How our emotions affect our relationships

Our emotional state at any particular moment affects our actions, not only in the present but also in the immediate future. An external stimulus that makes us feel angry, disappointed, irritable or extremely frustrated, can give rise to a mood or state of mind that lasts for several hours, days, or even more.

What’s worse is that emotional stress may escalate in intensity, without warning and so quickly that we may feel we are closing control – and sometimes so rapidly we may not even be aware of it. We sometimes refer to this as "the spiral effect". Perhaps an even more appropriate term would be the "one-thing-leads-to-another syndrome."

Before we know it, innocent people are caught in the cross fire. Paradoxically, those who suffer most are often those that are nearest and dearest to us!

Let's lift the veil on an hour in the life of Chaim and Esther, two young people married for all of six months who love each other very much.

One afternoon, Chaim calls Esther to tell her that he will be arriving home earlier than usual. Of course, Esther is pleased, and asks him if she could save her a trip by stopping off at the neighborhood supermarket on the way to pick up a few things. Although she might not be at home when he arrives, she’ll be back soon.

Chaim arrives home with the goods. Esther isn’t back yet. He was pleased to help because he figures Esther must be exhausted after an especially busy day. Then he has a brainwave: why not help even more by cooking some supper? So he takes some noodles and eggs and a few other small items from the bag he’s just brought and begins to cook up a dish he knows Esther is fond of.

The pot on the stove is almost ready when Esther walks through the front door. She ambles over to the stove, opens the pot nervously, and lets out a scream.

"Chaim! Have you gone out of your mind? I needed those noodles for the meal I promised to take to my sick friend tomorrow! And by the way, you know I always buy brown eggs, not white ones! Can't you think for once in your life, you bonehead!"

Chaim, who just two minutes ago was expecting to be showered with praise for his thoughtfulness, is overtaken with a numb feeling. The numbness quickly turns to bewilderment, which in turn converts to anger.

Unfortunately, anger breeds more anger.

Now, let's press the "pause button" for a minute. What would you say I asked you what you think happens next? Most likely, you'd respond that Chaim storms out of the kitchen, leaving a badly burned culinary creation to go up in smoke. And we would have a lovely young couple hardly speaking to each other for several days.

Well, with most couples, you would undoubtedly be right! But Chaim and Esther are very special people.

While his emotions are still reasonably under control, Chaim keeps reminding himself of what he sets out to achieve in the first place. If making things easier for his wife was his first priority, then by definition, that took preference over a wounded pride and a temporary feeling of disquiet! "Look, Esther," he says. "I'm sorry. Let's see what we can do.

What will we achieve by loosing our cool? I'll pop back to the store to get some more noodles, or we can borrow from a neighbor. Perhaps we could..."

And our Esther is a pretty quick thinker. "Chaim, I know you only wanted to help. I'm overtired, I guess. You know what -if we put you concoction in the freezer, I won't have to worry about tomorrow night's supper! And you know, there are some dishes that taster better with white eggs."

Remember: strong negative emotions, if left unchecked, generate still stronger negative emotions. Take a step back! Some folk insist on always being right. But isn't it better to be loved?

Azriel Winnett is the author of How to Build Relationships That Stick – a small book with a big impact!

For more information and to order visit http://RelationshipsThatStick.com, or contact Azriel at azriel@hodu.com

Maternity Allowance in Israel

Guest Post by Jessica from Parenting.co.il

The amount of maternity allowance is determined by the amount of months the woman was working prior to giving birth. If you work between 6-10 months you are entitled to 7 weeks of paid maternity leave. For more than 10 months you can have 14 weeks off. The pay you receive will be the same as you would receive if you were working during this time (up to 1,412.50 NIS per day as of 01.01.12) and is subject to the same deductions.  It is paid in the middle of maternity leave.

If the mother gave birth to multiple children (in one birth) she may receive an additional 3 weeks per child � for mothers who are entitled to 14 weeks � and 2 weeks for each child for those entitled to 7 weeks.

Up to half of paid leave can be taken by the mother prior to giving birth (if she worked more than 10 months, 49 days can be taken � if 6-10 months were worked, she can take 24 days prior to birth) and the rest after the birth.

Learn more about this topic, and others, at Parenting.co.il

My Experience Visiting Israel for the First Time.

Guest Post by Julie Abrahams, posted with permission of Julie Abrahams.

In February 2010, my husband, youngest daughter, and I packed our bags and set out on our Pilot Trip to Israel. We had already made the decision to make Aliyah (move up) to the Holy Land of our ancestors. My husband had lived in Israel in 1967, 1973, and in the 1980's. However, for my daughter and me, this was our first trip to Israel. Our excitement could not begin to prepare us for our arrival. 

The emotion one experiences when entering The Land is beyond words or explanation. The tears in our eyes said it all. We heaved a communal sigh as we stepped onto the soil where generations of Jews had walked before us. 

Our excitement was soon matched by a flurry of activity, the renting of a car, driving up to Jerusalem, and traveling through a maze of road construction to finally register in our hotel. 

During our first week we visited the Wailing Wall (the Kotel), the Shuk (outdoor marketplace) in the Old City, and walked the ancient streets. 

The second week, we headed North to a cottage my husband had rented, just outside of Tzfat, Israel. Each day we ventured forth, visiting potential homes, the Golan, and the ancient ruins of Jewish settlements. 

It was the trip of a lifetime. Each visit left us in awe, more certain than ever that this was the Land we were meant to settle, this was our true Home. 

We returned to the United States just two weeks later. We felt as though we were in mourning, yearning to return to Israel with unmatched resolve. 

In the months that followed, every step, every task, every carton was filled with the determination to make Israel our permanent home.

Almost two years later we are living in northern Israel, in the city of Tzfat. My husband and I are very grateful to be able to call Israel Home. We walk on the ancient cobblestones determined not to take any step for granted, reveling in the beauty and splendor that surrounds us. 

And we wait for our sons, daughters, and grandchildren to join us in this vision. We wait for countless thousands of our brothers and sisters to, not only visit Israel for the first time, we wait for our Jewish family to come HOME!

Finding the Postive in a Traffic Jam

Guest Post by
Elchanan Lipshitz Efrat, Israel

Another bus story, this time on a dreary, cold, wet winter late afternoon having returned to Yerushalayim from a tiyul out of the city. Traffic is bumper-to-bumper and we're stuck near City Hall with no end to the traffic jam in sight.

People are becoming antsy and impatient and the mumbling gets louder and louder. Finally the tour guide takes the microphone and says: 

"Ladies and Gentlemen- 

When the Ramban visited Yerushalayim he couldn't find a Minyan of Jews! 

Think how happy the Ramban would be to be struck in a traffic jam in Yerushalayim!!"

Needless to say, the mumbling and grumbling came to an immediate stop!! (I quote this story often whenever people complain about things- not only traffic- in Yerushalayim/Israel.

Guest Post - Appreciating Our Calendar

Guest Post by 

Elchanan Lipshitz

Efrat, Israel

This goes back to the summer of 1969- my 1st visit to Israel (We've since made aliya). 

I'm on an Egged bus in Yerushalayim. For lack of seats I'm standing just behind the driver. 

Next to me are sitting 2 elderly ladies who are arguing back and forth, in Hebrew of course, as to when Rosh Hashanah will be that year. One says "early"; one says "late". this goes back and forth for a few minutes with the tone gradually getting louder and louder. 

Finally the driver turns around and says Ladies- Rosh Hashanah is never early or late! It is always on the 1st of Tishrei!! Now please be quiet!!

Shoshanah, one of the managers of this blog asked Elchanan how he felt about the experience and his answer is worth repeating: 

"My feeling about the bus driver matched my own feeling. It's about time we got used to using our own calendar- especially in Israel - and not the borrowed calendar of another religion. No, I'm not fanatic about it and I too use the Gregorian / Solar calendar when I have to. But if I know today's Hebrew date I will have no problem knowing exactly when Tisha B'Av, Rosh Hashanah or any other special day falls- it's always on the same Hebrew date! By the way, the women took the bus driver's comment in good spirit. Hopefully it gave them as well something to think about! "

If you have an inspiring or meaningful story to share of your trip to Israel, Pilot Trip, Preparing for Aliyah, having Made Aliya, please email us to share with our readers and inspire our fellow Jew of the benefits and beauty of living in Eretz Yisrael.  

Spring and Life in a Small Village

This Guest Post together with these beautiful photographs were prepared for you by Cec Cohen, an Olah of 30 years. Please take a moment to visit her website, she has some beautiful glass art which she both sells and teaches others to make too.

As new immigrants, perhaps you are naturally drawn to the center of Israel when looking for a new home and job. And certainly the central areas – Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba – are well known and have much to offer. Good schools, good roads, lots of shopping centers… but I’m writing to ask you, before you rent your next home, to consider an alternative.

My name is Cecilia Cohen and I’m an “olah vatika” – an established immigrant. I’ve been in Israel for 30 years. Today I live in a small village in the south of Israel. So small that many Israelis have never heard of it. So small that Facebook doesn’t recognize it and keeps adjusting my location to another town by the same name in Afghanistan! After 30 years of experience living in big cities, small towns and smaller villages, I am convinced that true quality of life is to be found in Israeli villages like mine.

The south of Israel is fairly empty, and very beautiful. It offers hundreds of small villages and agricultural collectives called moshavim where you can buy or rent a home. There are also kibbutzim, another kind of agricultural collective that often rents homes to non-members. Most are within driving distance of large cities, fairly independent, and very community-oriented. Livna, my home, is tucked into the Yatir forest. We are in the foothills of the Hebron Hills, where the weather is cooler in the summer than in the flatlands, warmer in winter than on the mountain tops. Houses are cheaper here – which is how we found it. The view is outrageously inspiring. The people who live in our community are warm, friendly and honest, which is why we love living here.

The area is overflowing with natural beauty, orchards and vineyards; we see herds of native deer almost every day, fox, rabbits, badgers and porcupines. My husband and I were blessed to see a pair of wolves the first year we lived here. Raptors circle over the forest on lazy afternoons. The air is clean and fresh. If archaeology calls to you, you would love the many places to visit near Livna – Tel Arad, the Krayot, Anim ruins, Susyia. If it’s culture and shopping you wish for, we’re less than an hour from Beer Sheva or Jerusalem, 20 minutes from Arad and 30 minutes from a train to Tel Aviv.

Life in a town like ours moves at a slower pace. We’re only 110 families, so when the library has a special event, we all attend. We organize the right kinds of activities to keep our kids busy and happy every afternoon. We have a community pool, share holiday celebrations (as I write this I hear a large owl calling as it flies over my yard…). Many of us volunteer in civic positions. In our area, Hevel Yatir (also known as Drom Har Hevron) some communities practice a religious lifestyle, and others don’t.

Israel is rich with villages like ours – from the north to the south, from the coast to the eastern border, it’s a unique way of life that is gaining popularity. If you like this lifestyle, it’s worth spending a few days with a map and a car, and checking out opportunities. You might prefer the smallest, most off-the-beaten track places, where people are likely to welcome you , houses are still cheap and, like our region, nature is still very much in evidence. If being near shopping areas or cultural happenings is a priority, stay closer to the big cities.

What you need to know: In Israel, many small communities require that you go through an acceptance process. Before you sign a rental or purchase contract, you must speak with the community’s office to ask if you need to go through this process. This is a legal process and scooting around it can cause a lot of headaches, no matter what the home owner tells you ahead of time. Most communities have pre-schools, and some have elementary schools, but most often children will be bussed to school. You might have to commute to work – Israelis consider all commutes over-long and ill-advised, but if driving for an hour or more doesn’t bother you, don’t let distance stop you from finding the perfect place to live. Some of the communities have poor access to public transportation; not all communities have grocery stores or local health clinics; some communities require all members to take part in guard duty periodically; most communities charge monthly fees per family to cover costs of swimming pools or services offered; many have access to public, mobile vet services for your pets; many offer built-in summer and vacation camps for the community’s kids; most homes have their own gardens. Communities might have a religious, a secular or a blended lifestyle. If any or all of these things matter to you, the community’s head office is a good place to ask questions. Often a volunteer is available to speak with people interested in the community.

Wishing you good luck and a good life in Israel!

Cec

www.glassandlight.blogspot.com

Dogs and the Law in Israel

When I was in Mercaz Klita, someone tried to persuade me to take their dog as there was a problem of jealousy with their new baby. Some months later when I moved out of Mercaz Klita once again I was asked to take care of a dog on two occasions. At the time I did not know nor had anyone told me the laws of owning or caring for a dog. The truth is that according to Torah, one is not permitted to own any dangerous creature, of which some dogs are included.

This post has been prepared for us by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at law

Since the subject of owning a dog in Israel is not well known to the public, I would like to provide some basic concepts about owning and maintaining a dog in Israel.

As you may already know, implementing these laws and regulations is not an easy task and in spite all the good will and efforts, many of the regulations are not well implemented.

The law and the practice:

The main problem is when a dog’s owner is sued. When sued he will be the one solely responsible to explain why he didn’t follow the rules (which are almost impossible to accomplish). The cases when the dog’s owner is not found guilty when his dog attacks another person are so rare I can’t even recall one case.

License:

The law provides that every dog over three months old must have a valid license. License fee payment will be given after vaccination against rabies and marking the dog with a microchip under his skin.

The license is valid for one year. If a dog changes owners, it is mandatory to re-license the dog.

The law provides that the Secretary of Agriculture may demand that a dangerous dog be licensed for third party insurance against bodily injuries and property, but such an obligation is not set as a legal regulation. Municipal veterinarian doctors may refuse to give or renew a license at his discretion, for various reasons including offenses committed by the dog or the dog’s owner.

If the license was canceled, the dog’s owner must hand over the dog within 24 hours to one of those stipulated by law such as a protected facility determined by the local authority.

National Registration Center:

A National Registration Center was established by the Ministry of Agriculture, and it includes the dog’s details.

The Registration Center will have registered biting dogs and the registration of owners holding two or more biting dogs. The Municipal Veterinary doctor needs to report to the registry center dogs that have been marked by him, given or revoked licenses, and if an aggressive dog was brought to his attention.

Holding (owning) a dog:

A dog’s owner must keep the dog in his yard. The yard must be marked with a sign: “Watch out for the Dog”. The fine for ignoring this regulation is 3,000 shekels. When in a public place the dog must be held by a leash by a person who can control the dog. The maximum leash length for a “normal” dog, determined by regulations of 2005, is up to five meters. If a dog is defined as “dangerous” then the limit is two meters and they must be muzzled even at home if a child under the age of 16 years is present.

Taking possession of a dog – Detention by the authorities:

If the dog has no valid license or is being held because of non-compliance of the regulations, the municipal veterinarian doctor or inspector is allowed to catch the dog and move him to a municipal detention location. The owner can then turn to the authorities and ask to have the dog returned to him within ten days of receipt of notification of detention. According to the considerations of the municipal veterinarian doctor, he can issue a license or cancel or prescribe conditions for the dog that broke the regulations. If not contacted, the municipal veterinarian doctor may give the dog to the security forces or another organization. If this is not possible, then the doctor may order to have the dog put to sleep, with the expenses will falling on the dog’s owner.

Dangerous dogs:

Which dogs are considered dangerous?

- A dog over the age of three months who bites and has caused bodily injury or damage;

- A breed that is considered dangerous;

- A breed that the Minister, with the approval of the Knesset Finance Committee, has stated is a dangerous breed;

- A cross breed of dangerous dogs;

- If there are physical attributes and behavior of a dangerous dog.

When preparing a list of dogs declared dangerous in Israel, two characteristics of dogs were taken into account: the degree of aggressiveness and extent of damage he might cause. Eight species of dogs are considered “dangerous” by law:

1. American Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Am staff)

2. Bull Terrier

3. Duguay Argentine (Dogo Argentino)

4. Japanese peafowl (Tosa)

5. Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Stapp English) (Staffordshire bull terrier) (Staffie)

6. Pitt Bull Terrier

7. Brazilian filet (Fila brasileiro)

8. Rottweiler

Penalties:

Holding a dog without a valid license and allowing the dog to go outside the yard - is liable to six months in prison. Holding a dangerous dog in violation of the regulations or gives false information on essential issues about the dog - is liable to one year in prison.

The law prohibits breeding dangerous dogs in Israel. One must spay or neuter a dangerous dog before the age of six months. If authorization is given not to spay or neuter due to life-threatening danger to the dog, the dog must be prevented from mating.

Statistics:

There are around a quarter of a million dogs signed up with the authorities and around five thousand of them are considered “dangerous dogs”.

The Technician’s Law

For many years services given by technicians in Israel were more like a no-man’s zone, with no laws or regulations. The situation was so bad that we, the consumers, were many times “held hostage” to the technician’s good will.

Finally, on June 2008, a new law came into effect in Israel. The problem, as usual in Israel, was that when a law favoring consumers, and not providers, comes into effect, very few know of the law. In this short article, I will try to summarize the rights and obligations of those providing services.

A short clarification is in order: when speaking of technicians, this includes any one providing a service in your home (we are talking about a service done only in your home or workplace, and not when you receive a service at a store, etc.).



Technicians are those working for or sent by importers or manufacturers. The fields included in the technician list are: electronics, gas, electricity, furniture, services provided by cable companies such as “YES” and “HOT”, any kind of mechanical device, such as a door lock and many other types.

The range of the law is mainly for the time of the warranty and depends on the level of maintenance during the time of the warranty, meaning if the product was misused or abused, the warranty will be generally void.

The rules below are applicable to any contract within the warranty-stipulated time. There are other rules and laws pertaining to the obligations of the providers beyond the warranty-stipulated time.

The rules to provide services to fix an appliance, to change the product, in its entirety or partially, are as follows:

1. The provider must stipulate a day and an hour the service will be given.

2. The waiting time for a technician cannot be longer than two hours more than the given time. The grace period is two hours only.

3. The provider is entitled to offer the consumer to wait for a phone call in place of giving a specific time, on condition that the waiting time of the consumer in his home will not be longer than 2 hours. The provider must also clarify to the consumer that this method is only a suggestion, and the consumer is not obligated to accept this.

4. The providers are entitled to notify the consumer until 8 pm the day before the specified day of arrival of any change of time of services or a cancellation.

5. The above-mentioned rule was not made to infringe on the rights of the consumer. Any existing rule concerning the rights of the consumer before this new law came into effect will not be affected. As an example: the law stipulates that from the moment the consumer asks for a technician to repair a washing machine, the provider has 3 working days to provide this service. For a freezer or a refrigerator, it is one day. So let’s say on Sunday the consumer asks for service to repair a washing machine. The date is settled for Wednesday morning. In this case, the provider cannot call on Tuesday until 8 pm to cancel the visit for Wednesday, because this will clash with the consumer’s rights to receive this service within 3 days.

In breeching the above rules, the consequences for the providers are:

6. The consumer is entitled to compensation without having to prove any damages. To clarify this point, let’s say the consumer has two refrigerators. One breaks down and the consumer calls for a technician, who does not appear within the specified time. Even though there were no damages to the consumer, because he could easily use the second refrigerator, he is still entitled to the compensation stipulated by law.

7. The consumer will be entitled to more compensation if he had actual unlimited damages of any kind. In this case, the consumer is obligated to give proof of the damages. As an example, the consumer did not have a refrigerator in working condition and the technician did not arrive in the stipulated time, and as a result there was an actual loss (the food spoiled, etc.). In this case, the consumer can sue the provider by the Law of Damages for unlimited damages, if he can prove it.

8. A delay of more than 2 hours of the stipulated time of arrival (4 waiting hours in total), entitles the consumer to compensation of 300 shekels.

9. A delay of more than 3 hours of the stipulated time of arrival (5 waiting hours in total), entitles the consumer to compensation of 600 shekels.

10. If the time specified was according to what was said in clause 3 above (waiting for a phone call) and there was a delay for more than 2 hours, or the provider did not explain to the consumer that he has the right to refuse this proposition, entitles the consumer to 300 shekels compensation.

11. The provider is entitled to offer monetary compensation, products or any kind of coupon, etc., for the same amount, but only with the agreement of the consumer. The burden of proof that the consumer agreed to anything other than monetary compensation is on the provider.

12. In the case that the provider could not anticipate any delay in providing the service, or could not know in advance (for example, if the technician had a bad car accident on the way to the consumer’s home or extreme and severe weather conditions that prevented the technician from arriving) then the provider is exempt from providing compensation.

How do you actually receive your compensation?

When claiming compensation (and not the damages stipulated in paragraph 7), contact the provider by phone or fax. Always keep a record of all paperwork, phone calls, etc.! If the provider refuses to pay, the consumer can either contact our organization and we will write a letter or you can sue using the Small Claims Court.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law

Tzvi (Henrique) Szajnbrum can be found at:
WWW.LAWADV.COM
WWW.VOLEH.ORG

National Insurance - Bituach Leumi Part I

This post has been compiled for us by Tzvi Szajnbrum a lawyer who has some free services for Olim.

National Insurance Part I

Different categories of those insured include:

Self Employed

Who is a Self-Employed worker?
A self-employed worker is one who meets one of the following conditions:

· He works in his occupation for an average of at least 20 hours a week.
· His average monthly income from his occupation is not more than 50% of the average wage.
· He works at his occupation for 12 hours a week and his income is over 15% of the average wage.

A self-employed person who is registered at the NII and who pays his insurance contributions regularly is covered in all insurance branches except unemployment and bankruptcy.

Who is a Self-Employed Person?
A self-employed person is defined as one of the following:

· A person who is engaged in his occupation for at least an average of 20 hours a week
· A person whose average monthly income from his occupation is more than NIS 3,964 (as of 01.01.2009) - 50% of the average wage.
· A person who is engaged in his/her occupation for at least an average of 12 hours a week, and his average income is more than NIS 1,189 (as of 01.01.2009) - 15% of the average wage.

The Self-Employed Person
A self-employed person with additional income from a source other than work must pay insurance contributions from this income as well, while it is equal to or higher than his/her income as a self-employed person, up to the maximum income liable for the payment of insurance contributions

Registration with National Insurance Institute
A self-employed person must register at the National Insurance Institute immediately upon opening his business. A self-employed person who was injured at work is entitled to work injury benefit only if he/she was registered at the National Insurance Institute as a self-employed person at the time of the injury and paid insurance contributions.

Who must register?
· A married woman who works as a self-employed person at her husband’s business must register herself at the National Insurance Institute and pay insurance contributions.

· A married couple working together in a joint business can divide up the income from their business between themselves and pay insurance contributions according to each one's share, on condition that the division is between 1/3 and 2/3 of the overall income. If one of the spouses has income that does not originate from their joint business, this spouse can be credited with only 1/3 of their income from the joint business.

· A self-employed person who also has an income from work as an employee must pay health insurance at both workplaces, up to the maximum income on which insurance is payable.

· A self-employed person with additional income from a source other than work must pay insurance contributions from this income as well, while it is equal to or higher than his/her income as a self-employed person, up to the maximum income liable for the payment of insurance contributions.

· The maximum income on which contributions are paid. No payments are made on income above this amount. The amount is five times the average wage, as published in December 2005, and updated each January by the change in the consumer price index.

· A person who does not meet the definition of self-employed person as specified above is not considered a self-employed person and the regulations applicable are as specified (see below).
· A farmer who meets the definition of a self-employed person is required to register at the National Insurance Institute and pay insurance contributions on his/her income.

· The wife of a farmer in a cooperative settlement (moshav) is also considered a self-employed person and is required to register and pay insurance contributions for herself.

· If the farmer or his wife do not work in their farm, for example, if they work as employees outside the farm and only reside at the farm they must contact the National Insurance Institute and submit ratifying documents

The rates of insurance contributions paid by a self-employed person:

A self-employed person aged between 18 and retirement age pays:

· For the share of the income that is up to 60% of the average wage NIS 4,757 (as of 01.01.2009) - % 6.72 (as of 07.01.2002) national insurance and % 3.10 (as of 01.01.1995) health insurance contributions.

· For the share of the income that is over 60% of the average wage and up to the maximum income liable for insurance contributions: % 11.23 (as of 01.01.2006) national insurance and % 5.00 (as of 01.01.2006) health insurance contributions.

Who is exempted?
· An unemployed new immigrant within 12 months following the date of immigration to Israel;
· A person aged 18 who has not yet been drafted and is unemployed, is exempt from payment for a period of up to 12 months provided that he/she is drafted to the army no later than age 21;
· A high school student (11th and 12th grades) who has reached the age of 18 is exempt from payment for the period of his/her studies provided that he/she is drafted up to age 21;
· A prisoner or detainee in prison for longer than 12 months.

Attention:
· A soldier in regular service receives healthcare services from the IDF and is not insured under the National Health Insurance Law, and therefore is not obligated to pay health insurance contributions.

· A career-service soldier is obligated to pay health insurance contributions.
A person whose military service is postponed due to academic studies ("atudai") has to pay national and health insurance contributions himself during the period of studies. The National Insurance Institute will send him the payment booklets and he must pay the insurance contributions quarterly.

· A student enrolled at a "Yeshivat hesder": beginning January 2002 the Ministry of Defence pays national and health insurance contributions for him, from the date of drafting and up to the date of demobilization, including the periods of study at the Yeshiva.

How to pay?
· Self-employed non-workers students and yeshiva students:

You may pay by means of: a pay-book; credit card; standing order at the bank; debt settlement by checks

· Employers – on behalf of their employees and pensioners:
You may report and pay on form 102 by means of: the NII payment site; a bank; the “representatives” computer system; a hand-written report


· Self-employed non-workers students and yeshiva students:
You may pay by means of: a pay-book; credit card; standing order at the bank; debt settlement by checks

Differences between Employee and Self-Employed:
· Employee the employer must report on his/her wages and pay insurance contributions for him/her.

· Self-employed must register at the National Insurance Institute and pay insurance contributions himself.

· Employee is insured both under unemployment insurance and under insurance for employees’ rights in cases of bankruptcy or corporate liquidation.

· Self-employed is not insured under unemployment insurance or under insurance for employees’ rights in cases of bankruptcy or corporate liquidation.

· Employee rights are not affected due to delayed payment of insurance contributions by his/her employer.

· Self-employed rights may be affected if he/she does not register himself or is late in payment of insurance contributions.

If you need more information or clarification on any subject concerning the NII, please feel completely comfortable to contact Tzvi by email or phone, his contact information can be found on his website:

www.lawadv.com or www.voleh.org

What is National Health Insurance?

This post has been compiled for us by Tzvi Szajnbrum a lawyer who has some free services for Olim

What is National Health Insurance (“Bituach Briut”)?

The National Health Insurance Law came into effect in January 1995. The purpose of the law was to assure that every resident of Israel, including every new immigrant and temporary resident, is entitled to health insurance under the National Health Insurance Law. This insurance entitles you to membership in one of the four health funds (“Kupat Cholim”): Clalit, Maccabi, Meuchedit, and Leumit.

This law allows every citizen equal healthcare for all regardless of ones health or economic condition. This is one of the most comprehensive and liberal laws in the world. Despite any preexisting medical condition, you will be accepted without conditions.

The National Health Insurance Law allows you to receive medical care in several areas, including: preventive care, diagnostic care, mental care, medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychiatric care and hospitalization, some dental care for children, first aid including some ambulance transportation, medical care at work, and even some medical equipment.

You should be aware that this law does not include everything. There are exceptions, and not every existing medication is available through this law. Every year the parliament weighs and decides what new medication or service will be included. Unfortunately there are not enough national resources for every person to receive potentially life-saving treatment, so difficult choices are made every year.

Insurance premiums are paid to the NII, in the same manner in which National Health Insurance payments are made, either by you individually or by your employer.

The payment for the National Health Insurance (Kupat Cholim), is made through the NII.

In short, the health insurance system in Israel is very “socialist”. We are all insured and we all have rights by the National Insurance Law. You will always receive fair medical treatment, including hospitalization.

If you need more information or clarification on any subject concerning the NII, please feel completely comfortable to contact Tzvi. His contact details can be found on his web site: www.lawadv.com or www.voleh.org

Bituach Leumi - National Insurance Institute - Introduction

This post has been compiled for us by Tzvi Szajnbrum a lawyer who has some free services for Olim

National Insurance Institute (NII)– “Bituach Leumi”

What is “Bituah Leumi”?

The NII, known in Hebrew as HaMosad LeBituach Leumi , is the government body responsible for social security. It dispenses various insurance benefits and collects insurance premiums.

Its main purposes are to assure a means of subsistence for residents of Israel, for reasons beyond their control are temporarily or permanently unable to support themselves, and to provide allowances and benefits for eligible, insured persons who have accumulated rights.

This is not a private insurance or an eligible insurance but a Compulsory National Insurance and Health Insurance – you must pay (except those exempt by law, as noted below) whether you like it or not, or need it or not.

Booklets in English free of charge can be found in any branch of the NII. These booklets provide most of the needed information on rights and benefits.

Who must pay?

· Every resident of Israel aged 18 and over is obliged under law to be insured by National Insurance and to pay the National Insurance contributions, except for a housewife (a married woman who is not employed outside the household) and for a person who first became an Israeli resident over the age determined by law (the age increases gradually from 60 to 62).

· A person whose life is centered in Israel. Among the criteria for determining residence in this context: permanent place of residence, place at which the family is staying, place of the children's education, main place of work, place of learning.

· Every resident of Israel aged 18 and over is also obliged to be covered by Health Insurance and to pay the health insurance contributions to the National Insurance Institute together with the national insurance contributions.

· A housewife is exempt from payment of health insurance, with the exception of a housewife who is an old-age pension recipient or whose spouse receives a supplement to his old-age pension. Every insured person must be registered in one of the sick funds and is entitled to the health services defined by law.

· Payment rates of national insurance and health insurance are calculated according to the insured’s earned and unearned income, and according to his work status (employee, self-employed, unemployed, student, etc.). Payments will not be less than the minimum specified by law and will not be more than the maximum income ceiling for insurance contributions.

· A person who does not work and has no income will pay the minimum insurance contribution of NIS 147 (as of 01.01.2009) per month.

· An insured person is obligated to pay insurance contributions for any period he/she is temporarily absent from Israel.

Insurance for New Immigrants

New Immigrants are exempt from NII payments during your first year in Israel, unless your income exceeds a set minimum. Different forms of benefits are available for the new immigrant, but you must consult with the NII (or me) if you are eligible during your first year in Israel.

If you need more information or clarification on any subject concerning the NII, please feel completely comfortable to contact Tzvi by email or www.voleh.or