Bituach Leumi - the outcomes of applying for help.

If you are a Jew who is eager to work or his or her middos, then Israel is certainly the place for you.

If your challenge is patience, faith and Ahavas Yisrael (loving your fellow Jew), you will do very well with trying out Bituach Leumi.

Have you ever seen what happens to a ball of wool, all neatly rolled up and placed in a basket, then along comes a cat and decides to play. The ball of wool somehow changes its form. You might come back, eager to begin knitting or crocheting or some other creative pursuit with your beautiful ball of wool and suddenly, woops, the cat decided a different design was in order.

Going through the Bituach Leumi system is rather like that. You might have in mind that you will bring in your documents, carefully complete whatever forms they require, hand it in, receive your answer or money or whatever and everyone is happy. But, Bituach Leumi usually has a different plan.

When I worked in a hospital and was part of the process to evaluate whether a disability grant was indicated or perhaps work rehabilitation would be a better option; perhaps some compensation while work rehabilitation is taking place. There was a system. There were forms to complete, evaluations to carry out, everything worked well when all those in the process did their job correctly. It is really quite straight forward and should not take too long either.

But computers are funny objects, somehow they require a human being to enter information and one hopes that the information will be entered correctly and remain as it was given.

For some reason that I don't understand, the process seems quite straight forward, but, if you find yourself in a place of needing some help from Bituach Leumi, prepare yourself for a road that is neatly set out to test your middos. Be ready to complete the same forms over and over and over again. Be ready to keep your cool, remain patient and go through the process when they suddenly come back with your work history becoming your husbands and vise versa.

On our guest posts you will see the legal side of how things SHOULD take place. Take a deep breath, daven (pray) really hard every moment, give some tzeddakah or maybe a lot and if you get through the process with the result you intended, know that it was a miracle. I would even say an open miracle, an absolute Gift from G-d.

Israel runs on miracles. The best advice we can give is take every situation as an opportunity to improve who you are and notice every achievement as the Hand of G-d coming down to help you directly.

Hatzlachah.

Reducing the Numbers of Car Accidents

Car accidents – And how you can help reduce the number of accidents


The wheel is in your hands

This post has been prepared for you by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law

In the Israeli police, there is a special unit in charge of informing families that their relative – father, child, mother, or sibling – has died in a car accident. Sometimes, the right sentence is: “They were killed in an accident”.

This special unit is formed by only six policeman and they are never “off duty”.

We all can and should help to reduce the number of accidents.

The legal aspect and the most recent changes in the traffic law court is dealt with in this post.

In the last few years, especially in the last three years, judges in the traffic law courts have started a slow – but very active – process of changing punishment criteria.

The meaning of this change is that convicted defendants can be kept in prison for long periods of time, even when the victims are members of their own family.

Think about of how tragic it can be for a parent that, besides killing their own child, they must also serve time in prison!

Car and accident insurance:
Until now, there have not been changes in car insurance policy[1]. These policies cover in case of an accident even a driver who is under the effect of alcohol, but it does not cover the driver under the influence of drugs like marihuana, cocaine, ecstasy and other similar narcotics.

The mandatory insurance (Bituach Chova) is one of the best in the world and I advise you to never (1) go out with your car or even turn on the engine[2] without this insurance. The law is clear on this matter and every vehicle must be covered with this mandatory insurance, which must be valid and kept in the driver’s possession.

Some tips

One of the best media advertisements was produced by an insurance company named “ASNE” (which doesn’t exist anymore). The slogan said: On the road, do not be right, be smart. Just a tip: leave your pride on the side and remember that you have a family waiting for you at home.

Many times I (or my motorcycle) hope to make it to the office and back home alive.

Let the other drivers turn on the high beam in your face or on your back. Let them honk, swear, drive past you... It is not worth it to get all worked up about it. Think about your family waiting at home. Think about your friends and about the wonderful life that awaits you!

The driver is on duty – who will it be today?

One of the greatest solutions today that works very well is the famous “HANAHAG HATORAN”: the driver on duty.

I always ask my son, who is 22 years old; 6’ tall, weighs 210 lbs, and was a member of an elite unit in the army, who he is going out with and who is bringing the car back. So what? It is still the father or the mother who commands the car wheel. If the answers are not good enough, there are no car keys! I tell him to take a cab!

Tell your child, tenderly and firmly, that, if they drink, their father or mother will pay for the cab ride or will pick them up. Make it very clear that it is no inconvenience.

Tell them that they can call you anytime, even late at night. Make your children be sure that you will always be there to help them, whenever and wherever, and that this will not be a reason for you to be upset or for them to be punished.

Footnote by Shoshanah Shear: We would like to thank Tzvi Szajnbrum for preparing this article both to outline the law and to indicate the important role of parents and the responsibility of drivers. Working as an Occupational Therapist both in Rehabilitation and in Medico-Legal work, one message that hit home was, an accident happens in a split second. Afterwards we think of all the things we could have done to prevent it. Please, listen to Tzvi Szajnbrum. Think of your family before something happens. Afterwards is already too late.

Charedi Housing Crisis

Charedi Housing Crisis may indicate Larger Trend: If there's anyone wondering about the difficulties the religious communities are experiencing in terms of being able to purchase their own home in Israel... they may wish to think again as the problem is simply indicative of a much larger problem that could affect those... who are not religious as well: Visit this link on Matav.com for more information.

We need to start sticking together truly helping each other out, rather than turning a blind eye... We're all in the same boat together. The hole being drilled under "that person's" seat on this mighty yacht called Earth, is not just affecting them, it's affecting us all.