Advice for Olim from a Native Israeli

If one looks at the history of the Jewish people, there are several times in which we became exiled from the Land of Israel, predominantly surrounding the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash (Temple). There were however some Jews who never left the Land.

Just recently while talking to an Israeli, (perhaps we should say native Israeli as in a jew born in Israel) the conversation turned to how many generations his family has been in Israel. It was wonderful to hear his family has always been in the Land of Israel.

When asked what advice he could give to Olim Chadashim so that they can be successful in settling in Israel and staying here, he had the following to share.

"Being able to live in Israel requires 3 things:
- Know that Israel is our home הארץ היא הבית שלנו - the land and home for Jews.
- Have Emunah (faith) that Hashem (G-d) will take care of you and depend only on Him
- Have patience (Savlanut - סבלנות) especially when you encounter difficulties, have patience that it will work out.

Later on he added another piece of advice, connected to the above. If things do get difficult, don't get tempted by the other nations or other countries. Just look to Hashem (G-d) and put in your effort to find a solution within Israel. If you are not tempted to leave, you are forced to find a solution here, in our Land.

Lastly he said it is important to find a rabbi who believes in the importance of settling the Land of Israel.

As they say in Israel, Hatzlachah הצלחה You should be successful and have an easy integration back into Israel.

How To Write Checks (Cheques) in Israel

Writing Checks in Israel

A guest post by Hannah Katsman of AMotherInIsrael.Com and CookingManager.Com.

Israel is moving toward a paperless economy, but checks will be around for a while. Checks may look similar to checks from your native country, but there may be important differences in the way they are used.

Writing the check

Checks may be written in English or Hebrew. Pay attention to the following things:

1. Date: Use the Hebrew month and date if you like, although the payees, or their accountants, may not appreciate it. If you use numbers remember to put the day of the month first: 3/7/09 or 3.7.09 is July 3, not March 7.
2. "To" field (לפקודת) . You may be asked to leave this blank. It’s legal for someone to take your check, enter another name or business, and use it for a different purpose. They may also want to avoid reporting the income or paying VAT. Even if you have written the name of the recipient, a check can still be transferred or stolen. I have been told that Israeli banks are more lenient about misspelled names than in other countries. (Actually, Israelis are lenient about misspelled names in other contexts too, including the phone book.)
3. Crossing Checks. To prevent the recipient from writing another name in the “to” field, “cross” your check by placing two parallel diagonal lines above the name of the recipient. Some printed checks already say lamutav beelvad למוטב בלבד, for the recipient only. Always cross checks that you mail or send to school with your kids. Always ask for a receipt, and hold on to it.
4. Amount: Write the amounts in the two fields, once in digits and and once with text.
5. Signature:The bank once called me because a clerk decided my signature wasn’t similar enough to the signature on the card on file at the bank. Your signature can be in English or Hebrew, just be consistent.

Other things to know:

1. Write checks carefully. Banks return checks for minor things that would not be an issue elsewhere. If you make a mistake cross it out, write the correction, and sign underneath the correction. If you are a good customer the bank may call and offer to correct a mistake instead of returning it (for instance, if you write the previous year by mistake).
2. Cashing checks: Endorse the check and include your account number. You can deposit your check at your bank’s ATM without an envelope. But check the date, because the bank may charge you for deposting a post-dated check.
3. Your bank statement lists the date a check was cashed and for what amount, but not the recipient.
4. For school fees, you may be asked to write the child’s name, ID number or class on the back. This is legal.
5. Canceling checks is illegal. But if a check is stolen or a contract has been broken, provide written proof to the bank. You will need to sign a form and pay a fee.
6. Postdating checks is legal. Rent, school fees, and courses are often paid by postdated checks according to a set schedule. More organizations allow use of debit cards instead,a cheaper and easier option.
7. Israeli banks allow overdrafts, although the laws are stricter now. Many stores accept checks. As in the US, there is a hefty fee for bounced checks. If you bounce more than ten checks your account may be frozen.
8. Instead of writing a check, you may transfer funds directly from your account to that of someone else.
9. Ordering checkbooks: You order checkbooks through your bank via the teller, bank machine, or checkbox on the bank deposit envelope. You will be charged both for the checkbooks and again every time a check is cashed, as it is considered a “line” on your bank statement. That’s why many Israelis prefer debit card, which use only one line on the statement.
10. Tashlumim. תשלומים When you have the option of dividing a fee into equal payments (tashlumim), divide the full amount by the number of payments and write a check for each one. For instance, if you need to pay NIS 2000 in four tashlumim, you could write out four checks of NIS 500 for the 1^st day of the next four months or whatever schedule is specified. You could also have payments set up on your debit card.
    
11. Checks are valid six months from the date they are written.

What experiences with checks have you had? Tell us in the comments.
Hannah grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and has lived in Petach Tikva, Israel for 19 years. She blogs at A Mother in Israel on parenting, women’s health issues, and life in Israel. In honor of this guest post, she compiled this list of useful posts for new olim. Her new project, CookingManager.Com, is devoted to kitchen tips that save time and money.

National Insurance - Bituach Leumi Part II

National Insurance Part II

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

Work Status

Sometimes a person changes his work status (for example, he may cease working as an employee and begin working as self-employed). Such a change has implications on the benefits he receives from the NII as well as on the rate of insurance contributions that he is obliged to pay to the NII. Types of changes in work status and benefits affected by the change vary from case to case.

Rates

Rates of insurance contributions for a person who has income and is neither an employee nor self-employed :

For the share of the income that is up to (60% of the average wage): % 4.61 (as of 07.01.2002) national insurance and % 5.00 (as of 01.01.2006) health insurance contributions, and for the share of the income that is above 60% of the average wage and up to the maximum income liable for insurance contribution: % 7.00 (as of 01.01.2008) national insurance and % 5.00 (as of 01.01.2006) health insurance contributions.

A student who does not work:

A student at an institute of higher learning who does not work pays the minimal rate of national and health insurance contribution - NIS 110 (as of 01.01.2009) , using the payment booklets sent to him/her once a year.

Domestic Worker and His / Her Rights:
· A domestic worker is a person employed in household work not for his employer’s business or occupation. Such work includes the care of children, cleaning stairways in apartment buildings and the like.

· A person employing a domestic worker must register him at the National Insurance Institute, must report on his wages, and must pay both national insurance and health insurance contributions for him.

· The employer may deduct the worker’s share of the insurance payment from the worker’s wages.

· When filling in a report of the employment of a domestic worker, all of the worker’s particulars must be accurately registered. Non-specification of the worker’s particulars in the report or specification of incorrect particulars may adversely affect the worker’s rights in national insurance.

· The penalty imposed on a person delaying payment of insurance contributions for a domestic worker is one year of imprisonment or payment of a fine. This person will also be required to pay insurance contributions based on the employee’s actual wage, but no less than half of the average wage during each month of the employment for which payment was delayed. Furthermore, the Institute is entitled to file a claim against a person who did not register a domestic worker on time, or did not pay insurance contributions on time, for the sum of the benefits to which the worker is entitled.

· The obligation to pay insurance contributions for a domestic worker applies also to a person who employs a foreign resident or a worker who is not an Israeli resident and resides in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip or in the territories of the Palestinian Authority. Insurance contributions for these workers are paid directly to the National Insurance Institute.

Ceasing work:

A person who ceases working and cannot return to the labor market may be eligible for NII benefits for limited periods as a substitute for his wages.

· There may be a number of reasons for ceasing work. The benefits related to these various reasons are listed below.

· A student at an institute of higher learning who does not work pays the minimal rate of national and health insurance contribution - NIS 110 (as of 01.01.2009) , using the payment booklets sent to him/her once a year.

Immigrating to Israel

· The NII provides a wide range of benefits to persons immigrating to Israel for the first time as well as to returning residents, in accordance with the different needs of these population groups.

· Some of the rights provided are contingent on payment of insurance contributions.


Injury

· The NII assists persons injured in various circumstances – and therefore unable to function at work or in daily life – in a number of ways.

Causes of the injury and the relevant benefits:

Hostile (terror) action, Vocational Rehabilitation (work or accident), Work Injury, or Attendance Allowance (work or accident).


Living Abroad

· For a NII beneficiary, living abroad may have implications on his right to receive NII benefits, and even lead to the ceasing of payments for the entire period of his stay abroad. The continuation or cessation of eligibility for benefits depends on the circumstances of the departure from Israel, as stipulated in the law.

· Circumstances of departure, and relevant benefits, vary from case to case.

Pregnancy, Birth and Adoption

The NII provides a wide range of benefits to women giving birth and their husbands, both during and after the pregnancy. Benefits are provided also to couples who adopt a child.

The circumstances entitling the couple to benefits and the list of relevant benefits vary from case to case such as: Maternity Allowance, Hospitalization and a Maternity Grant, A high- risk pregnancy, or Adopting a child.

Reaching Retirement Age/ Age of Entitlement to Old-Age Pension

· The NII will grant an old-age pension to persons reaching retirement age, on condition that they do not have high incomes. Persons who require assistance in daily activities may be eligible for such assistance from the NII.

· When you reach this age, you may be eligible for one or more of the following benefits: The age at which the insured person is eligible for old-age pension, conditional on means test. The age gradually rises until, at the end of the process, it will reach 67 for men and 64 for women.

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 details be found on his site:

www.lawadv.com or www.voleh.org