Bizness Magazine January 2015 Issue

23 EXPERTS

M A G A Z I N E

YOU CAN CALL NO

SHARING THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS

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Greater Jerusalem Area www.biznessmagazine.com Circulation: 21,000 copies JANUARY 2015

AG Wigs Wigs are Diamonds Minda Garr Interfacing our mental, emotional, physical & spiritual well-being Netanel Grossman Restoring the confidence of Olim Yaakov Jacobs Keeping the plumber away Nicole Levin New law to protect real estate investors David Litke How to get beyond “finishing the month” Karen WolfersRapaport Rewriting your own story Daniel Zahavi-Asa Getting rid of those bad guys Ruthie Weinberger Using mediation to resolve family matters Yaakov Prince Managing projects from houses to the Waldorf Astoria

AG Wigs Helen Abelesz Meir Amber Shimon Cohen Nachum Eilberg Rachel Factor Minda Garr Yossi Golano Netanel Grossman Richard Gussow Yaakov Jacobs Tzvi Lefkowitz Nicole Levin Yossi Lipsh David Litke Yaakov Prince Rechavia Dental Center Restorno Dr. Bo Rosenblat Moshe Wilshinsky Karen Wolfers-Rapaport Sima Wolpin Daniel Zahavi-Asa

The perfect smile

you’ve always wanted with the care and comfort you never expected!

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Har Nof Rehavia Shaarei Chesed German Colony

Ramat Eshkol Arzei Habira Maalot Dafna Minhat Yitzchak

Ganei Geula Ramat Bet Shemesh Sheinfeld Nofei Aviv

“We design the perfect dress for every bride. We also have a wide selection of exquisite dresses that brides can rent for much less than in a Gemach. If you need a dress, we will get you the perfect one for your special day. No need to go anywhere else. “ Esther Riccio

Esther Riccio learned how to sew in Florence, Italy where she majored in sewing. She learned to design and build models from Letizia Della Rocca at Sitam, the world renowned Italian school of fashion.

Cassa della Sposa 02-623-1170

050-757-0655

contents J A N U A RY 2 0 1 5

MAIN FEATURE 26 Rechavia

Dental Center EXPERTS 07 The Secret of Design 08 “Heaven never decreed that an Israeli family must live in perpetual minus.”

10 Specializing in the planning, creating and implementing solutions for small office and home office networks 12 Healing from the source.

Reclaim your past. Empower your future.

16 “Ten inches of my walls above the floor tiles have started to peel. Is this just a bad paint job or something more serious?”

18 Interview with Netanel Grossman from Grossman Engineering and Construction 20 “Our projects include the Waldorf Astoria residences, the Knesset renovations, the Israel Museum and the Savyonei Arnona apartment complexes.

We also do commercial projects and private homes.”

22 Find Your Dieting Personality & Find Yourself Thinner 23 Wigs are Like Diamonds: The 4 C’s of Choosing a Wig 24 A therapy approach which recognizes the interface between our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing 26 Rechavia Dental Center 28 Keep the Plumber Away this Winter 29 You Don’t Have to Feel Overwhelmed!

32 Neurofeedback 34 OCD Solutions 4

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JANUARY 2015

36 Are You Biased?

38 A Tale of Two Taxpayers: “To File a Tax Return or Not…That Is the Question!”

40 Winter – Snow and Fire 44 Forget that Special on Fries, The Government has a Special on Re-Fis Or Zachute for those with Zakaute 46 A New Law to Protect Real Estate Investors 48 Seven Steps to Your Dream Home

FEATURES 05 Restorno Furniture Care 14 Using Mediation to Best Resolve Family Matters 30 Meuhedet’s Professionals Series 33 Beneficiary of a foreign trust?

Pay tax in Israel.

35 Wine lovers everywhere are in for a real treat when they visit the Jerusalem Wine Club in Efrat!

45 “We assume that office networks these days are flooded with malware and that their computers are infected.”

52 Cutting Edge Technology for Ancient Ways

In every issue 06 Letter from the Editor 49 23 Experts you can call

Bizness Magazine

M A G A Z I N E SHARING THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS

Editor in Chief Ariel Topf Business Development Yisroel Meir Simon Chief Designer Adam Ram Editorial Manager Aviva Sapir Contributing Editors Roberta Bienenfeld, Sivia Weitz Contributing Writers Helen Abelesz, Meir Amber, Shimon Cohen, Nachum Eilberg, Rachel Factor, Yossi Golano, Richard Gussow, Yaakov Jacobs, Nicole Levin, Yossi Lipsh, Restorno, Dr. Bo Rosenblat, AG Wigs, Moshe Wilshinsky, Dave Wolf, Sima Wolpin Advertising Chaya Hyams Graphic Artists Aliza Sokol Photography Yael Ita How to reach Bizness Magazine Advertising

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Bizness Magazine is published by Bizness Magazine Ltd. Bizness Magazine considers its sources reliable. However, reporting inaccuracies can occur, consequently readers using this information do so at their own risk. Each business opportunity and/or investment inherently contains certain risks.

It is suggested that prospective business people, potential patients and clients, and all readers consult their doctors, attorneys and/or financial advisors before applying any of the information that is publish in this magazine. Bizness Magazine makes content available with the understanding that the publisher is not rendering legal services or financial advice, business advice, medical advice or any other type of advice. Editorial content, articles and interviews may be paid advertising. Bizness Magazine does not endorse or recommend any products or professionals. Although persons and companies mentioned herein are believed to be reputable, neither Bizness Magazine or its publisher, parent company, nor any of its employees, sales executives or contributors accept any responsibility whatsoever for their activities. We assume no responsibility for unsolicited material.

Manuscripts, artwork and photographs must be accompanied by stamped, self-addressed envelopes. We reserve the right to publish in whole or in part all letters received by us. All letters, sent to Bizness Magazine will be considered the property of the Magazine. All remarks, suggestions, ideas, creative concepts, graphics, or other information communicated through this magazine or otherwise sent to its publisher (together the ‘Submission’) will forever be the exclusive property of Bizness Magazine., who will not be required to treat the Submission as confidential, and will not be liable for any use or disclosure of the Submission, and need not provide any compensation or acknowledgement for the Submission. Under no circumstances shall Bizness Magazine, or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or related companies and web sites, be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, but not limited to direct, incidental, consequential, indirect or punitive damages), harm, or injury that relate to, arise out of, or result from the use of, or access to, or the inability to use, any of the materials of this magazine, or are caused by any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in printing. Bizness Magazine is printed in Israel and all rights are reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

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Furniture Care BEFORE

AFTER

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ere you can see before and after pictures of a pair of antique armchairs damaged in a flood, then left waterlogged. Damage to the chairs was nearly irreparable: parts of the wooden frames were rotten, all of the joints were loose, the upholstery crumbled when touched.

Restoration of these chairs was clearly going to be a big challenge. Sometimes I receive furniture in such bad condition that I recommend not to restore it. In this case however, the customer felt a very strong sentimental attachment to them, so emotions won.

Restorno repaired the frames, refinished and reupholstered them with springs in the seats. Note that the solid fabric of the seat was contrasted with the floral brocade of the back, and the back was framed with a piping of the solid fabric, an unusual design according to the customer’s taste. We went through the following process to restore the chairs, and make them “like new, only stronger”: 1. The first step in the repair process was the removal of all fabric and nails. At that point I could fill and reinforce areas where wood had rotted. I had to disassemble the chair into pieces, clean old glue from the joints, and then reconstruct the chairs with epoxy. After leveling the legs to make sure chair sits evenly on floor, I sat on them to see if they could support 90 kilos-so far, so good.

2. Finishing was made easier by the choice of the customer to use an opaque lacquer, rather than a finish that showed the very stained wood. Nonetheless, we had to strip the old finish to the bare wood and sand with successively finer grits to achieve smoothness ready for painting. We sprayed sealer and sand three times in order to mask the damages in the wood, before applying several coats of colored lacquer.

3. Upholster y of antique chairs is too often not done right. Most upholsterers today have not learned to work with springs, because elastic webbing and foam became the easy and cheap alternative. However, springs are much more comfortable and long lasting. To upholster with springs we had to construct a platform of crisscrossed nonelastic webbing to hold the springs, tie in the springs to the webbing, and then construct a cover over the springs from jute and webbing.

A rubberized rim was fixed around the perimeter of the

frame to hold the stuffing in place. Foam was cut exactly and glued to the cover. Over the foam we placed a softer layer of acr ylan to give a soft feel before stapling a lining under the top fabric. To cover the seam between wood and fabric, we sewed piping from the same fabric on the seats, and attached it with hot glue.

Below are before and after pictures of restoration of leather swivel chairs:

BEFORE

AFTER

Restorno also restores leather. This chair from Israel’s Supreme Court was highly distressed: armrests were discolored, the seat was scratched and discolored from drink spills.

Restoration of really abused leather is as challenging as wood: 1. The chair was stripped of all dirt and oils with specialized cleaning agents. This may seem like an obvious and trivial procedure, but it is the most critical step in restoring leather. Too much cleaning, and you damage the leather, but too little prevents the color and lacquer from penetrating and adhering.

2. Deep scratches were filled with special, colored epoxy.

3. The entire chair was lightly sanded and stained to match the original color.

4. S e ver a l appli c ati ons of l e ather l ac qu er were spraye d to s e a l t he color and prov ide prote c t ion for ye ars of f uture abus e.

RESTORNO Tel. 02-650-8777 | email: nati.restorno@gmail.com

Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers, I’m sure that you have heard the expression, “Whatever goes around comes around.” This implies, among other things, that the ones who give to others will eventually receive the merit of their generosity back. Have you ever noticed that you feel compelled to do something for people who have helped you along the way – even if they haven’t asked you to? There is a rule in human relations known as “the law of reciprocity.” Reciprocity in social psychology refers to responding to a positive action with another positive action – rewarding kind actions.

In simple terms, when someone does something for you, you have an inner drive to reciprocate, to pay back the favor.

How does this law of reciprocity apply in business? Although there are many who live by the “business is business” motto, meaning that they are allowed to do anything for a buck, business really means building good relations. People actually buy products and services but people ultimately become loyal to people. “People buy from people” is the motto for success – long-term success. When you deal with honesty and care, people feel “obligated” to reciprocate and do business with you. You can actually sell inferior products and services if your client likes you and trusts you.

The right way to gain maximum benefit from the law of reciprocity is to use it sincerely and for the right reasons. Help others and grow your relationships. Success is just a consequence of treating people right. Working by the law always pays off!

Warm up your relationships for a warm and happy winter!

Ariel Topf ariel@biznessmag.com

Ariel has built several companies in three continents in the fields of internet, retail, wholesale, franchising, direct sales, high-tech, employment, food manufacturing, food supplements, clothing manufacturing, pet nutrition, personal development, restaurant, advertising and publishing. In this process, Ariel has headhunted, hired, trained, managed and/or mentored over 20,000 individuals.

Ariel heads BiznessPro, a business consulting firm dedicated to help entrepreneurs who are serious about success (www.biznesspro.com)

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Bizness Magazine

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Expert

CR C R A FTI N G

By Yossi Golano

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The Secret of Design

hen approaching a new project in your home, office or shul, an important principle is not to be afraid to take chances with design. What makes a finished product beautiful is that it reflects the client’s personality or establishes the desired atmosphere. The details are what make home and office furnishings different and unique. These details can be aesthetically pleasing to the eye or practical and functional.

When I design a piece for a customer, most of the time I encounter people who begin with limitations that they place on themselves due to a limited budget, lack of knowledge or unpleasant past experiences when purchasing furniture or cabinets. I encounter many people who erroneously believe that moving to Israel for a more “simple” life is equated with a life that is devoid of passion, expression and beauty in what they buy. However, if one were to notice the beauty within the details of creation, one would perceive a Creator who cares about details. My job as a designer and artist is to try to help people free themselves from these limitations. I do this by reassuring my customer that creating a unique piece does not necessarily mean a more expensive one. And just because they may lack the knowledge of their design options, it does not mean that their hopes are out of reach. The same applies to those who may already have a room full of furniture that lacks personality. This does not mean that they cannot embark on a whole new journey toward creating a room that can change how they feel and think.

When you think about it, people buy all kinds of things that reflect their inner personality – like clothes, cars, books and virtually everything. My job as a designer is to get a sense of what makes them and the room they are working on unique and try to infuse their personality into what I design. Once this is achieved, the ultimate satisfaction is attained. A simple stagger in a string of cabinets or a purposely-placed angle or curve can transform a room into a work of art. Well-placed lighting, a molding or an accent can provide a certain atmosphere. Using exotic woods with unique grain patterns, utilizing creative and artistic color choices or making use of a combination of colors can cause a room to come alive. Functional storage compartments or a place to display a special item like an heirloom or keepsake can provide personality. So can designing a piece that makes room for the everyday needs of the customer worked into the design. In addition, practical flow should be considered and incorporated in the placement of cabinets and furniture so that movement and accessibility is made simple. This makes everyday life easier.

A person may want to design a piece or a room to reflect his profession, interests or hobbies, or they may want to escape and

find sanctuary and rest from their everyday routine. The truth is, commercial designers like myself, and those with whom I have worked, have known this for years. This is why we are drawn to certain stores, restaurants, coffee shops, businesses and shuls.

We simply like the way they make us feel, think and act because of the mood and tone the environment creates.

A good design can reflect the past, change the present or inspire hope for the future. It can set the tone for productivity, creativity, inspiration, and family.

I have seen and experienced how an organized person can feel chaos and distraction in disorganization. How a creative person feels depressed and uninspired in a room without artistic expression. How a grounded person can feel anxious and distracted in a room full of bright lights and colors. Simply put, a person’s personal space should reflect the inner person. When this is achieved, we enjoy inviting people in.

When I design something, I never force a person to like what I like or buy what I would buy. Instead, I try to get a sense of who they are or what their business is about and access their needs and then crate a reflection of it – an artistic rendition and expression of the soul.

Does all this sound too lofty and out of reach?

Well it’s not. So don’t be afraid to take chances…Let’s get creative!

052-704-2800



yossidesigns@gmail.com yossidesigns.blogspot.co.il

Expert Welcome David Litke to our team of experts!

BC

B UDG ET C O U N S ELI N G

“Heaven never decreed that an Israeli family must live in perpetual minus.”

Interview with David Litke of Bonus Family Budget Counseling What is budget counseling and how does it differ from financial planning?

While financial planning is usually associated with investment planning, budget counseling deals with everyday money management as it affects short, medium and long-term financial security. The budget counselor looks at all aspects of a family’s fiscal activity: month-to-month functions, risk management (e.g., life and health insurance), goal setting and retirement planning (which is relevant at any age). He creates an overall birds-eye view of a couple’s situation and then builds with them a financial plan to implement goals in the various areas.

How is this plan put into effect?

I teach clients how to build and implement a budget, how to understand their insurance coverages (to which I may recommend adding or eliminating insurances as may be required), how to decipher their pension reports and how to create a realistic savings plan for the family’s life goals.

What is your education and training in the field?

In Israel, I trained for 18 months with Yosi Esh and Nachman Lidor of Esh-Lidor, the leading budget counselors in the country. I also completed the prestigious Dave Ramsey Counselor Training Course in Nashville, Tennessee. I am certified both here and in the United States and am a member of the Israeli Union of Home Economy Advisers and Coaches. I have been working in this field for over five years and have counseled over 250 families.

Who is your typical client?

A typical client is anyone who earns an income and wants to gain the most stability and security possible from that income. I work with couples of all ages (newlyweds to pensioners), single men and women and divorcees. Everyone can benefit from learning how to handle money more efficiently.

Which financial obstacles do olim often encounter when making aliyah?

How much time do you have?  While there are many hurdles unique to olim from English-speaking countries, the number one obstacle is lack of Hebrew proficiency. It is distressing to see how little consumer awareness exists among olim – especially in the first years of aliyah. This finds its expression in the inability to read bank statements and pay stubs, negotiate with banks and service providers, find employment or speak with a child’s teacher. Other hardships are found in the absence of a nuclear family in Israel, a steep learning curve for how things work here (e.g., bituach leumi, kupat cholim, 8

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bank practices), insufficient capital for getting through the first couple years of aliyah and unstable exchange rates for olim pensioners living on a fixed income. All these, of course, are only a partial list.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having an overdraft?

There are absolutely no advantages to carrying an overdraft.

Heaven never decreed that an Israeli family must live in perpetual minus. A couple’s goal must be to spend no more than they make.

This is eminently achievable and comprises the main focus of my counseling.

What long term goals are you trying to achieve in your counseling?

I train couples to look at the long-term goals and aims of their financial lives and not just at how they’ll finish the month. When families do this, it’s amazing to see how month-to-month management eventually becomes routine and far less stressful.

Where do you find that the average consumer often overspends?

The most obvious categories are flexible expenses such as food and entertainment. People buy too many groceries and don’t consume all that they buy. Fixed expenses can also be reduced with sufficient awareness and diligence, such as with refinancing a mortgage, shopping for better cell phone deals and the like.

What is the average amount of time you advise a client before they feel like they can move on independently?

The typically full counseling program stretches over two-three months. I hold follow-up meetings up to six months or even a year, as may be desired or necessary. I also give one-time workshops on many different subjects such as budgeting practices, newlyweds’ orientation and financial dilemmas common to retirees.

What is the single most important tip you can share with us to help people cover their month?

Plan your spending. Give every shekel a name and an address.

Make a budget before the month starts and review your spending weekly through the month. It may sound paradoxical but watching every shekel in a micro fashion is the key to assuring macro success over a lifetime. In this respect, it’s just like exercising or dieting. Small baby steps lead to the attainment of great and worthy goals. 

Bizness Magazine

050-535-1800 david@budgetsuccess.co.il www.budgetsuccess.co.il

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The Heating and Air Conditioning Experts Sales Maintenance Service

Licensed by all major companies

Tzvi builds his reputation on customer satisfaction

All our work is guaranteed!

Winter MAINTENANCE TIP You wouldn’t drive your car 100,000 miles without changing the oil. The same logic holds true for your home air conditioning system. Regular HVAC preventative maintenance is the best way to ensure trouble-free operation and peak performance.

Pre-season maintenance is also important. It can help to avoid a system failure in severe hot or cold weather when you need it most, and it will also keep your energy bill from getting out of control.

ASK US ABOUT OUR YEARLY PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN (as low as 39 nis per month!)

Tel : 02-628-8282 Cel : 054-498-5298 Tzvi@HandymanTzvi.com We take all major credit cards Installments payment option

When you want a job done right, you call in the experts. At Handyman Tzvi Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re dedicated to performing quality HVAC repair and installation work.

Our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee shows our commitment to upholding the highest level of service in the industry. We repair, sell and install more heating and cooling systems than any other company within the Anglo community.

We are licensed with all major brands: Electra, Tadiran, Tornado, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and LG among others. Tzvi gives a thorough explanation of the work to be done with honest and affordable prices. We service Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem, and surrounding areas.

www.HandymanTzvi.com

Expert

CN

comp uter & network

Specializing in the planning, creating and implementing solutions for small office and home office networks Interview with Daniel Zahavi-Asa

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aniel has over 25 years of experience in programming, networks and communications for multi-nationals and start-ups. Daniel also has CCNA certification from CISCO. His background enables him to understand the needs of each individual client. Satisfied customers include institutions, NPOs, financial services as well as large home office networks.

What is your background and training in the field?

I grew up in California where I studied computer and information science. I was one of the first in America to work in that relatively new field. After ten years, I moved to Israel.

My work experience includes programming, networking and computer maintenance in large and small office environments. I have always been enthralled with networking, communications and its ever-evolving technology. My goal is to ensure that my clients are left to manage their businesses successfully, eliminating crisis situations.

How do you set up the infrastructure for a small business?

I specialize in the planning, creating and implementing solutions for SOHO (small office and home office) networks. The key to setting up and operating your office is an initial professional assessment of your commercial environment in balance with the demands of your workflow.

What issues do you deal with most often?

The list of typical issues includes printing problems, viruses, back-up, slow computers and more. I am able to convert seeming large setbacks into simple issues, resolving them efficiently and effectively. This is one of the core stages towards permanent commercial growth.

A typical case study is being summoned immediately after a power outage that has caused the office network to crash. I am able to restart the system with minimal data loss and minimum down time due to the original configuration which I designed and installed. The fear of uncertainty in a complex set of technology is replaced by a trust in the system that can deliver.

We are experts at repairing your “broken” computer. Your computer won’t start up? Won’t turn on? We can help. If you purchase a new computer or are moving an existing computer or other equipment to a new location, we can help you get up and run fast! We will do all installation and configuration of computers and related peripherals.

What about backing up data?

The last thing in the world you need is to lose your data. No matter if it is documents, music, pictures or videos, nobody enjoys finding out that their data is gone. There are several ways data 10

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backup can be accomplished and this where we can step in to help you make the right decision.

What is a virus?

A virus is a manmade program or piece of code that causes an unexpected, usually negative, event. Viruses are often disguised as games, screen pop-ups or images with clever marketing titles.

The main goal of a virus is to infect your computer and duplicate itself by infecting other computers via email or file sharing.

(That’s right. You can inadvertently send a virus to your contact list without even knowing it!)

In general, computer viruses and the like are nothing to get excited about. Yes, you should get rid of them. But, you should also take caution to make sure that they are truly gone so as not to continue to harm your computer and so that they do not get passed on to others.

We have lots of experience helping clients whose computers, unfortunately, contract viruses and spyware. Ridding your computer of these bad guys is our specialty!

Do you offer a particular popular plan for small businesses and home computers?

We offer a monthly maintenance plan where we will visit your site on a regular basis to make sure your computers and network are running at their optimal best. We are also available between visits to handle any troubleshooting issues. And for the home user, we will set up a convenient bi-yearly plan for regular check-ups and maintenance for your home computer to keep it healthy and happy. 

Bizness Magazine

053.726.5175 daniel@zahavinet.com www.zahavinet.com

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RETINAL DETACHMENT Retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from its attachment to the underlying tissue within the eye.

This condition requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent complete loss of eyesight. Damage is greatly reduced by treating the condition in its early stages.

The retina is where the light receptor cells are located. Light receptors convert light entering the eye into electric signals which are transmitted via optic nerves to the brain. There, the signals are processed into the images we see.

There are two types of light receptors, rods and cones. There are approximately 120 million rods which are situated on the outer edges of the retina. Rods are long and thin, and they work mainly at night. They are incapable of producing very accurate vision or perceiving color. Rods can only perceive black and white, which is why it is hard to see color at night.

There are around 6 million cones located at the center of the retina. They are short and fat and work mainly by day. They are capable of perceiving fine detail as well as color.

The population at risk of retinal detachment are people with severe myopia (near-sightedness) and diabetics with symptoms of diabetic eye.

Retinal detachment is most likely to be caused by a small tear in the retina which becomes increasingly bigger towards the center.

If the problem is detected in the early stages of the tear, routine laser therapy can attach the edges of the tear to the

rear of the eye, which will prevent the tear from spreading.

In the event of fluid entering through the tear and resulting in the retina becoming separated along a wider area, it is exceedingly difficult to return the retina to its proper place, and generally vision will not be restored to its previous strength.

There are other ways of treating retinal detachment. Scleral buckling is the attachment of a belt to the outer wall of the eye which pins the retina to the rear wall of the eye. It should be noted that generally glasses prescriptions will change as a result of scleral buckling since the procedure causes changes to the structure and length of the eye. Pneumatic retinopexy is when a gas bubble is inserted into the eye. The patient is required to keep his head facing downwards for a number of days to allow the bubble to push the detached retina back into its place.

Symptoms of retinal detachment include: irregular and distorted vision, on and off flashes of light, black spots in the line of vision, and in advanced stages, shadows which cover parts of the field of vision.

If there is the slightest suspicion of the presence of this condition, make sure to seek immediate medical attention and avoid extraneous movement, which may exacerbate the problem if it does indeed exist.

The aforementioned population at risk should have regular checkups at an eye doctor (at least once a year or as otherwise recommended by a doctor).

REMEMBER: EARLY INTERVENTION IS THE CRITICAL FACTOR FOR SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT.

Expert Welcome Karen Wolfers-Rapaport to our team of experts!

NT

NA R R ATI V E TH ER A P Y

Healing from the source.

Reclaim your past. Empower your future.

Interview with Karen Wolfers-Rapaport Karen Wolfers-Rapaport is a psychotherapist and creative writer specializing in Narrative Therapy. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an M.A. in counseling psychology from Boston College.

She currently writes for Aish.com and Chabad.org. Karen is available for appointments.

What is Narrative Therapy?

Narrative Therapy is a collaborative approach to counseling which centers people as the experts of their own lives. A narrative approach views problems as separate from the people who struggle with them. In narrative therapy, we assume people to have many skills, abilities, values and beliefs that will assist them to change their relationship with the problems influencing their lives. It is a way of working that considers the broader context of people’s lives.

Tell us about your background and what led you to Narrative Therapy.

I have been privileged and blessed to study under and work with incredible mentors, teachers and therapists. I began my graduate training at Tufts University under the tutelage of some very fine pyscho-analytic psychologists. From there I trained at the Family Therapy Institute here in Jerusalem where I learned the “Family Systems” approach and was exposed to a variety of sub-specialties. I was introduced to Narrative Therapy through a workshop given by the amazing Yishai Shalif who is considered to be the top Narrative Therapist here in Israel.

Being taught by this master was a mind-opening experience. I immediately knew that Narrative Therapy resonated with me.

Later on, I had the opportunity to work with Yishai Shalif’s partner, Rachel Paran. I received my certification from the Jerusalem Narrative Therapy Institute.

There are many reasons why I was attracted to this process. One of the first things I noticed was that this form of therapy was not about giving advice, solutions or opinions.It 12

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was about empowering clients to find answers within themselves. I truly believe that people are far more resourceful than they think they are. Secondly, because I see clients as the experts in their own lives, I enjoy collaborating with them rather than assuming control over the therapy. If I have been touched by a person’s story, I acknowledge that. I see it as an honor to be a witness to the re-authoring of their narrative. Finally, Narrative Therapy is a positive, empowering, future-oriented way of dealing with challenges. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of personal transformation.

This specialty embraces such a vision. This having been said, I also use other therapy techniques that I am trained when the situation calls for it.

How does Narrative Therapy enable clients to feel more in control than the more traditional forms of psychotherapy?

Because Narrative Therapy asks the client to re-write his own story, the client is directing the course of his therapy.

Narrative Therapy utilizes the power of a person’s story to discover his often-untapped personal resources. We believe that people possess natural skills, intuition and expertise that can help guide the changes that they wish to make in their lives. People often come to therapy when the stories dominating their lives are restricting their possibility for peace, happiness, success, growth and the like. Our work together involves facilitating the emergence of new stories/narratives that are more healthy, satisfying and empowering. These new stories highlight insights, emotions, skills and personal power that perhaps the client was unaware of before.

For what type of issues is this type of therapy the most effective?

The effectiveness of Narrative Therapy is well documented and can be used for many challenges – from major depression to eating disorders, from ADHD to bullying, from family dynamic challenges and identity struggles to overcoming abuse.

How do you address the labels that people give themselves?

People often get stuck in the repetition of their stories. For ex-

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PROCESSPESEXCEPTIONS N I A HO REGAIN S REG S NS E O I C T O INTERVIEW PRACH CEP X PERFORMANCE E O PR BELIEF AP N ANCE O I HOPES T ABILITY RM IGRAFOWITNESSES T S E ESBILITY LEAD LUES PE INV SKILL M O A VA UTC PROBLEMATIC O OUTCOMES REASON STIC AL N I L O APPROACH TERIA ERS P A L THERAPY SKILRAPY M IEF CH ASSIST THE L A PERSONAL E O B PR MATERIALISTIC AP APPROACH TIC ES A S S M E BLE NSVALUESWITNINVESTIGATION O O I R T P IC S T N E S I LEAD O U S Q AS NEGEM O S HEGEMONIC QUESTIONS H A RE

NARR ATIVE

Y P RA

E H T

ample, if my story is “I am depressed,” I will gravitate towards experiences, situations and people who maintain and facilitate that image of myself, that label. I will display behavior that attracts the very depressive things I want out of my life.

One of the main tenets in Narrative Therapy is the practice of viewing problems as separate from the people who have them.

As a result, instead of labeling a person we believe in labeling the problem. This allows the problem to stand independently. For example, when you externalize depression rather than pointing it towards yourself you are able to question and deconstruct depression in ways that you could not without the space between you and it. Naming depression creates clear boundaries between you and it, the problem. Clients begin to see themselves through a different lens than the one dominated by, in this case, depression. More functional choices are made around this challenge and greater personal responsibility is assumed. As you re-author your story and your problem, personal labels and self-fulfilling prophesies get turned on their head.

Over the past few years we have seen an increase of counselors and therapists in our community-what do you think has led to a more open approach towards therapy?

Because communities like RBS and parts of Jerusalem are filled with new olim who are far away from family, friends and their support systems in the old country, they are finding the need to reach out to professionals here in Israel. There is also something comforting in knowing that your therapist understands, to a certain extent, the idiosyncrasies of the religious subculture in

which they live. I think, in general, there is a pull both in the greater society and in communities such as RBS to go inward and cultivate an inner life that is reflective of the person they strive to be. I have observed a tendency toward greater authenticity, compassion, kindness and self-awareness. I find in these times, people want to live their Torah from the inside out!

With so many forms of therapy out there, why would someone choose Narrative Therapist?

A Narrative Therapist believes that one’s life is a series of stories. These stories create meaning for us and are the “subplot” of our lives. The situations, environments, people and ideas that we attract and feel close too “thicken” our stories and provide the necessary layers and complexity that make a life. Ideally, we hope our stories provide a positive life force but as we all know, this is not always so. Often our stories hinder our progress in fulfilling our true potential.

Narrative Therapy differs from many therapies in that it puts a major emphasis on identifying people’s strengths highlighted by how they have mastered situations in the past. It seeks to build resilience rather than focus on shortcomings.

Narrative Therapy places its confidence in the client. It is a relatively short-term, deep, positively proactive way of dealing with challenges. 

050-990-6368 karenwrapaport1@gmail.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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Using Mediation to Best Resolve Family Matters Interview with

Ruthie Weinberger Ruthie Weinberger is a social worker, counselor, educator, mediator and facilitator of restorative justice (RJ). She is a graduate of Machon Devorah Seminary, Bais Yaakov Toronto Teacher’s College, Xavier University School of Social Work, University of North Texas (Masters degree in clinical sociology) and Machon Gevim’s Center of Dispute Resolution. In addition to her private practice, she presents seminars and workshops, volunteers at Mosiaca and mediates tviot ketanot (small claims). Mrs. Weinberger brings 22 years of field experience in education, therapy and administration to the mediation table.

Reuven, Shimon and Dina are three siblings, all married with growing families. Their mother passed away four months ago and their father is deteriorating and can no longer take care of his own needs. Nevertheless, he resents his children implying that he is not managing.

The above scenario is one that many of us are familiar with-even if we have not actually lived it in some version. The siblings must put aside as many of their personal differences as they can in order to attempt a joint discussion to decide what to do about their father.

Their father has shifted in their eyes from “Patriarch” to a “situation that has to be dealt with.”

The siblings’ respective spouses (who may or may not get along) feel they ought to have a vote since whatever is decided will affect them and their family dynamic (another log on a building fire). The father is resentful and angry that his children feel it is their place to dictate his life What is mediation?

Mediation is often confused with arbitration and family therapy.

Mediation is a form of dispute resolution used to resolve conflict between two (or more) conflicting parties. It is a voluntary and confidential process whereby a neutral third party opens up a dialogue and facilitates negotiation between participants.

In Hebrew, mediation is called gishur, to bridge. A mediator facilitates the building of bridges which enables parties to meet over the chasm. When a crisis arises, it is accompanied by stress, conflict, unknown factors and fears. Utilizing mediation can help restore balance and create resolutions in this upheaval.

Family mediation empowers participants to find resolutions that best meet the needs of their families as individuals and as members of a family unit. It is a process that is both time and cost efficient, focused and achieves results.

Who is your client base?

My practice focuses on family and civil mediations. My clientele is usually English-speaking individuals who want a mediator who 14

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understands their language and culture. Other individuals come as referrals from lawyers, therapists and Rabbonim.

I also run workshops and seminars, locally and internationally, to educate the community on conflict resolution skills and preventative measures.

Describe a sensitive case and how you deal with such a case.

Anytime we deal with people it is sensitive. Everyone plays more than one role in life.

As an example, let’s use the family described above. Reuven is the eldest son, a brother, a husband, a father and grandfather. He wants to maintain all these relationships.

Reuven and his wife have hit an ultimatum point in this dispute.

Reuven wants to move closer to his father in order to be able to take care of him. His wife has no intention of being uprooted. Reuven and his wife are at a crossroads. They have a strong history and have invested years in their marriage. Even after working out a resolution there will be damage and injury from the current clash that needs repairing. Forgiving and forgetting is divine. We humans are mortal.

What tools would you use to address the problems that Reuven and his wife face?

The first tool to aid them in reaching a satisfactory decision would be “reframing.” This is a process that enables the participant to see the “picture” in a different light, from different angles and perspectives. The second tool would be “redressing,” a repairing process that is humbling and empowering and is often successful in restoring equilibrium between the participants. Built on principals of victim-offender mediation, it is a topic I often address in workshops and will present an article on it in a future edition.

What keeps you inspired in your work?

Watching that AHA! moment. It can be when the last hold-out gives or when you see the realization dawn that there is a second side to the story. Or after are dress session and the “hurt” is healed. 

Bizness Magazine

This February look for Ruthie’s three Jerusalem workshops/seminars.

Dates, times and places can be found on her website.

www.rweinberger-mediation.com

• Elder Care – Preparing for the Future • Negotiating the Tough Stuff • Redressing (Restorative Justice in Domestic Situations) 054-492-0238 mediatorruth@gmail.com www.rweinberger-mediation.com

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Expert

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PA I N TI N G

“Ten inches of my walls above the floor tiles have started to peel.

Is this just a bad paint job or something more serious?”

By Nachum Eilberg

L

ast month’s article in Bizness Magazine offered readers the opportunity to submit painting-related questions. We were very happy to get so many questions — all of which received individual replies from us. In addition, we are pleased to share some of the questions and our answers with you.

Please submit any additional questions you may have to me, Nachum Eilberg, at nachum@wallsruspainting.com. I will be happy to respond directly to you and perhaps publish your question in a future issue.

Our house is in desperate need of a paint job but I have heard you cannot paint in the winter. Is that true?

Q A

Submitted by Naomi from Har Nof, Jerusalem

Q A

Submitted by Michael from Beit Shemesh

Years ago this was true. One could only paint in the spring, summer or fall. In addition, after applying a single coat of paint, the paint had to dry overnight. A second coat could only be applied the following day. Fortunately, paints have advanced in so many ways since the early days. Paint now dries within minutes in the summer and within an hour in the winter.

This makes it possible to always start and finish a room within a day. Rooms that have mold issues require special anti-mold paint. This requires additional dry time between coats. These jobs are not done on rainy days due to the longer drying time that is required to meet the manufacturers’ guidelines to prevent mold from reoccurring.

How much would it cost to paint our 110 meter, 4-room apartment?

Size is only one of the numerous factors that we take into consideration when creating a price quote. Some of the other factors include: the condition of the ceilings and walls (water damage, mold, etc.), whether or not the doors and windows need to be painted, the amount of furniture that we need to move, and the list continues. We therefore are never able to give an estimate over the phone. It is only after coming to your home and looking at your particular situation that we are then

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able to prepare a price quote itemized by room and priced accurately for you.

We purchased an apartment a few months ago which was renovated and freshly painted before we moved in.

Ten inches of my walls above the floor tiles have started to peel. Is this just a bad paint job or something more serious?

Q A

Submitted by from Moshe and Devorah from Rechavia, Jerusalem

When paint on the walls peels at the bottom, it is an indication of something called “rising damp.” This refers to moisture that gets into the sand below the floor which rises up to the lower part of the walls. Your first indication of a problem is usually the symptom you described -- the paint is peeling. It is therefore necessary to first find the source of the problem, fix it and then wait for the walls to dry before repairing the wall and repainting. At “Walls R Us,” we use a moisture meter to determine when a wall is dry enough to paint. We do not paint wet walls as the paint will just bubble and peel after a short time.

You should be aware, however, that it is not always simple to find the cause of the problem. A common problem is a leak that a plumber can resolve. A leak from a bathroom, kitchen sink or a radiator can cause all the sand under the floor to become wet, triggering the type of problem you described. It is also possible that rain water is the cause. If you live on the ground floor, it may be necessary to seal the walls outside or perhaps grade the ground surrounding your apartment so that all the rain water flows away from the house. Or, it could just be that the caulking around a tub needs to be replaced and resealed. This will prevent water from getting into the sand and causing the rising damp problem.

To answer your question, the peeling on your wall can be a symptom of a serious problem that should be dealt with to prevent more costly problems such as floor tiles shifting. 

Bizness Magazine

052-611-9500 nachum@wallsruspainting.com www.wallsruspainting.com

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Expert Welcome Nati Grossman to our team of experts!

BR

Building & renovation

‫גרוסמן‬ ‫הנדסה ובנין‬

GROSSMAN

ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION

Small and large, private and commercial.

We build with American Standards and Israeli Acumen Interview with Netanel Grossman from Grossman Engineering and Construction Nati, how has Grossman Engineering & Construction gained such a great reputation?

The demand for our service has been growing in the last number of years and we are grateful for it. Private individuals and even hotels are just so desperate to find contractors at the level they are used to from abroad. Many of our customers had terrible experiences with construction before - situations that tainted their absorption experience in Israel. We consider it a privilege when they tell us that we have restored their confidence and “helped them heal.”

Tell us about an interesting project you have completed.

All people in construction tend to love a challenge. I am no different. A few years go, we were asked to renovate a major hotel in Jerusalem. We were given a unique test: 1. Renovate all of the large, main areas of the hotel.

2. Do it all while the hotel is running, doing the maximum to keep the disturbance and dust to a minimum, and 3. Do what would normally be at least a month’s worth of work – in a week! And just to “up the ante,” it was the week of Erev Pesach!

The owners knew that our company holds itself to international levels of construction and customer service and that we would do our utmost to exceed every one of our client’s needs and expectations. So we kept our work localized and focused on minimized disruption by working through the night every day that week. The project turned out better than imagined. The owners couldn’t believe it. And we had a great story to share during that well deserved next week of Pesach vacation.

What inspired you to work in construction?

Growing up, I was the kid who was always fixing and building things. As I matured, so did my skills, until I was the one called on by friends and neighbors for all their construction needs. That blossomed, and the idea for my own construction company developed over the many years while working for one of the larger construction companies.

Which type of projects to you work with?

We deal in all markets-private and commercial. We have renovated hotels, built private homes, redone apartments and even constructed commercial areas.

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What are some of the challenges facing Anglos when they decide to build?

Anglos are frightened to build due to the many unfortunate stories they hear from their friends and neighbors; word travels fast in our Anglo community. People need to find a reliable and honest contractor who can understand their vision and help them materialize that to perfection. Very often, either due to language barriers or just general lack of experience, clients know intuitively what they want, but don’t have the “know-how” to turn their expectations into a finished product.

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But you have the dual-advantage of being “Israeli” as well....

Exactly. It’s the duality we have, as “Israelis,” being just as fluent in the Israeli market allows us to successfully interface with the suppliers and other subcontractors to better protect our client from fraud and to make sure we get the best prices and materials.

How would you recommend people go about finding a reliable contractor?

Here is the secret: Many dishonest or unqualified contractors keep a small number of clients happy in order to use them as references for years to come. Ask any contractor for references of the last five projects they have done. Not just any five, but the last five. Do this even with a contractor that is highly recommended to you by a friend.

What is unique about what your company brings to the market?

We have the will and the ability to take the big jobs as well as the smaller home renovations. At the end of the day, we want to ensure our customers’ satisfaction to the fullest. We have built our company

based on good recommendations and “word-of-mouth.”

Part of our customer service model is taking the time before we go to construction to make sure that we are equally as immersed in our client’s vision. Anglos want a level of quality and detail that is on par with what has been dubbed “American standards.”

To fully understand that requires someone who knows the quality of the materials used abroad, the styles, the level of finish and, of course, intuitively strives for that same famous “American standard” of customer care and satisfaction as well.

I also like to think that part of what makes us special is that our clients are special. Together we are redefining the building standards here in Israel.  Nati Grossman can be contacted for free consultations at 052-423-9580 grossman.engineering@gmail.com 052-423-9580 grossman.engineering@gmail.com

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Expert Welcome Yaakov Prince to our team of experts!

cm

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

“Our projects include the Waldorf Astoria residences, the Knesset renovations, the Israel Museum and the Savyonei Arnona apartment complexes. We also do commercial projects and private homes.”

Interview with Yaakov Prince of Prince Construction Management

W

e were fortunate to catch Yaakov at the entrance of one of his projects just before we went to print. We agreed to a short question, short answer style interview. Stay tuned as we will delve deeper into critical construction matters in upcoming issues.

What is construction management and on what types of projects is it most needed?

Construction management means being the mother of the project.

One must put together profession teams, negotiate with contractors and suppliers, check constantly on work quality, make sure that jobs are billed properly and keep to the timetable and the budget. Construction management is needed from the very beginning of a full renovation until the project is completed.

What is your training and background in the field?

I am a civil engineer with many years of experience of working on projects, both private and commercial. Some of my projects are listed on my website.

When did you start Prince Construction Management and what propelled you to open your own business?

I opened my business in 2014 after many years of experience. I was finishing the management of the Waldorf Astoria, Jerusalem and felt that it was time to open my own company.

What steps are needed to take a project from start to finish?

We start with the plans and the budget. We then choose a contractor and other building professionals, selectand purchase the tiles, light fixtures, paint colors, etc. We oversee the project until the end, making sure that the timetable is kept to and all the work that is carried out is of superior quality with no cornerscut.

What do you personally do on a typical project?

I make sure that my workers are carrying out the on-site supervision and I oversee their work. I visit each project at least once a week.

I review the contracts and bills to make sure that they are correct and that there are no overcharges. If my on-site managers have problems, they consult with me and together we come up with solutions.

How do you manage your team?

Every one of my employees manages between one and three projects – depending on the size of the project. We hold weekly office meetings to discuss the various issues that have come up during the week. We problem solve together so that we are all on the same page.

What’s important when selecting contractors?

I generally prefer and choose only contractors who follow the 20

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work order and keep to the timetable. If there are contractors who don’t do that, then it makes it very difficult to work with them.

What are some of the local projects that your team has been involved in? How did you obtain them?

I have mainly worked in the Jerusalem area. Some of my more well-known projects include the Waldorf Astoria residences, the Knesset renovations, the Israel Museum and the Savyonei Arnona apartment complexes. I have also done many commercial projects and private residences. Most of my work comes to me by word-ofmouth. We have a great reputation.

How involved are the project owners in the decision-making process?

The client is fully involved in the decision process. In general, clients prefer to be more involved with interior design decisions and less involved in the structural decisions.

How much time goes into planning before beginning a job?

It depends on the size of the project. Our motto is plan for an hour and save three hours in the execution.

What is the most fundamental step that needs to be taken at the beginning of a project?

The budget must be formulated correctly and in detail. The right contractor must be chosen for the specific project.

What was the biggest planning error you have witnessed?

In one project, the plans had the ceiling lower than the windows.

We caught the mistake before the building began and mentioned it to the architect who changed the plans.

Give us an example of a particularly challenging project that you managed to complete.

The Waldorf Astoria Residences. There were 28 custom apartments with enormous amounts of detailed specifications. We managed to complete them in a year and a half.

How do you explain the dishonest stereotype that kablanim carry in Anglo circles? How can a homeowner combat this problem?

The stereotype depends on the kablan. More importantly, it depends on who is managing the kablan. Our experience aids us in our choices of with which kablanim we work. Even then, we supervise and manage these kablanim to make sure that they are doing the job correctly and time efficiently. Part of the way we manage them is by the payment plan – we release the money from the client to the kablan in stages so that the kablan is held to his work. 

Bizness Magazine

02 535 5732 052 698 3534 Yaakov@princecm.com www.princecm.com

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Expert

WL

W eight loss

Find Your Dieting Personality & Find Yourself Thinner

By Dr. Bo Rosenblat, M.D. Chief Physician, Dr. Bo’s Diet

F

iguring out your dieting personality can sometimes be a little tricky. Don’t assume that just because your character traits are a certain way that these same qualities translate to your behavior around food. Uncovering the underlying reasons behind weight gain or stalled weight loss is often the key in getting yourself on track. Sometimes we act as our own worst enemy and inadvertently sabotage our own success. Here are some common missteps and how to help save yourself from, well…yourself: The Manic Muncher If your days are busier than Grand Central Station, you may find yourself short on time as well as food options. Running around all day and grabbing a nibble here and there usually results in weight gain. “Grab and go” foods are usually not the healthiest (think donuts and chips) but often they are all that’s available.

The Solution If you have time to squeeze every other person into your day, you can certainly find time for you. You only need a few minutes to pack up some healthy, easy on the go, snacks. Convenience is the key if your days are non-stop on the go. Single serve, pre-portioned snacks are going to serve you well. A small package of almonds and an apple are great afternoon pick me ups. A cup of yogurt is a quick, on the go, breakfast. Low-sodium, unprocessed deli meats, hardboiled eggs and bagged pre-washed lettuce are all quick and easy lunch options. No heating is required and an insulated lunch bag means no refrigeration either. I recommend keeping an “in case of emergency” stash in your car and office too. Busy as you are, there will be days when you forget yourself and your emergency stash may just save you from the vending machine.

The Foolish Friend I’m a big advocate of the buddy system for weight loss. Sharing the journey with a friend or family member can help keep you motivated and on track. The feeling of camaraderie you get with a friend can be invaluable when changing your diet and your habits.

But, sometimes jealousy, boredom or discontent creep in.

The Solution If your partner in crime becomes jealous of your success or even frustrated by your struggles, it can leave you feeling empty. I have seen instances where one person actually hides his accomplishments because he doesn’t want to offend his friend. If you can no longer be honest with your partner, you should end the relationship in this one area. Even the best of friends can’t always contain their emotions in the weight loss arena. Tensions run high and con22

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fidence often runs low. If the pairing isn’t working for you, split up. Even a temporary break can be healthy. If you’re afraid to be totally honest with your BFF (“I saw that eye roll when I lost five pounds”) then just say you need a break from talking about your weight. Taking some quiet time to reflect on your goals and accomplishments is always a good thing. You may even find that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

The People Pleaser If you’re the type that simply can’t say, “No,” you are probably going to run into trouble around food. Your too nice demeanor means that you can’t tell mom you don’t want her pie because you’re dieting. It means you will split dessert when out with a friend for fear of insulting her. And it means that you will likely feel anxious and stressed when faced with these obstacles. If you constantly get derailed because of others, it’s not their fault, it’s yours.

The Solution You must actually learn to say, “No.” The art of saying “No” takes practice, believe it or not. If your natural inclination is the path of least resistance, those around you will inevitably sabotage you and most likely won’t even realize it. First, make yourself clear. If you’re visiting mom for the holidays, let her know in advance that you’ve been watching your weight. When she offers you second helpings, dole out a compliment while gently reminding her about your objective: “Mom, if I don’t stop now I’m going to devour it all and that wouldn’t be good for my diet!” This might do the trick.

Ultimately, you may be your own worst enemy when it comes to your weight. It is important to take a step back from yourself and give an honest assessment of what’s been holding you back.

While it’s easier to blame others, it’s far more effective to take ownership and fix what you can.  Dr. Bo Rosenblatt is a board certified medical doctor who has served in many leadership positions in hospitals and clinics, and who has lectured for physician organizations all across the United States.

Dr. Bo’s Diet is a comprehensive, customized, five-phase weight management program producing rapid weight loss in the short term and healthy weight management in the long term. For more information call 077-228-5877 or e-mail: details@drbosdiet.com

Bizness Magazine

077-228-587 / 077-228-5887 details@drbosdiet.com

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Expert Welcome AG Wigs to our team of experts!

WI WI G S

Wigs are Like Diamonds: The 4 C’s of Choosing a Wig

By AG Wigs

C

hoosing a sheital (wig) requires understanding and appreciation of details. This guide of mine will help you understand the ins and outs of the 4 Cs of wigs: Cut, Cap, Composition and Color.

Cut The most important consideration for most people buying wigs is how the wig will look on them. That means style and style means how the wig has been cut.

So how do you decide what type of wig hairstyle will look best on you? Do you want long or short? Bangs? Layers?

As a first stop I recommend – pre-cuts. Nowadays, pre-cuts are widely available and in a wide variety of styles and colors. So try them on – as many as you want – and see what type of style fits your face the best. But remember, even pre-cuts need a few adjustments so that they will fit you properly. The advantage of pre-cuts is that they give you an opportunity to see how the wig will really look on you (with perhaps a few changes) and not on the store model or anyone else.

Another option for deciding what type of wig to buy is by trying on the wigs of friendsand family members in order to give yourself an idea of what you may or may not like.

Looking through magazines is also very helpful in getting an idea of hair styles.

Although wigs are styled upon purchase, you should have an idea of what you want before purchasing. Length is an important factor involved. If you go too short to begin with, there will be no room to try something else. You may want to stick close to a style you’re familiar with while a more drastic change can always be made once you are more familiar with how the wig looks on you.

An experienced wig stylist can transform your look with a style that will flatter the shape of your face.

That being said, I will also add that every new wig has a breakin period. Once you are used to the wig, your wig stylist will need to figure out all the little nips and tucks and snips that have to still be done.

Caps When we talk wig and we talk caps we mean the cap size.

While average size wigs tend to fit about 95% of customers, many wigs come in petite and large sizes. There are also wigs with adjustable straps that give you up to 1/2” more of wiggle room enabling you to achieve a comfortable and secure fit. There are also “stretch caps” now available on the market.

When fitting your sheitel, take into account the thickness of your

hair and not just your head size. You should not go for a fitting right after a haircut nor when you are overdue for one. Your wig should fit comfortably and have enough room for some extra hair as well.

Caps come in different types. Some use stretch nets with machine sewn hair while others use hand tied strands and other variables. Every manufacturer has its own style. Customers need to find which type fits them the best. If you have a non-standard shaped head, a pre-made cap is not for you. In such situations, you can discuss with your stylist the options for custom ordering or altering a cap to fit you properly.

Composition If your hair is very straight or very thin/fine, you may not look right in a wig with thick wavy hair. We recommend that you stick with hair similar to your own or similar to previous wigs that you were happy with. That is unless of course you really want to change your image from curly hair to straight or vise-versa.

Your stylist can help guide you on what will look right on you.

Color As most styles offer a range of color choices, this is a good final step. As you zero in on styles you like, you can begin to review the colors available. It may be advisable to get a shade slightly darker than you are used to, as the strong Israeli sun tends to lighten things up pretty quickly. If you have a very rare color, like a deep red or real auburn without red, make sure this is available from your wig dealer.

For professional advice, and to purchase your “dream wig” contact AG wigs!  052-654-3500 (02) 625-1018

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23

Expert Welcome Minda Garr to our team of experts!

HP

Holistic Psychotherapy

A therapy approach which recognizes the interface between our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being Interview with Minda Garr, MSW

Tell me a little bit about your background.

My professional training is in social work. My BSW is from Hebrew University where I subsequently spent 29 years on the faculty. I began as a field work supervisor and eventually filled a variety of positions: Director of Field Work Training, Academic Coordinator for the first Haredi social work training program in the country, Academic Advisor and Lecturer. Even though I am formally retired, I continue to teach a yearly course in Holistic Psychotherapy. In addition, I have spent many years working as a therapist, as well as 35 summers as a staff trainer/advisor in a summer camp setting. One of the things I always tell young people interested in social work is that it is a profession that opens the door to a wide variety of professional opportunities and it never gets boring.

How did you move from what sounds like a very traditional career to what seems to be a less conventional approach to therapy?

I have always loved to learn. I was looking for a course to take when I was in the U.S. during the semester break in 2002 and found a six-day training in Heart-Centered Therapy sponsored by the Wellness Institute in Issaquah, WA. The course was life-changing for me. It opened up new avenues of thinking and new ways of understanding myself and others. I have continued my training with the Wellness Institute and have been in a group for facilitators since 2006. All of the training is both experiential as well as didactic. A couple of years ago I taught the basic course in Heart-Centered Therapy here in Israel and hope to do so again. The work I am trained in is both transformational and deeply healing.

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What is holistic psychotherapy?

When I use that term, I am referring to a therapy approach which recognizes the interface between our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. The therapy models which I have been trained in, and which I have taught over the years, are very influenced by the Western medical model which distinguishes between the various dimensions of our lives. A more holistic approach is based on the premise of the overlapping of these four areas of our lives and the impact that each dimension has on the others.

What types of therapies does it include?

Holistic psychotherapy begins with talk therapy. From the beginning, the connection is very much heart-centered. A basic premise in supporting people as they heal whatever they are looking to heal in their lives, is that the connection must begin with unconditional acceptance of the client and an ability to “contain” whatever issues he or she chooses to bring up. This connection is one which needs to go beyond ego. This means that the focus is totally on the needs of the client and not on those of the therapist. The “tool kit” in an holistic approach in-

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cludes working with clients in a deep state of relaxation, exploring the early sources of issues that are impacting on the client’s functioning today and healing those issues at the source, working with early wounding and healing faulty belief systems that were formed early in our lives and that continue to impact on our functioning, working with subconscious “programming” that is negatively impacting on our lives, working with the breath for both relaxation and healing, acknowledging and working with the human energy field and working with the mind-body connections that impact on us.

What influences do Eastern approaches have on your work?

Mostly in an awareness of the mind-body connection through the chakras and the use of states of inner focus for exploring levels of consciousness.

Why would someone choose this type of psychotherapy over typical “talk therapy?”

First of all, the type of therapy chosen has to fit the client as opposed to trying to make the client fit the therapy. That’s why I love having a varied “tool kit.” Sometimes, work with a client begins with the more traditional talk therapy and, as the relationship evolves, we move into the less “conventional” modalities. Some of my clients do only the more holistic work with me. Mostly though, there is an integration, as whatever we

do together needs processing time. What I am offering is really beneficial for people who want to “move beyond their story” into a new story. It is for people who are looking to expand, grow and develop and move into a place of greater satisfaction in their lives. It is for people who are holding onto issues or early traumas that they are ready to heal. And it is for people who have tried traditional therapy and have felt like they are looking for something more.

How many sessions are usually necessary until the termination of the therapy process?

One of the greatest things is that there is no formula. I have done single sessions with people, I have worked with people for several months, and have had relationships that continued over a number of years. It is the client who decides how far, how deep and how much he/she wants to accomplish.

Do you ever refer clients on to other types of therapy?

All the time. If someone is looking for help, they deserve the best that is there for them. If I don’t feel that I am the best person to meet the need, I always refer to colleagues who can give them the help they want. 

052-614-6932 wellnessisraelhealing@gmail.com

www.wellnessisrael.wordpress.com

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Welcome to the Rechavia Dental Center in Jerusalem Our dedicated staff makes every effort to his dentist at the very first meeting when provide patients with the highest quality background information and the patient’s dental history are taken. and most advanced dental care available.

The practice’s goal is to deliver dental care to patients in a comfortable and friendly environment. We also see it as our responsibility to thoroughly educate our patients, so that the choices they make regarding their dental care will be based on having a thorough understanding of their various options for treatment.

Our treatments range from veneers to whitening to oral surgery and orthodontics.

We are also the only Israeli practice to use the innovative LANAP technology for treatment of periodontitis.

The Rechavia Dental Center staff is comprised of three highly qualified dentists (all of whom are American-trained dentists We believe that it is crucial for our patients now practicing in Jerusalem), as well as to feel comfortable with their doctors. We professional dental hygienists and dental encourage each patient to get to know assistants. Š‡–Š‡” ›‘— Â?‡‡† ƒ •‹Â?’Ž‡ …Ž‡ƒÂ?‹Â?‰ ‘” ƒ …‘Â?’Ž‡š †‡Â?–ƒŽ ’”‘…‡†—”‡ǥ RECHAVIA DENTAL CENTER JERUSALEM ‹• ”‡ƒ†› –‘ ’”‘˜‹†‡ –Š‡ ˆ—ŽŽ ‰ƒÂ?—– ‘ˆ †‡Â?–ƒŽ …ƒ”‡ –‘ ‘—” ’ƒ–‹‡Â?–•Ǥ ƒ–‹‡Â?–• …ƒÂ? „‡ ƒ••—”‡† –Šƒ– Â?‘ Â?ƒ––‡”

™Šƒ– –›’‡ ‘ˆ …ƒ”‡ –Š‡› ”‡“—‹”‡ǥ ‹– ™‹ŽŽ „‡ †‡Ž‹˜‡”‡† ™‹–Š ’”‘ˆ‡••‹‘Â?ƒŽ‹•Â? ƒÂ?† ™‹ŽŽ —•‡ –Š‡ Žƒ–‡•– –‡…ŠÂ?‹“—‡• –‘ ƒ…Š‹‡˜‡ –Š‡ „‡•– ’‘••‹„Ž‡ ”‡•—Ž–•Ǥ

Š‡ ’ƒ–‹‡Â?–ǯ• …‘Â?ˆ‘”– ƒÂ?† —Â?†‡”•–ƒÂ?†‹Â?‰ ƒ”‡ ƒŽ™ƒ›• ƒ– –Š‡ ˆ‘”‡ˆ”‘Â?– ‘ˆ ‘—” …‘Â?…‡”Â?•Ǥ

ÇŁ

ÇŚ ƒ•‡” —Â? ”‡ƒ–Â?‡Â?– Č Â‘Â•Â?‡–‹… ‡Â?–‹•–”› Č Â‡Â?‡‡”• Š‹–‡Â?‹Â?‰ Č Â‘Â?†‹Â?‰ Č Â”Â‘Â™Â?• ƒÂ?† ”‹†‰‡• Č Â‘Â•Â?‡–‹… ‘Â?–‘—”‹Â?‰ ”–Š‘†‘Â?–‹…• Č Â?˜‹•ƒŽ‹‰Â? Č Â‹Â?‰—ƒŽ ”ƒ…‡•

Â?’ŽƒÂ?–• Č Â‡ÂƒÂŽÂƒÂ?–• Č Â‘Â‘Â– ƒÂ?ƒŽ Š‡”ƒ’› Č ÂšÂ–Â”ÂƒÂ…Â–Â‹Â‘Â?• …ƒŽ‹Â?‰ ƒÂ?† ‘‘– ŽƒÂ?‹Â?‰ Č Â‡Â?–—”‡•

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Dr. Kaszovitz’s commitment to excellence and continuing education is the hallmark his long-standing dental practice. This level of commitment reflects the extensive training that has remained a primary focus throughout his many years of professional service. Dr. Kaszovitz graduated from New York University (NYU) dental school in 1996. He then completed a two-year residency in dental and oral surgery at Brookdale University Medical Hospital and earned his fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 2000. Dr. Kaszovitz also completed a one-year joint NYU-Brookdale hospital program in implantology. In 2008 he completed the “All on Four” certification course (otherwise known as Teeth-ina-Day) in Lisbon.

Dr. Kaszovitz provides implants that are safe, fast, less invasive – and often do not even require sutures.

Dr. Kaszovitz can even provide a more comfortable option for patients who need a sinus lift as part of upper jaw implantation: the iRaise Sinus Lift System enables minimally invasive sinus augmentation that streamlines the implantation process. With fewer complications, fewer patient complaints, fewer follow-up visits and much less swelling, iRaise brings a completely novel way of thinking to sinus lifts.

After your dental procedure, you will both look and feel like yourself and leave with your implants the same day.

Dr. Kaszovitz continues to take courses regularly to improve his expertise in both general and specialized areas of dentistry, including aesthetic dentistry. Above all, Dr. Kaszovitz places the needs of each patient as his highest priority. He develops a long-lasting relationship with his patients and treats each one as a family member.

Dr. Eliyahu Gherman has been creating beautiful His commitment to caring and smiles over the past 13 years. He received his Bachelor quality care is at the heart of of Science degree from Yeshiva University and went on the Rechavia Dental Center. to complete his dental training at New York University College of Dentistry. While at NYUCD, Dr. Gherman was the first ever to receive a special grant from the United States government to conduct research at the National Institute of Dental Research in Bethesda, Maryland! Please feel free to ask him about his experiences working side-by-side with NASA researchers. Dr. Gherman then completed his residency in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics at Montefiore Medical Center.

Dr. Gherman was honored to be granted a special award by the American Association of Orthodontists for his achievements in helping to further the science of orthodontics. As an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists and numerous study clubs, he stays up-to-date with all the latest technology. After all, an orthodontist can only provide the best ser vice to his patients if he keep up-to-date with the newest procedures! Although orthodontics is a science, Dr. Gherman knows that it is also an art. “Ser ving my patients takes serenity, care and a lot of heart.

I have the education, training and technical knowledge to provide you with a great smile, but just as importantly, I strive to give all my patients personal attention to make them feel at home.”

Eliyahu Gherman, DDS Orthodontics

Daniel Kaszovitz DDS, FAGD Dr. Schlussel maintains the highest level accreditation and pursues continuing education to stay abreast of the latest dentistry trends.

One of these trends is the move to less invasive treatment for periodontal disease. Dr. Schlussel brings the Periolase MVP-7 to Israel, the only one in the country. This laser performs a LANAP procedure to treat gum disease without cutting away precious gum tissue. There is no need for suturing and when compared to conventional techniques, there is minimal to no swelling.

Dr. Schlussel is highly skilled, has advanced training, and enjoys coming to work every day and forming close relationships with his patients. He cares about each and every patient and takes the time to educate and treat them to achieve their optimal dental health.

Dr. Schlussel’s professional associations include the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association and the New York State Dental Association.

David K. Schlussel, DDS 15 Ibn Gevirol Street, Jerusalem

TEL: 02ǧ561ǧ9770 | 02ǧ561ǧ9780 www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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Expert

PL

B”H

P LU MB I N G

Keep the Plumber Away this Winter

By Yaakov Jacobs

A

lthough Israel doesn’t get any real Nor’easters, temperatures here can drop below freezing and cause plumbing related complications. We saw this recently with our latest winter storms.

The biggest problems these cold temperatures cause are frozen pipes. It’s common for pipes to freeze due to extreme cold weather. This usually occurs when water pressure is high and temperatures are freezing. To avoid broken and frozen pipes, make sure to leave the tap opened a little bit to let water flow. If you do notice a frozen pipe, turn off the main water supply to prevent the frozen pipe from bursting. In such a situation, do not try to “do it yourself.” Call for professional help immediately.

Leaving a faucet open, even with the smallest of drips, provides pressure relief. Since dripping faucets waste water, only leave on faucets that are connected to pipes which are vulnerable to freezing (pipes that run through unheated or unprotected spaces).

Many people believe that the reason for letting pipes drip is that the running water won’t freeze like still water. This is not true. Even rapidly moving water, such as found in streams and waterfalls, can freeze. The truth is that pipes don’t rupture due to ice expanding outward. It is due to the ice forming inside the pipe which expands laterally and pressurizes the water trapped in the pipe. This over-pressurized water is the force that actually ruptures the pipe. Open dribbling faucets provide pressure relief and fend off pipe damage.

Preparing for a Freeze You can protect your home by taking the following precautions to prepare your pipes for the next cold snap: • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets under the sinks enabling heated air to circulate around the water pipes.

• Don’t let house temperatures fall too low. If you will be away during a cold spell, leave your heating on a timer or have a neighbor turn it on and off every day to keep the temperature up.

• Make sure you know where your water shut-off valve is and how to turn it on and off. Consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve if you leave town. Leave your faucets on when you close the water valve in order to drain the pipes.

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Make sure you turn the faucets off before you turn the shutoff valve back on.

• Watch your water pressure. The first sign of a frozen pipe is restricted water flow. Let cold water trickle, in a stream slightly smaller than a pencil’s width, during the evenings when the temperature is the coldest.

• Disconnect garden hoses and drain outdoor pipes to prevent winter storm damage. During cold snaps, if a garden hose is left connected, ice can form and pressure can build up in the water lines inside your home. Once this occurs, a water line leak or break could occur and cause severe damage to the home.

• Water left in your dud chasmal (electric water heater) can be a problem. It is advisable to put your dud on a timer to prevent the temperature from dropping too low as well. 

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Expert

LC

LI FE C O A C H

You Don’t Have to Feel Overwhelmed!

By Helen Abelesz

A

s women, we try to do it all. We want to be amazing mothers, great wives, wonderful cooks, good employees, perfect hostesses and have a clean and tidy home.

But, there are just too many things to do, too much responsibility and not enough time. Many of us feel overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious and stressed – we feel that we are failing.

Does this sound familiar?

Life can be stressful but there are ways to enjoy life more and stay calm. People always say that they are so busy dealing with what’s urgent that they do not have time to deal with what’s important. The reality is that you don’t have time NOT to deal with these things. If you gave yourself just one hour a week to deal with what is weighing you down and holding you back -- the chaos and disorder – you would have much more energy, less stress and anxiety and you could find life much lighter and happier.

Rachel* had three young children and had recently started working part-time as a receptionist at a busy office. Her husband worked long hours and sometimes had to travel abroad.

Rachel had always prided herself on having lots of guests for Shabbat and having an immaculate home, as her mother had done but this was becoming increasingly more difficult. Her six-year old was having a hard time adjusting to being in first grade and was falling behind in the homework. Her four-year old kept wetting his bed and her one-year old was waking up a few times a night. Rachel felt like she was slowly unravelling.

She was screaming at her kids, the house was a disaster and she was exhausted. Mornings came far too early. Sometimes she just wanted to curl up in her bed under the covers and not come out! Somehow though, she found the strength, pulled herself out of bed and gave me a call.

The first few sessions with her were difficult. Rachel was teary-eyed, felt overwhelmed and couldn’t see how things were ever going to get any better.

Rather than focus on what wasn’t working in her life, we first spent time examining what was working in her life. We used that as base to build on her success. We focused on her daily routine and the issues revolving around her kids. We also examined how we measure successful mothers. Rachel needed to readjust and question whether having guests every Shabbat

was a good marker. We also practiced a number of proven techniques in dealing with stress.

Rachel worked hard and began to find the way to emerge from the fog. She began to acknowledge her strengths. She started feeling her life was becoming more manageable. She also began to recognize the early symptoms of anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Those moments still came but the relaxation exercises kept Rachel in control of them. She knew the feeling would soon pass and she could feel calm. Over time, these moments became fewer and fewer.

Life can sometimes overwhelm us and it can be hard to see how we can ever feel calm again. In just a few short months I can help you turn your life around. You can acquire tools to deal with stress, gain practical help with parenting and routines and learn how to feel better about yourself and feel happier. You don’t need to suffer. Let me help you! Call me, Helen Abelesz, Life Coach, for a free first consultation.  *not her real name and all identifying features have been changed.

054-482-9815 helenabelesz@gmail.com

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Meuhedet’s Professionals Series:

ew Intervi

w

Rosen e s i n e ith D

Neurofeedback:

Cutting Edge Technology for Ancient Ways

Interview with

Dr. Chaim Pinchuck

D

r. Pinchuck is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has been certified as a specialist in adult psychiatry by the Scientific Council of the Israel Medical Association and the Misrad Habriut of Israel.

Dr. Pinchuck attended Columbia College of Columbia University, SUNY at the Buffalo School of Medicine and he completed his training in psychiatry at the NYU-Bellevue Medical Center in 1991. He opened a private practice in Brooklyn, NY in 1996 where he was affiliated with Maimonides Medical Center. He then moved his practice to Clifton, NJ, where he was affiliated with the Hackensack University Medical Center. Dr. Pinchuck was also formerly affiliated with the Zucker Hillside Hospital of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center and held faculty appointments at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

What is neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is otherwise known as EEG brainwave biofeedback training. Information about the electrical activity of a client’s brain is provided to them through auditory and/or visual feedback, allowing the brain to reorganize and self-regulate safely and without drugs.

What role does neurofeedback play within your strategy?

I provide integrative psychiatric services which can include traditional psychiatry, nutrition, herbs, vitamins and supplements, meditation, and breathing and relaxation techniques in addition to methods based in cutting edge technology such as neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback can also be used for the general public for optimal functioning and peak performance without a psychiatric record.

What made you decide to concentrate your efforts on this approach?

We now live in the electromagnetic age with the chemical industrial revolution long past. There have to be better, more effective, faster, and safer ways to get things done. Modern technology, as in other areas of our lives, can be successfully applied in the mental health field. Though interestingly, my motto is “cutting 32

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edge technology for ancient ways.” Neurofeedback, even while based on the most recent scientific advances, is associated with meditation and natural healing.

What types of conditions are treated with neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a training method that can be used for all ages and which can help many psychiatric and neurological conditions including ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, Asperger’s, PTSD, anxiety, depression, mania, sleep, migraine headaches, TBI, concussion and much more. Neurofeedback is also used for optimal functioning and peak performance for students, athletes, meditators, performers, professionals and others trying to get to the next level in today’s hectic and competitive world.

What are the benefits obtained by your patients?

Clients find neurofeedback to be enjoyable, easy, and relaxing.

There is a wide range of safe, rapid improvement in many areas of life and for many conditions without stigmas, medications or side effects. These areas can include physical, cognitive and emotional challenges, general wellness, brain fitness and age remediation, peak physical and mental performance, and improved academic performance.

What happens in a typical session?

NeurOptimal ®, my main system, is completely passive. All clients have to do is lean back in a zero gravity chair and listen to meditation music into which auditory feedback is embedded based on real-time computer analysis of their brainwaves. Nothing is sent back up the sensors. Sessions are very relaxing and profound meditative states can be experienced if the client chooses eyes closed training.

Is neurofeedback compatible with psychiatric medication?

Some clients can avoid psychiatric medication, some can have their medications reduced, and others can enjoy additional benefits not provided by their medication.

How widespread is this therapy?

Neurofeedback and biofeedback are provided by thousands of practitioners around the world. There are neurofeedback organizations, research journals, textbooks and books. Many mistakenly assume that this can’t be a serious approach since they have not heard about it and their health professionals know nothing about it. Neurofeedback, based on the latest science and technology, is a holistic and wellness approach and not a medical model disease method pushed by drug company advertising money.

Who endorses this approach?

The American Pediatric Academy has endorsed neurofeedback as a “Level1/Best Support” treatment for children with ADHD, equated with medication. Daniel G. Amen, MD, foremost expert on ADD and Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD, foremost expert on PTSD, provide and recommend neurofeedback, as do many other experts. Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski stated that “neurofeedback is a breakthrough treatment without medication for children with ADD/HD.” Who can benefit from neurofeedback?

“Anyone with a brain” can potentially benefit. I am also very excited about my new system, Interactive Metronome, which can be used for ADHD, PTSD, Tourette’s, auditory and visual processing, TBI, concussion, language learning, sports, peak performance and more. For more information, please visit my website at www.chashmal.org or contact me at 050-303-0939. 

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Beneficiary of a foreign trust?

Pay tax in Israel.

O

n December 25, 2014, the Israel Tax Authority (the “ITA”) extended the deadline for certain reporting requirements for Foreign SettlorTrusts in Israel.The previous deadline which was December 31, 2014, has now been extended to June 30, 2015.

Following a major reform to Israeli tax law in August, 2013, a Foreign Settlor Trust is suddenly taxable in Israel if one of the beneficiaries is an Israeli tax resident.

Under prior law, a trust settled by a foreign resident was exempt from tax and reporting in Israel on non-Israeli source income. Under the new law, a trust is subject to tax in Israel even if there is only a single Israeli resident beneficiary. Such a trust is now known as an Israeli Beneficiary Trust and the beneficiary will have to pay tax on the distribution or income which is allocated to him or her.

Israeli Beneficiary Trust An Israeli Beneficiary Trust is subject to Israeli taxation regardless of its revocability if the following three conditions apply: 1. The settlor is alive and is a non-Israeli resident. A settlor will be deemed alive as long as the settlor’s spouse is alive on the condition that the couple was married at the time a transfer was made to the trust.

2. The trust has at least one Israeli resident beneficiary.

3. The settlor and the Israeli beneficiaries are relatives. Parents, children, spouses and grandchildren are automatically considered relatives. In other cases such as brothers, nephews and aunts, such persons are considered relatives only to the extent that the tax officer is convinced that the trust is created in good faith and the beneficiary has not paid any consideration for his right in the trust’s assets.

If the settlor has died, or is deemed not to be related to the beneficiary, the trust will be subject to tax in Israel on its worldwide income.

Israeli Beneficiary Trust - Tax Regimes An Israeli Beneficiary Trust is taxed under one of the following two options: 1. 30% Tax Regime – under the 30% Tax Regime, the yearly income of the trust will not be subject to tax in Israel. However, a distribution to an Israeli resident beneficiary will be taxed in Israel at a rate of 30%, unless the trustee proves that he distributed assets that were originally granted to the trust by the settlor. This is the default tax regime.

2. 25% Tax Regime – A trust may elect to be taxed at a rate of 25% on a yearly basis, with respect to the portion of the trust’s income which is allocated to an Israeli beneficiary. If such an election is made, any future distributions will be exempt from tax. The trustee must submit a one time, irrevocable election to choose this option.

by

Dave Wolf, Esq.

In addition, the trustee is required to submit a one-time notification of the existence of a trust to the ITA within 60 days of its formation or attaining its status or in the case of existing trusts, until June 30, 2015.

Taxation of Trusts settled by Olim Trusts that were settled by olim who arrive in Israel after August 1, 2013, will be entitled to the benefits of new immigrants or senior returning residents only if all beneficiaries of the trust are new immigrants or foreign residents, and as long as the settlor is still alive. For those settlors who made Aliyah before August 1, 2013, the trust will remain tax exempt for as long as the settlor is alive and up to the ten year tax exemption which the settlor is entitled to.

Arrangements with the ITA The ITA offers an amnesty program for the years 2006-2013 for trusts looking to either find closure on the possibility of past tax liabilities or that are interested in receiving a step-up in the cost basis of the trust’s assets to the fair market value at the time the trust became subject to Israeli taxation.

To qualify for a settlement (3- 6% of the trust’s asset value at the end of 2013 or 1/3- 2/3 of the income tax due between 20062013) the Israeli-resident beneficiary must not have transferred any assets to the trust and the trust assets cannot be derived from taxable income in Israel on which taxes were not paid.

Dave Wolf, a U.S. and Israeli tax attorney, is a partner at Dave Wolf & Co. Law Firm. He can be reached at 02-622-2335.  Dave Wolf & Co. is a law firm specializing in taxation and wealth management with offices in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and New York and affiliate offices in Greater China, London and Amsterdam.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and is not a substitute for legal consultation. Specific legal advice should be sought in accordance with the particular circumstances.

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Expert

AD

Anxiety D isorderS

By Rachel Factor LCSW

M

any people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders have come to accept their disorders as a way of life. Individuals suffering from OCD have learned to carry out rituals, (repetitive behaviors to alleviate anxiety) as discretely as possible.

When that is not possible, they may perform some level of the ritual in public which can be humiliating. This, however, seems preferable to living with the unbearable feeling of anxiety that they would feel if they didn’t engage in the ritual.

Sara brushed against a car as she was walking through the parking lot. Her automatic thought was, “Maybe you scratched the car.” She tried to take a quick glance at the car and walk on but that gnawing voice inside said, “Maybe you’ve caused damage to the car. If you don’t know for certain that you didn’t, there is a good chance that you did. You cannot leave until you know for sure.” Sara circled the car several times and tried to figure out if the scratches on the car were caused by her. Her inner wisdom seemed to say that it was almost impossible that she caused that damage but she didn’t feel like she could tolerate the uncertainty.

She debated whether or not to leave a note on the car windshield stating that she may have caused damage to the car but she held back. But even after all her checking, she felt awful inside.

It’s not enough that Sara may have attracted attention as she circled the car in the parking lot. She then went home and called two friends to get their reassurances that she couldn’t have caused damage to a car by merely brushing against it. Only after both friends reassured her did she achieve some level of relief. But that relief was temporary.

Everyone who knows Sara knows that she is a highly intelligent woman. Neighbors seek out her wisdom daily. However, there, in that parking lot, she felt helpless. Afterwards she felt depressed that she had made a fool out of herself. But what was her choice? To live with that unbearable level of anxiety? No, she couldn’t do that. She just had to go on living the way she did and perform as many rituals that she could in private.

People learn to accept the difficulties of living with OCD. This is because the thought of living with the anxiety or their feared situation occurring seem too great. However, obsessions and compulsions (threatening thoughts followed by repetitive actions to decrease the threat of the thought) can take up a lot of a person’s time and energy. Some become depressed as they are bright, talented individuals who are not living up to par with what they are truly capable of.

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Sara was concerned that in the unlikely possibility that she had inadvertently damaged someone’s car and did not “fess up”, that made her a dishonest and unworthy person. Many people carry out their rituals because they fear that if they don’t, they may be either immoral, sinners or not simply the good people they want to be. The interesting part is that these people are usually the most wonderful, sincere individuals. The anxiety just prevents them from seeing it that way.

Sara was one of the lucky ones. She eventually learned that there was a name for her suffering and that there was help for her.

She slowly learned to tackle those things she had been avoiding for so long. She learned to take good guesses rather than knowing for sure. She learned to live with uncertainty and saw that if left alone, the anxiety passes on its own. Her compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking was no longer necessary to remove feelings of anxiety. She also learned that she could live with the uncomfortable feelings until they passed. When, on occasion, she gets stuck, she takes a guess at what someone else would do in that situation and then goes with it.

Sara has learned to live in the present and let go of the constant chatter she used to carry in her head. She knows that just because she gets a thought, that doesn’t mean that she has to listen to it.

She feels so much more alive now and that her life is so much richer. Now, when Sara walks down the street she is smiling both inside and out. 

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Wine lovers everywhere are in for a real treat when they visit the Jerusalem Wine Club in Efrat!

The Jerusalem Wine Club is so much more than just a wine store! Founded by Torontonian Eli Poch, The Jerusalem Wine Club store offers a wide, tantalizing selection of over 250 wines and other products from some 30 Israeli wineries, including many gourmet products, like Goat Cheese, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Tea, Wine Jam and Beer – all at competitive pricing and under the Kashrut of Rabbanut Efrat.

Interview with Eli Poch Eli, tell us a bit about yourself.

I began working in the wine industry at the tender age of 13, when I coordinated a school fundraiser in Toronto, and I guess the wine bug has been biting me ever since!

I trained professionally in wines, eventually earning my degree in Food and Beverage Management in Toronto.

What was the idea behind Jerusalem Wine Club?

When I moved to Israel in 2003, I continued broadening my wine education by working closely with various wine makers in the local Israeli market. Two and a half years ago, I decided to start on my own and the Jerusalem Wine Club was born. I worked tirelessly to build the Jerusalem Wine Club into what it is today: a full-service, one-stop, multi-faceted wine experience. We offer tastings, tours, and supply wine and cheese for special events.

What’s so special about the Club?

Wine lovers get a real treat! The core of the Jerusalem Wine Club is the pre-paid Wine account, through which you automatically receive two or four wines shipped to your house each month.

This helps our customers acquaint themselves with smaller Israeli boutique wineries as well as more unique products from some of the more well-known wineries.

Once a member, you are eligible for savings on all products and services through the Jerusalem Wine club (except shipping). For more details, visit our website.

Why is the Jerusalem Wine Club store a flagship store?

In August of 2013, The Jerusalem Wine club opened its first fullservice store in Efrat, Gush Etzion – the only wine store in the area south of Jerusalem, servicing 40,000 residents. In addition to wine, the store carries chocolate, local beers, liquors, and cheeses.

Do customers have to come to the store for wine and other products?

Of course we’d love everyone to come in and experience our store, but if you can’t, don’t despair! You can shop by phone, email info@ jerusalemwineclub.com or online at jerusalemwineclub.com and after you shop, you can keep up with the latest JWC news by reading our blog, “the Wine Press.”

Tell us about the wine tours.

The Jerusalem Wine Club specializes in VIP Winery visits to over 45 wineries across Israel, in each of Israel’s five Wine Regions.

Tours include premium tastings and the stories of Biblical History from the Tanach (Old Testament) that took place right in the areas of the wineries.

Additionally, we believe wine tasting is a unique experience, depending on your own personal tastes. We line up wineries with the products that match both your taste and pricing preferences.

Visits range from half-day to week long trips, and can include two people to fifty people. Trip costs run an average of NIS 400 600 (roughly $150) per person per day and include lunch.

Do you offer additional services?

Yes! The Jerusalem Wine Club works with many event planners and caterers across Israel to provide you with the best selection of wines for your simcha at the best prices! Even if you are planning by yourself, we can provide you with the best selection of wines at the price point that is comfortable for you.

Eli, what is your secret to success?

At the Jerusalem Wine Club store we pride ourselves knowing that at every price point, you will be getting the best wine value for your money, with personal attention and guidance unusual for a wine store. We listen as you describe your taste so we can match you with exactly the right Israeli wine, and we enjoy that challenge with each customer, whether you’re a wine aficionado or a newbie!

Does the JWC deliver?

We offer free delivery to Gush Etzion, Jerusalem, Bet Shemesh, Modiin and Chashmonaim for minimum orders of NIS 200 or more, and for smaller orders or orders in other locations, we will ship for a fee.

What is the store address and hours?

The JWC is located in Efrat’s Te’enah Commerical Center, upper level. We open every day from noon-8 pm and Fri/Erev Chag 8am2pm (8am-1pm winter). Our number is 02.625.2896.

For online ordering and more information about the JWC, please visit us online at www.jerusalemwineclub.com  www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

•

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Expert

PF

PERS O N A L FI N A N C E

Are You Biased?

By Richard Gussow

Y

ou may like to think that you are not prejudiced against any particular group, but the odds are that you are biased. No, I don’t mean that you discriminate based on gender, race or religion. I am talking about your investments.

That’s right. You probably have an investment bias.

You may have heard about the three rules of real estate: Location, Location, Location. With investing, the rules are: Diversification, Diversification, Diversification. Did I mention diversification?

The most successful investors tend to be diversified in several ways – asset types (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.), sectors (hightech, chemicals, banks, etc.) and geography. Diversified portfolios have a strong track record with solid returns and lower risk than non-diversified ones. Nevertheless, most people are not properly diversified and are “biased.” Let’s discuss these biases in depth.

Asset Bias There is an old rule of thumb that your age should represent the percentage you should invest in bonds with the balance going to stocks. Under this guideline, a thirty-year old should have 30% invested in bonds, with the remaining 70% invested in stocks. A fifty-year old should have 50% in bonds and 50% in stocks and a seventy-year old should have 70% in bonds and 30% in stocks.

The idea behind this is that stocks are riskier than bonds and, as they grow older, investors should reduce their risk. In my opinion, this rule is no longer relevant – if it ever was. With today’s low bond yields and low interest rates on bank accounts, investors are often losing money because inflation is higher than the yields they are receiving. Despite this, many people shun stocks due to higher volatility. While stocks involve higher risk, they also have a higher return potential. With life spans increasing (more on that in a future article), investors have more time to recoup losses.

Sector Bias Many investors are overly invested in a particular sector. For

Mutual Funds

ETF

Stocks

example, I know several investors who invested all their money in technology stocks before this market collapsed in the early 2000s. These investors lost a huge chunk of their money. Now, over a decade later, the main technology indices still have not recovered these losses. In contrast, the general stock market indices such as the S&P 500 have recently broken all-time high records. Had these investors diversified their portfolios in different sectors and not just invested in technology stocks, their situation today would be completely different.

Geographical Bias There is a tendency for people to hold a very high proportion of their assets in investments from their home country. This is known as a “Home Bias.” This is a global issue. U.S., U.K., Canadian and Australian investors are all guilty of home bias. According to a study by the Vanguard Group, that although the non-U.S. stocks account for about 51% of the value of the global stock market, U.S. mutual fund investors hold only 27% of their stock investments in non-U.S. funds. The same applies to Israel. If you have been living in Israel for several years or more, you probably have a home bias toward Israel. Here’s why: If you have a pension fund, bituach menahalim, kupat gemel or keren hishtalmut, much of these are likely to be invested in Israeli stocks and bonds. If you own a home in Israel, this likely represents a high percentage of your net worth.

Israeli home prices are tied to the Israeli economy and are quoted in shekels. If you are working, you have a salary and your salary is also tied to the Israeli economy and in most cases is paid in shekels. These future cash flows from your salary are an asset. So your net worth is likely “overweight” on Israel investments.

You may be saying to yourself, “I’m not Warren Buffet, how can I diversify?” It can actually be done quite easily through the use of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. These investment vehicles allow diversification for both the wealthy and the not so wealthy. (I am an optimist, so I prefer to call the latter group “the future wealthy.”) Investing in ETFs and mutual funds builds you an “instant portfolio.” These investment vehicles come in all flavors – funds that invest in the U.S. stock market, the non-U.S. stock markets, emerging markets, U.S. bonds, non-U.S. bonds, real estate, etc. By working with a qualified investment advisor, you can build a diversified portfolio that can help you meet your financial goals. 

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!!

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JANUARY 2015

Bizness Magazine

(08)-970-7627 052-806-6690 richard@richardgussow.com www.richardgussow.com

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Expert

TA

TA X A D V I S O R

A Tale of Two Taxpayers:

“To File a Tax Return or Not… That Is the Question!”

I

would like to share with you the story of taxpayer “A.” “A” contacted me for help in filling out tax return forms and provided me with all the details of her situation. This included receipts for donations she made, salary stubs, year-end forms 106 as well as all of her personal information. I quickly prepared her return. To her surprise and amazement, she received a refund of 8,445 NIS! It was totally unexpected and very much appreciated.

The story doesn’t end there. A few days later, she contacted me again. This time she asked if I could help a friend of hers. Let’s call her friend taxpayer “B.” Taxpayer “B” contacted me and explained that her coworkers and friends advised her to file in order to hopefully receive a refund. They also advised her to “save money” and not go to a tax advisor but to do it by herself.

So Taxpayer “B” filed returns for the previous two years. To her shock and dismay, rather than receiving a refund check, she was presented with a bill for the two years which exceeded 1,958 NIS! I had her send me all of her paperwork and the notices from the tax authorities. Upon my review, I found numerous mistakes which I was able to correct and ultimately she was able to receive refunds for the two years exceeding 6,000 NIS! Certain things are best left to the professionals. Just like most people will bring their car to a mechanic and not attempt to repair on their own, a tax advisor is essential when dealing with the tax authorities.

How and why employees may be eligible for refunds from the tax authorities: Since employees have their income tax obligations paid directly as a deduction from their pay checks, sometimes miscal-

38

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JANUARY 2015

culations occur for various reasons such as: • An inconsistent work schedule during the year.

• Monthly compensation varies.

• Changing of jobs.

• Changes in personal status.

• Working for more than one employer.

• Receiving benefits due to unemployment, birth, work injury, reserve duty.

• Failure to properly fill out the employee information form (Form 101). This can result in a failure to provide credits that come under the law, such as: • Alimony and child support • Residence in a selected area where the government provides extra tax benefits • Discharged soldier’s credits • Olim • One-parent family There are also several possible reasons why it pays to file a tax return. Here are some of them: • Self-payments to pension funds and/or life insurance • Provident fund deposits • A dependent who is incapacitated • A child with recognized learning disabilities • Charitable contributions • A serious medical event • Severance pay or departing bonus • Gains/losses on the capital market If any one of the above items are relevant to you, chances are that you deserve a tax refund!

How to Start?

Collect all the relevant documents required for the submission of a tax return.

Depending on your situation, the items required may include:

Bizness Magazine

• Your annual salary slips • Documents from Bituach Leumi (unemployment/birth/injury/reserve) • Life insurance and/or pension fund deposits documents • Documents of your provident fund payments • Form 161 (employer approval for payment of compensation) • Donation receipts • Interest income, etc. (Form 867 from the bank) Tax refunds can be requested for up to the prior six previous years.

It is difficult to predict how long it will take from the time of filing until the tax refund arrives. One should know that interest and madad are added to the amounts that are due and these are tax free.

As our taxpayer “B” from the story earlier learned, it does pay to use a professional. Preparation of income tax returns is a complex subject. Editing the report by a tax expert ensures that the report is prepared in a professional manner. It will thus save aggravation due to errors and/or ignorance of the tax laws.

Your tax advisor or accountant will ensure that you will receive the maximum tax refund. Also, tax consultants and accountants can represent you before the tax authorities if there are questions or any problems.

Hopefully many Bizness readers will benefit from this information and will enjoy their refunds. Feel free to contact me should you have any questions on this or any other tax related matters.  052-763-2408

sima.taxadv@gmail.com

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Expert

In

INSURANCE

Winter – Snow and Fire

By Shimon Cohen

Snow

It’s not always that we deal with snow – related claims, so when they occur, they are always interesting.

The following are all claims that we are currently dealing with.

1. As a result of a build-up of snow, my pergola and part of my roof collapsed. Am I covered?

Yes, fully covered- if you have structure insurance.

However, if the snow merely seeps through the roof and causes water damage, that is not usually covered. Reason – faulty sealing of the roof or mirpeset is not covered.

2. A tree from the neighbor’s yard fell on my car and “totalled” it. Can I sue his insurance?

Good question! If the branches were overhanging before the storm struck, there may be a way to claim. If however, the tree was strong and safe but the unusual amount of snow caused it to fall, then your only recourse is to claim against your own insurance.

3. I live in Efrat – due to the extreme cold, the glass koltim of our dud shemesh (solar heater) burst. Is this covered?

Yes, this is considered like a “burst pipe” which is covered in the standard policy. Take into account that many people have this covered through their mortgage insurance.

Fire

Now that the log fire / heater is warming you up, a few words about fire insurance.

1. What is it?

The definition of fire in most policies is the appearance of sparks or flames. (In other words damage caused by a hot iron would not be covered under standard fire cover). Also included is smoke damage and explosion. Spontaneous combustion is not covered, nor is theft as a result of the fire.

2. Obviously, if you own your home you should make sure that you are covered for fire damage for your contents as well as for the actual house/ apartment. (This is done either through a private insurance policy or through your mortgage). However for those renting homes, it is extremely important to check your contract and see whether you or the landlord is responsible for this cover.

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JANUARY 2015

Other aspects of fire cover are: • payment for alternative accommodation • payment of rental (depending on amount of insurance) 3. In our experience, most fires have been caused by unattended Shabbat or Chanukah candles and by clothing left near electric heaters – so, be warned!

Insurance Tip

General Knowledge Have you ever received an insurance claims check where an amount seems to be deducted from the payment, with the mysterious words “Kinun” printed next to the deduction. Translated, this means “re-instatement value”.

An example: Let’s say you pay NIS 3,000 annual premium to insure your car that is worth NIS 80,000. You have an accident, which costs NIS 10,000. The cost of the repair is covered by the insurance but now you have “used up” NIS 10,000 of the cover and therefore need to “top up” the policy. The amount that you actually pay is dependent on a) the cost of the damage and b) how much longer the policy has to run. In other words, the two extremes are: having an accident on the first or last day of the policy. On the first day you would pay maximum “kinun” because you have to ‘top up’ the policy for a full year, and on the last day there is no “kinun” at all. When the new insurance year begins, everything starts afresh.

When do you not have to pay the Kinun?

1. When there is a total loss – in this case you use all your premium to pay the total cover or, when the accident happens on the last day of the policy.

2. Bituach Hova – In claims of personal injury there is no reinstatement value.

3. Any case where the client decides not to replace or repair the damage. For example, if you decide not to repair your old Subaru, you will be paid out minus the VAT but without the reinstatement clause kicking in.

Bizness Magazine

Have a safe and warm winter.

Egert and Cohen

We’re here when you need us!

Shimon Cohen 050-548-2192 02-623-2546 / 050-548-2192 www.egertcohen.co.il

02 999 3939

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Expert

MO

MO RTG A G E

Forget that Special on Fries, The Government has a Special on Re-Fis Or Zachute for those with Zakaute Interview with Moshe Wilshinsky Thank you for taking out the time to speak with us today. You mentioned that you have some important information for our readers. So what is the big news?

Moville Mortgage and Finance is offering a new service in response to a new initiative which is an unprecedented cooperation in recent years between government ministries and private industry. This initiative was organized jointly by the Bank of Israel and the Ministry of Construction and Housing. The government’s goal is to streamline the refinancing of government-backed loans commonly referred to as zakaute. To assist in this process we created a special service to assist Anglo homeowners through the eligibility and qualification process.

What is the objective of this new initiative by the Bank of Israel and the Ministry of Construction and Housing?

For many years zakaut mortgages carried 4% interest rates linked to the madad or more. As market interest rates continued to fall, the government reset its interest rate to 3% linked to the madad on loans issued after 2012. Borrowers who received loans before 2012 are currently paying one percent or more than the zakaut mortgages currently available to those who qualify. The purpose of this initiative is to bring this to the public’s attention and attempt to make the refinancing process easier for those who qualify.

Are there pre-payments penalties that homeowners need to pay in order to save that one percent on their zakaut mortgage??

There are no pre-payment penalties on zakaut mortgages.

Are there any requirements that borrowers need to have in order to be eligible for this program?

Yes, there are a number of issues. These include requiring timely mortgage payments, limits on the ratio of the loan amount to the current value of your property and others. We assist our clients with assessing their eligibility.

Is this initiative worthwhile for the average borrower with a Zakaute loan?

Yes it is. You need to factor in the amount you will be saving over the life of the loan. This can be significant. On a monthly 44

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JANUARY 2015

basis, this can mean saving NIS 50 to NIS 100 less on your mortgage. (The savings here are obviously based on your current outstanding mortgage.) Who wouldn’t want that much extra in their monthly budget? And when you realize how much that can add up to over the course of ten or fifteen years, that is significant. It is just human nature but one of the biggest obstacles people face is not starting the process because it seems daunting to get the whole thing completed. This initiative is an unprecedented cooperation in recent years between government ministries and the private industry took a major step to ease the processes. We want to make it that much easier and in the spirit of this initiative have significantly reduced our rates.

What should our readers do to take the first step?

They can call us and use our special Bizness Magazine line, or they can click on the “apply now” tab on our site - fill out the form and write Zachaute in the note at the bottom of the form. 

Bizness Magazine

073-796-2226 ext. 911 questions@movillefinance.com www.movillefinance.com

02 999 3939

“We assume that office networks these days are flooded with malware and that their computers are infected.”

Interview with Ezra Radoff, System Engineer

Ezra has been a system engineer for 20 years for all different sized companies- from small, home-based start-ups to enterprise.

Why did you decide to go into business independently after working twenty years as a system engineer?

I was getting calls here and there from people to help them with their startups, and these small projects were much more rewarding than my regular job - for the usual reasons I guess people go into business themselves: It’s more of a feeling of accomplishment.

You can set your own hours. There’s a lot of variety, etc.

What has been your main challenge in becoming selfemployed?

Red tape.

What have been the major changes in industry that you have seen over the last ten years?

There are plenty of new developments and trends. Security has changed dramatically. There are Cloud, agile and DevOps. Sometimes things get oversimplified and turned into buzzwords. That leads to a lot of confusion. It’s a problem. The biggest change is that there are millions of free small apps now available which have to be researched constantly. Many of these tools beat anything we could come up with on our own and require less and less configuration. So that’s good. I learn on average one piece of new software a day. There isn’t time to become proficient in anything anymore. It’s more about how an engineer solves problems.

Are your clients mainly individuals or companies?

My main focus is on start-ups and small to medium sized companies. I don’t do too much work for home systems but people can call me and I’ll try to help them. I’m always available for free advice to home users. Just e-mail me your questions. Hopefully, more people will get to know me this way. I may pick your question for a blog post or something but you can remain anonymous.

What are the main mistakes people do when building a new office?

Lack of planning. Not allowing for scalability. Not conforming to a common standard. Letting users dictate what they are allowed to do. Not defining the role of IT clearly. Naming their servers after cute themes like dog breeds or something.

What are the chances a company or home will be attacked by a virus or compromised in other ways?

Individuals can keep their computers pretty clean with diligent effort but not 100%. Very few people know how. But it is possible.

We assume, however, that office networks these days are flooded with malware and that their computers are infected. We also assume that someone is on the network that we don’t know about. The questions are where, how much access do they have and what are they doing with it? Hacking used to be a hobby but now it’s big business.

We used to worry about annoying little word processor viruses. Now bank accounts are raided regularly. I’ve seen it. I’ve also seen hackers invade databases and sell themselves free products. I’ve seen hackers take out the payment step from products and competitors steal information. I have videos of my own creation which teach people how to protect themselves in the home and at work.

What are the most common problems people call you for?

There is a critical window of time for small businesses when they have too much technology to handle it well without help but before they really need someone full time in-house to do IT work.

That’s where I come in. I have to solve their problems and leave them in a place where they can keep expanding. We often will be migrating systems for companies as they grow larger. The goal is that when a full-time administrator is hired, he doesn’t inherit a mess he can’t work with.

What are some of the big names you have worked for?

IBM, U.S. National Archives and the U.S .Dept of Defense at DISA. How do you train employees for Internet Safety?

I make funny videos.

What type of training and classes do you offer?

• Protecting your home from hackers and inappropriate content • Security at work • Cloud, Agile, DevOps technology and theory • Linux tricks and tips • System basics for developers and managers For free advice, e-mail us at: ezra@ssystems.info, 02 991 6582  www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

•

45

Expert Welcome Nicole Levin to our team of experts!

RE

REA L ES TATE LAW

A New Law to Protect Real Estate Investors

By Nicole Levin

M

any times I see advertisements for the sale of land. Usually this is land that is not yet zoned for building. The idea is that changes in the zoning laws of the area will enhance the worth of the land thereby causing the investor to make a hefty profit. However, how can the investor make an informed decision as to the risk of the transaction? How can he attempt to know what the chances, if any, of the change of zoning being accepted and what the value of the land will be after this happens?

A change in the law governing appraisers attempts to solve this problem. An appraiser giving as estimate as to the worth of the land must only appraise the land at its current status and in accordance with the current zoning law for the area, as if the new zoning plans will not be passed. Then he can assess the worth of the land, should the new zoning law to be proposed pass, if he thinks that the new zoning law will pass. In this case the appraiser must set out in his report an exact description of the process of the change in the zoning and how long this process may take. If he does not believe that the change in zoning is obtainable he must say so in his report.

This is important in a case where the land being sold is

land that cannot be built on at present due to the zoning law of the area. An example of this can be agricultural land. This land cannot be built on until a change in the zoning is enacted, changing the possible use of the land from agricultural to residential or commercial. Only when this change in the zoning passes can the land developer begin to think of applying for building permits. At this point the worth of the land is greatly enhanced.

One downside of the law is that it does not require the person marketing the land to provide this appraisal. The purchaser will have to obtain it on his own. However, the marketer of the land has an obligation to notify the purchaser of the new law so that he can obtain the appraiser’s report himself. Should the marketer not do this he will be liable for a fine of up to 204,000 NIS Nicole Levin is an American born, Israeli trained, real estate attorney with 28 years of experience in the field. She has law offices in Bet Shemesh, Jerusalem and Modiin.  02-991-5687 www.levinlawoffices.co.il

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Expert

RE

R EA L ES TATE

Seven Steps to Your Dream Home

By Yossi Lipsh

L

ooking to buy? Here are seven easy steps to start with.

Location, Location, Location!

Decide where you want to live. What part of the city best fits your lifestyle? How far do you want to be from work? Do you hope to have shopping nearby? What shul do you go to on Shabbos? If you need open spaces nearby, look for areas near parks.

Specific beats vague every time, particularly when it comes to what you’re looking for in your first home.

Wish List Make a list of what is important to you in your new home. Decide which features are must-haves and which are nice-to-haves.

It’s the rare lucky person who finds the perfect home within their budget. So, before you go house hunting, brainstorm a list of what you absolutely must find in a home and which features are simply nice extras. Examples of must-haves might include the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, proximity to shul, work and other places you frequent and access to your preferred school districts.

You might also have a strong preference on the amount of outdoor space a house offers and whether it’s in move-in condition.

Things that shouldn’t be on your must-have list: The way a house is decorated, a well-manicured garden or anything else you can easily fix or install yourself.

Mortgage Approval Determine how much you want to pay. Consider meeting with a mortgage broker to be prequalified for a mortgage loan. You can do this at your bank. He will ask you about your income and debts and help you determine how much you can afford to spend.

You want to get a ballpark figure to know what you can afford to look at. Then spend some time deciding what you want your life to look like after you’ve bought your apartment. Are your marrying off your kids in the near future? Do you want to have enough money for family vacations? A lender can tell you how much you can afford today but he doesn’t know what you hope to do with your life in the future. If you plan on spending less on an apartment than you can afford you’ll have money left over for other things.

Find an Experienced Realtor Find an experienced real estate agent, one who knows the market and the area and can use your “wish list” as a tool to narrow down where you want to look. Your agent should be able 48

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JANUARY 2015

to provide you with additional info such as getting hold of floor plans, city property tax bills and also answer questions like: Who are the neighbors? Does the property have a parking spot? A storage unit? Your agent will also negotiate on your behalf to get you the best possible deal on a property and will help complete the stacks of paperwork involved in buying a home.

Order a Thorough Home Inspection As a buyer, you’d like to know of any hidden problems that may reveal themselves only once you’ve moved in. This is a crucial part of buying a home. You should have a licensed engineer check the property from top to bottom. This will determine the final price for the property and whether you need to do renovations once you get the key. (Your agent will negotiate a better price if problems are discovered.)

Additional Expenses Find out how much it’s actually going to cost to buy your apartment. First-time home buyers are often shocked to learn that their initial purchase is going to involve more than a down payment. Expect inspection costs, purchase tax for non- citizens and second time buyers and, appraisal fees, realtor fees and attorney fees. All of these can add between three and eight percent to your final purchase price. Ask your agent to prepare a detailed list of additional costs for any property you’re considering buying so that you know what the total costs are going to be.

Find out about ongoing costs as well. Ask to see copies of the previous homeowner’s utility bills, property taxes, repair bills, insurance and bills for services such as Va’ad Bayit (building management fees). Don’t forget to figure these expenses into your monthly budget.

Daven Finally, don’t forget that it’s all up to The One Above. Pray to find the right home, within your budget, in the right time, with the right shlichim, through an easy and smooth process.

Yossi Lipsh Realty is here to help you on your journey to your dream home! 

Bizness Magazine

02-999-4466 info@yossilipshrealty.com www.rbs-realty.com Facebook: RBSRealty

02 999 3939

Life Coach Helen Abelesz Helen is a life coach who specializes in working with women who are feeling overwhelmed, lack self confidence, dealing with stress or not achieving their potential. She will empower you to take control of your life (02) 992 0263 | 054 482 9815 | helenabelesz@gmail.com Weight Loss Dr. Bo’s Team Dr. Bo Rosenblat is a nationally recognized, boardcertified physician with more than 15 years of experience 077-228-5877 | details@drbosdiet. com | www.drbosdiet.com Furniture Restoration Restorno Nati Journo and Yona Triestman both have strong backgrounds in furniture restoration. Customer satisfaction is their top priority. They offer a 25year guarantee! 02-650-8777 | nati.restorno@ gmail.com Personal Financial Planning Richard Gussow Richard has been involved with the financial services industry both in Israel and globally for over 30 years (08) 970-7627 | 052-8066690 | richard@richardgussow.com | www. richardgussow.com

Air Conditioning and Heating

Real Estate Law

Tzvi Lefkowitz

Nicole Levin

Handyman Tzvi has many years of experience in general contracting and home renovations. Air conditioning happens to be one of his passions.

Tzvi is a licensed Electra technician who provides care and maintenance service as well as sales for all major brands 054-498-5298 | www.

HandymanTzvi.com

Nicole is an American born, Israeli trained, real estate attorney with 28 years of experience in the field. She has law offices in Bet Shemesh, Jerusalem and Modiin 02-991-5687 | www. levinlawoffices.co.il

Carpentry

David Litke

Yossi Golano

Both Israeli and American trained, David can help families new and old with their family budgeting.

He helps Olim learn the system and take control of their finances 050-535-1800 | david@ budgetsuccess.co.il | www.budgetsuccess.co.il

Yossi is the founder of Golan Designs who specialize in high-end custom made furniture.

He has had a passion for arts from a young age and his creativity and soul go into the exquisite work he produces 052-704-2800 | yossidesigns. blogspot.co.il | yossidesigns@gmail.com Insurance Egert-Cohen Egert-Cohen is a Jerusalem-based brokerage that specializes in helping English-speaking Olim with all insurance needs. Shimon Cohen 050-5482192 or Yona Egert at 050-536-3897 | www. egertcohen.co.il Real Estate Yossi Lipsh

Painting Nachum Eilberg Walls R Us began in Jerusalem in 1985 and has a strong reputation for its amazing customer service and immaculate cleanliness. Send your painting questions to nachum@wallsruspainting.com | 052-611-9500

Yossi Lipsh is one of the most experienced realtors in Bet Shemesh. They specialize in buying, selling and managing properties in Ramat Bet Shemesh (02) 999-4466 | 052-396-0551 |info@yossilipshrealty.com |

Mortgage Moshe Wilshinsky A 27-year veteran in the mortgage industry, Moshe is the CEO of Moville Mortgage and Finance LTD. To contact Moshe, call their main line at 073 796 2226 and press their special 711 Bizness extension questions@movillefinance.com | www. movillefinance.com

Website Design &Development

Anxiety Disorders Rachel Factor LCSW Rachel had a large private practice in Monsey, NY before making Aliyah in 2009. Her expertise is providing relief from OCD and anxiety disorders for adults, children and adolescents 052-7134130 | rachel@ocdsolutions.com | Skype: RachelFactor Plumbing Yaakov Jacobs Yaakov is the owner and operator of Jacobs Plumbing. “If it has to do with water and pipes, we do it”: small clogs, hard-to-find leaks, new plumbing lines, replacement of main water and sewer lines, etc. 058-770-3226 Tax Advisor Sima Wolpin As the daughter of an accountant, Sima is well versed on all the intricacies of the Israeli tax system. She gives prompt, thorough service in the language you understand 052-763-2408 | sima. taxadv@gmail.com

www.rbs-realty.com | Facebook: RBS-Realty

Meir Amber Meir is the CEO of Group7. They specialize in designing and developing functional and beautiful websites as well as mobile applications (02) 625-1007 | request@group7designs.com | www. group7designs.com

Budget Counseling

Construction Management Yaakov Prince An experienced construction manager, Yaakov makes sure any project runs smoothly. From small residential jobs to luxurious 5 star hotels 02 535 5732 | 052 698 3534 | Yaakov@princecm.com | www.princecm.com Narrative Therapy Karen Wolfers-Rapaport Karen Wolfers-Rapaport is a psychotherapist specializing in Narrative Therapy. She works with her clients in overcoming issues they may have with their innate tools 050-990-6368 | karenwrapaport1@gmail.com Dental Care Rechavia Dental Center The Rechavia Dental Center staff is comprised of three highly qualified dentists (all of whom are American-trained dentists now practicing in Jerusalem), as well as professional dental hygienists and dental assistants. 15 Ibn Gevirol Street, Jerusalem | (02) 561-9770 | (02) 561-9780 Home & Office Networks

Wig Styling

Daniel Zahavi-Asa

Ayala Greenbaum

Daniel has over 25 years of experience in programming, networks and communications for multi-nationals and start-ups. Have him set up your small office network 053.726.5175 | daniel@ zahavinet.com | www.zahavinet.com

Ayala is the founder of AG Wigs. They sell highend wigs in Europe, the USA and Israel. They are located at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem (formerly Sheraton) 052-654-3500 Holistic Psychotherapy Minda Garr A veteran social worker, Minda combines all her experience in her work as holistic psychotherapist. In her usage of “heart therapies” Minda addresses the physical, spiritual, mental and emotional facets of her clients 052-6146932 | wellnessisraelhealing@gmail.com | www. wellnessisrael.wordpress.com Building and Construction Netanel Grossman As a hobby from a young age, Nati brings creative talent to his construction work. His dual advantage of being Israeli and American is what attracts so many Anglos to his work 052-423-9580 | grossman.engineering@gmail.com

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