Making Aliyah? Here are Some Financial and Other Realities: Problems and Possible Solutions (Guest Post)

Biggest Issue for Those in Need of Gainful Employment

The biggest issue for those in their 30's to 60's is jobs - being employed in a job that uses their skills and pays a living wage.

Biggest Obstacles

• The biggest obstacle is not having a high level of Hebrew, written (both block and cursive), comprehension, and speaking.
• The second biggest obstacle is the illegal ageism which gets worse as the person ages.
• The third biggest obstacle is having skills that were in demand in another region of the world but are not in demand in Israel.

Possible Solutions

• Online Ulpan starting a year before Aliyah.
• Once in Israel having a buddy who you can teach your primary language and they can help you with Hebrew.
• Lobby the government to enforce current laws, educate employers.
• Have NBN, JAFI and other organizations produce skills matrixes so people can retrain before Aliyah.

Other Obstacles

• The biggest obstacle for a portion of Olim and most Israelis - the cost of housing, the cost of living in general. 
• A large issue for those who come in their 50 and 60's - who have no family in Israel - don't have the issue now but can have the issue in another 10 to 20 years is the dearth of native language assisted living, nursing home, and hospice facilities around the country. Continuing Care Communities (active to death) are expensive and out of reach to most of us. As you age, and if dementia happens you revert to your native language - most places don't have staff that speak different languages. Look at how the elderly Holocaust survivors are treated then look at the world baby boomer population.
• General language barriers - when you are sick, infirm, disabled, it is hard enough - not having personnel available to aid someone when they need it, be it clinics or the hospital needs to be rectified. Personally, Maccabi does have many people where I live that speak enough English for me to get by - and almost all the signs are in Russian along with Hebrew so people do get by but it's not optimal. The French and Ladino communities are still small but growing and they too need help in the health care related functions.

So here are 3 - I've heard many others - problems? Possible solutions?

Please feel free to share your own difficulties, challenges and solutions you have come across in your journey in making Aliyah by emailing us. We would be happy to include your own experiences and stories on our page.

~ With thanks to Stevie Sacks for this clear and direct post giving an insight into some of the challenges, difficulties and problems encountered in making Aliyah, and offering some possible solutions.

Stevie Sacks made Aliyah just over 11 months ago - in July 2014. She is the founder of the Lone Seniors Landing Pad Aliyah for 50+ solitary people making Aliyah - an information sharing and support group on Facebook.

Jobs in Israel - and What You Really Get Paid

The new (and old) Oleh/Olah may well be surprised to find out both the cost of living in Israel as well as what a job actually pays. For those reading this blog regularly - you may have seen this issue addressed before - but there's never enough said on this subject and it's vital to educate yourself in understanding what you'll be doing to earn an income in Israel - and what you will be paid for your efforts. 

There's a well known fallacy that you get paid what you're worth and that if you're not getting paid enough, it means you need to get a better education. Let's set things straight... The general Israeli outlook is one of socialism. It encourages working for a boss and being a part of a working team that arrives at work at 7:30am and leaves at 6:30pm every day - 6 days a week. In real terms what this means is that the "boss" receives the majority of the income generated by the business - and most employees receive an "average income" which in real terms is known as "minimum wage".

It may seem like everyone is doing okay - but minimum wage really means you'll be earning less than ₪25 an hour. Again - in real terms, you'll be generating some ₪4500 per month before taxes, Bituach Leumi (national insurance) and other other basic deductions that happen before you actually access any of your income. To qualify these figures and the situation at hand - if you'll be working in the main central Jerusalem area - you'll most likely need to be living there. Roughly speaking a 2.5 room apartment - that means one bedroom and one and half other rooms (i.e. the main Salon and a corner) will set you back some 1.1 million Shekels. Do the mathematics on your monthly salary and you will quickly realise it will take you almost 15 years of constant saving to earn the minimum deposit required to purchase that home. I neglect to mention being unable to eat, stay anywhere, use transport or communication methods of any kind during that time - as you continue to save your money. If on the other hand you're considering rental, a one room apartment may well set you back some ₪3700 per month - or in real terms your entire salary after your basic taxes (if you are lucky!)

Yes, this is the real cost of rental and housing. I was happy to hear of another outstanding radio program recently - podcast linked below (you'll be directed to the site it is on.) It is here to educate and to make you aware of just what the job market is actually doing to the average person in Israel.

Remember, you can often earn a lot more working on your own - even if you incur the wrath of friends who cannot understand why you are not "working" - as above that all people should be part of a socialistic society. Yet, ironically as an educated person, working a full time job will often see you earning less than an uneducated person with no experience. 

Choosing your type of work in Israel means choosing to be honest about what you need to do to earn a livable income - as opposed to fitting in with the crowd. Many coming to Israel will either give up highly specialised fields to opt for house cleaning, bus driving and guard work outside of shopping centers - all jobs which often earn at least the same, if not more than the jobs going for highly educated people with many years of experience. It's a phenomenon that makes absolutely no sense. But the faster one gets to understand the process here, the easier one's integration can be.

In this radio podcast - Why are the Wages in Israel Alarmingly Low - you'll get to hear more about what is actually going on, giving you the ability to reconsider the type of work you'll be wanting to do when living in Israel.  

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.

Job Offer: Freelance Sale / Telesales

We are looking for dynamic sales people to join a dynamic, creative, Torah based team.

Successful candidates must have:

Must enjoy selling and have good people skills

At least 3 years experience in direct sales

Proven successful track record of generating revenue and closing business

English mother tongue, good Hebrew skills beneficial

Persistent and organized

Self-motivated and focused

B2B sales experience

Excellent phone and email communication skills

Good follow through

Be prepared to do cold calling

Ability to provide Israeli tax receipt

Must dress smart, elegant and modest

Must have minimum level of Torah observance and appreciation for a Torah publication

Must have a love of Torah and Torah values

Compensation is productivity and commission based only

Please send CV, contact details and contactable references through for possible appointment.

Only those complying with above list of criteria and willing to work FREELANCE, should apply.

We look forward to hearing from you

Shoshanah Shear

Work from Home

Some years ago I read an article of how home industries or working from home helps to improve the ecconomy of developing countries. When one makes Aliyah, many will tell you that all you can do is work in a 9 - 5 job earning a salary and preferably (or at least for the one giving the info) a minimum wage salary at that.

Do you prefer to work from home than be tied to a job with little room for progress? Are you a mom who works from home or would like to work from home. Are you interested in part-time work from home?

Have you considered part-time work in telesales? Work can develop to be from home once we see your progress and productivitiy.

We are looking for:

- Olim who are interested in telesales or students, new Chatanim / Kallot or new mothers interested in telesales. Must be able to give a tax receipt and work free-lance. Must be prepared to begin earning commission only, however there is much scope for progress for those who are motivated, persistant and want to succeed.

- Any English Speakers in Israel who have a small business from home that is related to a Kosher wedding or setting up a new home in Eretz Yisrael. It could be ceramic items to give as gifts, linnen, curtains or table cloths, it could be wedding dresses, catering or video. If you have a small business working from home, we'd like to offer for you to advertise in our new magazine. Our prices are terrific and will help to give you the exposure you require to increase clients while at the same time doing the added chessed of helping needy orphan Chatanim and Kallot as a percentage of the proceeds goes to our Bayit Chadash Gemach.

Remember, we can only give to the Chatanim and Kallot once there are proceeds, so how about you helping us reach our target and you can increase opportunity for blessings and clients. Sounds like a good deal to me. What do you think?

Come and join us and have fun with the latest developments in our new magazine "Yibaneh Yerushalayim"

If you fit either of the above descriptions, please be in touch, we'd like to add you to our team.

Shoshanah Shear

Occupational Therapist, Healing Facilitator

Artist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor

Certified Kallah Teacher

Project Manager for "Yibaneh Yerushalayim"

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

Buy a Gift and Support Israel

We have a new online store. Lots of ideas, just a few up at present.

We have a bit of editing to do, but please stop by, visit our store, make your purchase and let us know what your choice is for your ideal gift.

Remember, every gift you purchase assists Olim in Israel and needy Orphans in Israel.

Do YOU Write Press Releases?

We are needing a series of Press Releases written to get into Jewish Publications so as to promote some of the services and Chessed Projects we are involved in.

If you are an Oleh or Olah, preferrably from South Africa or Rhodesia / Zimbabwe originally, and you write Press Releases, please be in touch. The person we select to write these must have contacts with Jewish Publications to get the Press Releases into and have examples of previous work to show us.

If this sounds like something you can do, please email us with:

• Your years of experience in this field
• Where you currently reside
• Where you made Aliyah from
• When you made Aliyah
• Your fee
• Examples of your work
• Previous Press Releases written
• Which Jewish Publications you have contacts with
• Contact information including email, landline, if you have Skype or gmail for an interview or can interview in person

We look forward to hearing from you

Shoshanah

Co-Director of Chessed Ve'Emet

Working in Israel

If you are wanting to work in Israel and the form of work will be for someone else, make sure you obtain a written contract.

Many employers in Israel refuse to give a written contract. This is problematic as there is then no guarantee of conditions agreed upon. Worst case scenario you might just not get paid or end up waiting months and months for your salary.

More and more employers are trying to convince you to work "independently" as an אצמעי. This means you might be lucky to get NIS 10 extra per hour. It also means you forgo their paying Bituach Leumi. You lose sick leave and sick rights. You lose maternity leave and more.

The normal concept of working independently is not the way they work here. The concept here in Israel means they pay you a fraction more, you work by their rules and lose certain necessary rights. In most countries working independently is not this at all. It means you set the price and they pay your as you rightly deserve. You set the rules for your work as you are independent. Not so in Israel.

A work contract should include hours of work, expectations of you during working hours. If you are a professional and have to write reports, make sure your contract includes that these reports are written during your work time and also something about confidentiality. Some places of work want therapists to take written work home to complete. This of course is unpaid time, however it also poses a confidentiality problem.

Your wok contract should also include licensing requirements. Continuing education needs and coverage.

Meetings, how often and which of them you have to attend must be included in the contract.

If there is a dress code, this should be in your work contract.

A clause about what happens in the event of a work injury must be in your work contract.

A clause about resignation, how much notice do you need to give, must it be in writing or verbal? All this must be in your work contract.

Your pay / salary. How much is it per hour and by when will you be paid. This must be in your work contract.

Can you think of other information that should be in a work contract. If so, write a comment here and let us know. Don't settle for sub-standard working conditions. If we all insist on a work contract employers will have to provide them.

Job Opportunity - Creative Graphic Artist with Knowledge of Torah.

Chessed Ve'Emet are an organisation involved in acts of goodness and kindness as well as Torah outreach. You can find out more abous us on our website

We are currently in need of a graphic artist to design an attractive and meaningful logo for our organisation. We have a few of our own ideas and would like to bounce these off the person able to produce something for us. The graphic designer must have an understanding of Torah - goodness and kindness - and able to consider something that will include both these ideas.

We are also in the process of designing attractive artwork on Tzeddaka boxes, see Chessed Ve'Emet's website .

If this is your type of work and you would be able to design an attractive image encompassing our activities, please could you give us a quote for the artwork for this too.

If you are able to help and have a portfolio of your own work for us to look at beforehand and can give us a direct quote of what this would cost (before we go ahead with the design) - or you know someone competant and creative, please be in touch with Rav Eliyahu directly

Thanks!
Eliyahu

Considering Working for Yourself in Israel?

If you come to Eretz Yisrael and wish to work privately, there is an organization that offers courses in small business development. It also promises 20 hours of mentoring free of charge to Olim Chadashim within the first 10 years of their aliya.

This sounds wonderful and if you have a simple idea it really could be. If you have decided of a basic product that you know how to manufacture, who your target group will be and all the other necessary information, apparently you will gain assistance.

If your work includes anything in English, you have a handicap as their experienced consultants are all Hebrew speakers. You can call the number provided and be given a recording with options of 3 languages. However, if you press the number that should give you English, the only English you receive is the menu of what extension will reach which person within the company. After that you have to be fluent in Hebrew.

If you are working in a medically related field such as occupational therapy, the advise you are likely to be given will be to change the name of your profession and then try to market it. If you believe strongly in your profession, you will need to find assistance elsewhere, as this appears to be their standard piece of advise. 

From the 7 or more mentors I have tried, most have been very young with little business experience. Some sound advise given to me other than changing my profession has been:

- know that there are no miracles, just hard work, so get working

- there are no recipes for success. No-one really knows how to succeed, just put in your effort and remember to focus.

- when starting to work in Israel, be prepared to work in anything, especially work you hate. The consultants apparently all worked in jobs they hated and expect you to do so too.

- know that although there are labour laws which include being paid for your work and the time period for receiving payment, no company or facility in Israel will actually abide by this, especially schools or health related facilities. They know that it is too much hassle to take them to small claims court and that most Olim wont try. They also know that there are enough newly qualified people who are prepared to wait to be paid. Therefore if you want to keep your job, don't complain if you don't get paid on time or request that they abide by the law.

Though this is advice I was personally given and it appears to be a lot of what is practised or heard on the street, the profession of Occupational Therapy teaches something quite different. From an Occupational Therapy perspective there is such a role as a worker role, there is such a thing as a work ethic and in addition, part of the profession teaches that a person can not be healthy in the absence of meaningful occupation. I fail to see how working in something you hate will have any meaning or value and am very against the notion of advocating this to fellow Olim. In addition, there are actually Torah Laws regarding paying ones workers and the notion of not being paid is very worrisome.

One tip I learned after a few years here is one way that those professionals working in facilities manage is to have private work on the side. It helps to tide you over until the facility decides to pay you.

Something I learned from having sadly wasted almost all of my hours just trying to explain my profession is go into a meeting with any consultant well prepared. Know exactly what you want to do and what business advice you want or need. Have clearly outlined goals and don't budge from them. If you have been working for over 10 years, dont get into telling your whole work history as this can easily take up many of your mentoring hours and you don't want to waste them. Rather only tell in a few sentences the very main points that are pertinent to your meeting. 

If anyone has had an experience starting to work privately or in a small business, please do send it in. We want to hear from you. The good and the bad. Let your fellow Oleh or Olah know what is happening, what is good and what is wrong. Let us work together to build Eretz Yisrael. The land where every Jew belongs and the land given to the descendents of Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov for the purpose of fulfilling Torah and mitzvos, here in the land. This is the work of every Jew. If anyone tells you otherwise, just fold your earlobes down over the hole of your ear and don't listen.

Need Employment? Enjoy Photography? Become a Professional Stock Photographer

You may have noticed that our blog is all about helping new Olim in a variety of ways.

Most importantly we want to see every single Oleh with an appropriate and acceptable Parnassah (livelihood.) There is no reason whatsoever for any Jew to leave Israel on account of Parnassah problems. However, many people find it difficult to obtain a proper job or find work. They may forget that everybody is able to make a living by themselves even without a formal 7am-8pm job six and a half days a week. In fact, very often life in Israel demands that one begin to use one's personal skills in different ways to earn a living. Relying on a job situation - that often fails to pay one's salary for months on end can end up costing one a lot more than one might think.

For this reason, we are opening up the channels and offering Olim a unique course giving them the ability to earn a livelihood by themselves. The great thing is that if they enjoy photography - they'll also be able to enjoy making a living - be creative and have fun!

Here's our offer to you. If it measures up to what you may enjoy doing, we would be delighted to help give you the tools to become more involved in using photography as a way to earn a living in Israel - and all around the world:

Do you enjoy nature and people? Do you want to learn how to use your digital camera and use it to make money?! 

If you enjoy photography and are looking for the edge in being able to photograph a quality image and be able to actually make some money from it, you'll enjoy our forthcoming course!

Course includes:

• An afternoon out in nature where you'll get to learn how to use your digital camera, become aware of composition, exposure, focus and light.
• An evening together where we will be critiquing each other's images with a view to understanding what makes a quality stock (and other) image.
• A few hours together learning about some basic photo editing techniques. How to make your image sparkle a little more after it's been taken.
• A few hours devoted to understanding how the stock photo sites work, which are best for you, how you can submit your images, and actually earn income from them.
• A few hours devoted to feedback as we get to understand why your images were accepted – or why they were not.

You can turn your hobby into a profession and limit your income only by the lack of your own initiative.

This is a professional course being offered to serious students only. Ideally suited for beginner and intermediate level photographers.

For further info on costs and dates, please contact Eliyahu of Shear Success Photographers.

Job Opportunity - Graphic Design

We are looking for a South African Oleh / Olah who is a professional graphic designer, able to put together an attractive booklet for a day event. The brochure / booklet will include a collection of adverts, biographies, itinerary, maybe some Torah thoughts. We will provide the information and ads but require someone to design the layout from beginning to end and have it printed for us.

We are looking at a brochure of approximately 10 - 16 pages, A5 size. Quantity 50 - 100. We need a quote for the graphic design and the cost of printing.

This is a one off opportunity that we are offering someone employment. However, if we are happy with your work, there is potential for futher work.

This is our third event that we are planning. Should you wish to see our previous event, please visit Torah Online

If you are able to do this, please send a comment to this post or email Shoshanah with a quote and to discuss further.

 

South African Olim or potential Olim, interested in networking with other South African Olim, please be in touch to join our network forums.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Gathering Information Regarding Available Jobs

Through our work with assisting Olim Chadashim become established in Israel, we are developing a resource list of current jobs available.

Current jobs needed by Olim are:

•  nutritionist
•  typing / editor
•  freelance writing (for pay)
•  tele-marketting to English Speaking clients / companies.

If you know of any information for current jobs available in any of these fields, please email Shoshanah with informatiion.

If you know of other jobs appropriate for Olim, these would be greatly appreciated too.

Thank you for your assistance.

Shoshanah Shear

Experienced and Registered Occupational Therapist

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For Olim Chadashim wanting assistance  in becoming gainfully employed or successful in their role as paid worker, a comprehensive service is offered by Shoshanah Shear. To set up an appointment for the initial interview please email Shoshanah. Interviews are carried out in person, via email correspondence or Skype.

Please note this is a professional service.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Shoshanah

Starting a Database of Potential Jobs for Olim

Being an Oleh Chadash or Olah Chadashah, there are often times that finding working is not so easy.  As an Occupational Therapist and assisting Olim, I often have Olim ask if I know of any work available in their field. Although there is a trend in Israel to encourage Olim to just clean houses, we are putting together a database of jobs that will help Olim to use their actual skills. In this way we can assist them to have self-esteem, confidence, fulfillment and enjoy their transition to living in Israel, feeling like a mentch by working in their own profession.

If you know of any jobs currently available, whether freelance writing, data capturing, graphic design or any other job that are appropriate for Olim. Some Olim need to have part time work from home while they complete their ulpan, others want more fultime work, all are welcome.

Any information you send in about a job available or coming available must be current from a reliable source with a clear job-description. 

Please email your info to Shoshanah 

Thank you for your part in helping Olim to become successful in Israel.

If you are South African in Israel, please join our Ning and our YahooGroup. On both of these you will find networking options to assist you become successful with finding work, or employers or service providers.

Shoshanah Shear
Occupational Therapist

Networking Opportunity for South Africans in Israel

If you are South African and are considering Aliya, have made Aliya, are in the process of making Aliya, do join this exciting Yahoo Group. It has been set up specifically to increase networking amongst South Africans in Israel.

The group is South Africans in Israel Job Exchange - SAIJE
The idea behind the group is to strengthen and assist South Africans making Aliya to be successful in Israel. How?

If, for example, you have the need for a plumber, you of course have many options of plumbers to use. By posting on SAIJE and responding to posts on this group, you can give work to a South African plumber, thus helping him to have the opportunity to be financially independent in Israel. In addition the SA plumber is enabled to continue working in the profession or trade he is skilled in and accustomed to.

The same is true if you need a secretary, tutor, doctor, lawyer, therapist, editor or indeed any other kind of service.

In addition to this, the latest trend in becoming successful in business is networking. How can we do this? By connecting with like-minded people, hence fellow South Africans in Israel. In this way, even if you dont need a service provider right now, perhaps you will in the future. Or perhaps you will be chatting to a friend and discover that they need exactly the service you just happened to see posted today, yesterday, the day before, even last week.

We are told that living in Israel is difficult. Let us make it easier by uniting and helping fellow Olim from South Africa.

We look forward to hearing from you and to welcoming your interaction on this great Yahoo Group. Together we can ease the process of making Aliya.