more, they mostly lose patience. Also, try to do this when there are not many other customers as they get impatient waiting while your coins are counted.

Money Changers:

If you have ₪10 worth of smaller coins to change provided some coins are 1 Shekels or 50 agarot coins, they might change it. But not if they are all 10 agarot coins. Mostly, they lose patience.

Pharmacies:

The pharmacy near us is almost always out of small change and very happy when we go in with pre-counted and packaged bags of coins. Check with them how much they will take at a time and only do this when there are no other customers as it takes time to count out.

Stores:

Some stores are very happy to receive small change. Check with the stores in your area and find out what day of the week they would be happy to change your small change for larger money.

Bus tickets:

Bus drivers tend to be in a hurry. Mostly they don't have patience for someone paying with small money or with ₪200 note. If you use 10 agarot coins, use just 1 Shekel worth or less.

If you swap your small coins for larger money in a jar and keep using it, actually you will be surprised how easy it is to find 50 agarot worth of 10 agarot coins here, a Shekel worth there and so on.

IF you are really frustrated with your small change, many Gemachim will accept them. You are welcome to be in touch, with another Kallah coming to Chuppah, all donations are greatly appreciated even in small coins. 

What to do with 5 agarot coins is a topic we have already covered.

We hope this post has been beneficial for you. If you have further questions or have any thoughts, please post them below. 

This post is prepared for you by Shoshanah Shear of Chessed Ve'Emet

Finding Occupational Therapy Work in Israel- 1

If you have made Aliyah or are considering doing so, finding suitable work is going to be one of the most important questions you will ask or consider. As an experienced Occupational Therapist, I decided to begin writing some articles of information as to what you might expect when searching for suitable work here.

This series is related to experiences Occupational Therapists might find when seeking gainful employment in a salaried job in Israel. Please note, not all of these experiences are my own, many are gleaned from networking with other OT's who are Olim.

The first scenario is taken from a recent conversation with a colleague. She had made Aliyah after having a number of working years experience in Occupational Therapy in an Anglo Speaking country. She was fortunate to have saved a little before coming and eager to begin working. After completing her ulpan and Staj', she obtained a job replacing a therapist on Maternity Leave, i.e. the position was for 3 months. During the full 3 months working in the facility she had not received one salary check or any attempt to pay her. Towards the end of her 3 months working at the facility, the secretary recommended that she talk to the manager and request her pay. 

Following this advice, the O.T. went to visit the manager and had to explain her need to be paid for her 3 months working to cover an O.T. away on maternity leave.

Is the above scenario legal?

If the therapist is employed and would receive a salary slip then the law states payment is due no later than 9 days after the month for which the employee worked – after that point, significant fines, penalties and late charges apply. An employee must receive no less than minimum, statutory wage (per hour, week or month – as applicable).  There are MANY other obligations on the employer if the relationship is one of employee-employer including the obligation to provide paystubs in statutory form, give vacation and sick pay, provide a pension in a minimum, statutory amount, pay overtime unless exempted, pay demai havraah, pay commuting expenses, etc. (This information is obtained from a Labour Lawyer who we hope to encourage to write for our blog)

As you might be able to ascertain from the information the lawyer provided, the fact someone managed to save prior to coming to Israel is not a reason for an employer to withhold your salary. What about those therapists who might not have saved prior to coming here? There should never be a situation where a salaried worker is expected to take a loan or Gemach in order to cover expenses while waiting to be paid. In fact, if you are working and turn to your bank manager for assistance through the days or months you are waiting for your salary, the bank manager is probably going to tell you it is illegal to withhold your salary and hence he will not advance you a loan. 

What has your experience been in finding suitable work in Israel? If you are struggling with the process, please book an appointment for an evaluation and services to assist you to set goals and action plans to help you to find the work that is suitable to your interest, skills, health, family circumstances etc.

If you are an Occupational Therapist and have had difficulty being paid correctly or on time, please do email us as we are looking into forming a group to look into how to improve the situation.

Five Tips for Preparing Your Move

Guest post by Galit Mador

If you are moving to Israel soon, you may want to prepare in advance … here are 5 tips for you: 

As one who experienced the move back to Israel after 8 years in the US, even as an Israeli family, it is a challenging process in many ways. Beyond the technical tasks that need to be taken care of, there are few critical factors to consider:

1. Plan for at least two years of acclimation. It actually takes more time…

2. Where to live: look for a community with a similar background, ages etc. to yours. This community will likely offer services that you and your family need, such as English Speaker class at school, English library and such. Above and beyond, you will find a common language with them which will make you feel at home.

3. Where to work: look for a local job in Israel as soon as possible, avoid working remotely. Again, belong…

4. Become an active part of the community: for example: sign up for sport club, volunteer to some group that you care for (at school, safety related or such). This will greatly help you connect with your new community, to make new friends.

5. Consider professional assistance throughout your moving process. It can be related to a specific need that you have identified such as finding a suitable job or taking language lessons etc. However, if you feel confused or unhappy, get a professional coach or an advisor to consult with. Sometimes only few personal meetings may guide and motivate you in moving forward towards your goals.

I wish you a smooth and soft landing!

Galit Mador

Professional Certified Coach

Mold in Israel

Guest Post by  Tzvi Szajnbrun

Mold, Drainage and Moisture in Israel are a well-known painful phenomenon that affects half of this country’s apartments. This is the sad reality we have to deal with. As I have written previously, the sole responsibility to fix moisture and mold lies on the landlord`s shoulders as specified by law. This law determines that the landlord must fix any tangent problem restricting or limiting the use of a rental property. It does not matter if this specific clause does not appear in the contract. It is all about the circumstances and how reasonable or unreasonable these circumstances are.

It may be impossible to convince a Judge that a room that had to be evacuated because of water problems is "reasonable". If a room cannot be used because of water damages the contract can be considered void/null or at least the rent should be recalculated accordingly. 

Mold and New Immigrants: Mold is a different case. Mold can be a result of your own doing. I will try to explain. 

Because of the material used in the construction (we rarely use dry cement walls, etc.), our walls "behave" very differently from what you are accustomed to. If you are used to keeping all the windows shut, you will certainly find mold on the walls - it is just a question of time. Rooms must be ventilated in the winter or you will see those ugly black spots popping out on the ceiling and walls very rapidly. Friends may suggest bleaching, painting or any other "technique”. Don’t waste your time because the mold will come back. You can bleach and paint but to avoid the reappearance of the mold you must open the windows and ventilate the room. 

The Common Roof of the Building: It does not matter on which floor the apartment is located; the roof is the common responsibility of all the property owners - not the tenants living in the property but the owners. This is a problem because a roof will eventually leak if not maintained properly every few years. The question is now who will be responsible for the bill, finding the right person to do the job, etc. 

It is not you but the landlord who is the only one responsible for your wellbeing in his property. This is the problem. The landlord will have to deal with a leak on the roof because a leak will certainly affect you as his tenant. You will need a lot of patience - it will take some time because a roof cannot be fixed in the winter when it is raining - not if you want it repaired correctly. 

The Common Installations of the Building: These are the drainage pipes along the building (coming from the roof), sewage pipes, faucets in public areas, elevators, etc. These are all common property and they are considered as the roof - the responsibility is on the "Vaad Habayit" of the building but it is not your concern at all. Your landlord is the one responsible to deal with the "Vaad Habayit". 

The Unique Problem Caused by Foreign Owners: Jews from all over the world have been buying real estate in Israel for years but not necessarily living in the property they buy. Property management in Israel is a booming business but there is bad news about this as well. Many buildings, especially in the center of Jerusalem, became more like a "ghost premise" with too many empty apartments. When the landlord does not live in the property and if there is no property manager (this is the case with most of these properties) or not even a normal way to communicate with the owner of the property, things can be hard on those tenants living in that kind of building even if the property they are living in has a landlord living in Israel. 

When any major damage is caused to the common area a large amount of money may be needed to make repairs, the difficulties for your landlord due to the lack of communication with other owners, etc. will also become your difficulty. Be prepared for a long waiting period until the problem is finally solved. Try to be calm, polite, but persistent. The problem is not your problem but your landlord`s problem and he is responsible for the property. He receives the rent - this is his issue and not yours. DO NOT get involved with the "Vaad Habayit". You can politely emphasize to your landlord that it is not enough to make an effort. He must succeed in fixing whatever needs to be fixed. 

This must be done within a reasonable time. The courts have decided on several occasions that the obligation to repair water damages is a requirement of the rental contract, and he cannot be exempt by his "efforts” - he must solve the problem and failing to do so is a violation of his duty as a landlord.

 A Word of Wisdom: When a problem arises, try to have a good conversation with your landlord. If this conversation does not lead to solving the problem, let a lawyer speak to him/her. We will probably have better results.

Sincerely, Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law

Copyright © 2009-2011

How do you respond to someone or something NEW?

What are your thoughts of starting something new? What are your thoughts of someone who is new to the photography world. What are your thoughts of someone new to taking care of children or new to teaching a group of moms any skill related to being a mom. Or what is your idea of someone new to planting a tree, new to building a house. What skills will you support. Will you give someone a chance when they are new to a job, idea, book, publicaiton ...?

It's an interesting role being an Oleh Chadash or Olah Chadashah. Since you are a new immigrant, anything you do in Israel will be new. So how will you respond if someone says, "New? No come back when you have experience or multiple copies to show or years of ..."

Do you remember that once upon a time you were a little baby? How would you feel if the nurses, doctors, midwives etc said "New? Take it away, we will clean it, measure it, weigh it, take care of it when it is a year old and used to this world."

How about your first trip to the doctor or the Tipat Chalav. Does not matter if you are the new mom or the new baby. What would happen if the staff said "NEW? Bah, come back at your second or fourth or maybe your tenth visit."

How about yoru first day at kindergarten, pre-school, Chader or Gan. How would you respond as the new parent of this new child / toddller to the facility. How would you feel if the teacher or rebbe looked at the new parent and new young child and said "NEW? Bah, go away and come back when you are used to education."

How about the first day you: write a test, climb a tree, sing a song, write a poem, eat a sandwich, make a sandwich, go shopping or any other task. There is always a first time for everything.

What kind of person are you? Are you prepared to give the newbie a chance. After all, the tables can turn at any moment. Now you are a successful businessman being asked to advertise your company, what if tomorrow you end up in the hospital (G-d forbid) and the therapist selling you the adspace is the very one who is the first to greet you in your new role as patient. How will you feel if the therapist now says "NEW? Sorry, we don't treat new patients, why don't you wait till you have been a patient for 6 months or more and then, we will begin your rehabilitation process."

If a Jew comes knocking on your door and you have the ability to assist, don't wait. It does not matter if it is a new baby, new toddler, new child at school, new Bar Mitzvah boy, new Chatan or Kallah or new immigrant. Everyone is new sometime. So give your fellow Jew a chance and together let us build Eretz Yisrael. 

Launching a Publication - Great Prices for First Edition

We are launching a new Publication in the Jerusalem area. The publication is currently focused on items, services and themes that will assist Chatanim and Kallot.

If your product or service fits into this category, you will want to advertise in this FIRST edition, publication. We are offering Terrific low priced, introductory offers for those advertising in our LAUNCH edition.  The offer ends on Thursday 1 March 2011. All ads or text for ads must be booked and paid for in full by 1st March 2011.

For more information about options available and pricing, email Shoshanah

Lookng forward to hearing from you

Shoshanah Shear

To Buy or to Rent - Guest Post

                           Networking in progress

A friend of ours, Raphi Bloch,  recently began a blog about the property market in Jerusalem. Here is one of his early posts, posted here as a guest post with his permission.

This post is on the topc of whether to buy / rent It is linked to his blog so do visit him too.

Many of those looking for a new home in Jerusalem approach me with the question “should I buy or should I rent ?”  Although there is no one answer to the question there are many considerations which help one come to the answer that is right for them.

Many economists claim that renting makes more economic sense in that once you have factored in finance costs, buying costs more over he long term. While this may be true in a market where property prices are unstable, Jerusalem property generally retains and even increases its value over the medium to long term (the current downturn not withstanding). Add to this the fact that rentals in Jerusalem are comparatively high due to the high demand by students, visitors on one year programs and young families who as yet do not own their own home and you will often find that the difference in the rent paid and the cost of servicing a mortgage is very small.

However not everyone has the luxury of being able to buy. Banks in Israel are very strict on the amount they will finance on a mortgage with the norm being only about 60% – 70% of the assessed value of the property which is normally quite a bit lower than the market price. This means that a potential buyer needs to have about 40% of the purchase price as a down payment . There are mortgage insurance companies who do enable one to take a higher mortgage but again not everyone can meet the requirements to qualify.

Buying does have many non financial advantages. When living in your own apartment you have the security of knowing that you will not be asked to move at the end of a lease as well as the luxury of renovating your home to meet your exact taste. The argument that one does not always know if in a few years you will need to move,for example changes of jobs or family size, is one that many pro – renters often quote. Two options exist for the homeowner – renting out the current apartment which as I mentioned above is an easy task in Jerusalem or selling and buying another home – again relatively easy over the medium to long term.

Many of my buyers tell me that one of the strongest reasons to buy as opposed to renting in Jerusalem is the emotional one – knowing that they own a property in the Holy City. While this is obviously subjective it does explain why many investors insist on buying in Jerusalem when on paper there are better investments elsewhere in Israel and indeed the world but this is a topic for another post at a later date ……….

Shalom from Jerusalem

Raphi

Considering Working Privately in Israel?

The helping professions are wonderful in theory, but many think it is a golden opportunity to take advantage. If you are considering working privately in Israel, firstly know and understand that you deserve to be paid in full, on time and with no arguments.

Do yourselves a favour and make a policy from the outset that you will only provide a service or treatment once payment is made. Up front, in full. If the client wants extra time they need to agree and pay for additional time before a session goes over the time they have paid for.

Don't fall into the trap of providing an excellent service and then not getting paid.

For those of you considering providing TeleHealth (i.e. a consultation via telephone or Skype) check out the address and telephone number BEFORE you commence a session, especially if you have an agreement that payment will be made on receipt of a statement.

Don't fall into the trap I have. I have had clients maintain it is Pikuach Nefesh and I have to do a house call immediately, afterhours of course. Complete the session and then say, "Thanks that was worth 1000 Shekels or more and now I am not paying". I have had clients state they are embarrassed to come in person, can they work via the phone or Skype and pay on receipt of a statement. Only to discover the phone number they gave no longer works from 1 month ago and 144 does not have them listed at the address they provided.

So do yourself a favour, check out and verrify the information prior to giving a treatment. If the phone number does not work, don't treat them. If the situation is Pikuach Nefesh, someone has to pay for a private session up front. If the situation is that serious that they can not wait to make a payment then let them call the ambulance and go to hospital. 

Remember, every Jew is worth it. The first question you will be asked when you reach Shamayim is were you honest in business. Honesty means to you to. So protect yourself before you begin to work. If you work for another, make sure you have a written contract that is in keeping with labour law. If you work privately, make sure it is payment up front only and always. 

Hatzlachah

Disability Pension in Israel

Like most countries, Israel offers a disability pension. The National Insurance Institue of Israel known as Bituach Leumi, has a website on which a number of articles are listed regarding this. On their website, it states that "A disability pension is paid to a person whose earning capacity is reduced by 50% due to his disability, or to a disabled housewife whose ability to function in her household is reduced by 50%."

I do not have any personal experience with the process. What Welcoming Olim can offer our readers is the link to the website of Bituach Leumi that deals with this topic. http://www.btl.gov.il/English%20Homepage/Benefits/Disability%20Insurance/Pages/default.aspx

If you would like to enquire from Bituach Leumi directly the call centres number is *6050. They permit questions to be asked in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and one of the languages of Ethiopia. Sometimes the person answering the phone knows English too. If your English is not good, make sure you have someone with you who speaks one of the 4 languages they offer and can assist to translate for you or to talk on your behalf, thus acting as a translator.

If any of our readers has had experience with successfuly obtaining a disability pension, please email us so that we can share the information. Please note, we do not permit links to comments here to avoid SPAM messages.  We do welcome comments that are constructive and have no links. If you would like to write a guest post on the topic of Disability and Israel or obtaining a Disability Pension in Israel, please submit it to our email and we will review and submit if the information is beneficial. 

Shoshanah Shear

Occupational Therapist 

Bituach Leumi Question from a Reader

Dear Welcoming Olim

I wonder if you or one of your readers can help me. 

I was most interested to read the post on difficulties with Bituach Leumi. I received a letter from Bituach Leumi to say that they had returned an amount "owing" me to my bank account. The amount they returned was exactly the amount I owed them for the month. Now I am having to pay it again with a few Shekels extra penalty fee.

My bank called asking about the payment from Bituach Leumi was and told me to sort it out as the bank is required to charge me for the service of receiving the money paid from Bituach Leumi and then charging another charge when I pay Bituach Leumi again. It seems that the "kindness" of Bituach Leumi is costing me interest/penalty fee on the additional unnecessary payment to them, plus bank charges. I now worry that they may do it again resulting in all these additional penalty and bank fee costs.

I can't help but wonder if this is just to create work for an employee. After all, someone had to return the money, write a letter to say the money was returned, put it in an envelope and pay for postage. The postman has to deliver the letter just to let me know that Bituach Leumi have returned money I had paid for monthly insurance. Then they hit me with a few Shekel fine. Why is that?

I don't understand what Bituach Leumi are doing, and I don't know how to follow thebank's instruction of "sorting things out with Bituach Leumi." I really don't know. I am an Oleh and have not learned the system too well.

Can you advise at all or can a reader of yours explain to me? The bank's call put me into a further state of depression regarding my honest payments.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to write a guest post. Can someone offer assistance please?

-- Confused Reader