Bizness Magazine Pesach 2015 issuu

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

EXPERTS YOU CAN COUNT

M A G A Z I N E SHARING THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS Greater Jerusalem Area www.biznessmagazine.com Circulation: 21,000 copies Pesach 2015

David Page U.S. regulations on gift and estate tax Akiva Tepperman Connecting families for milestone events Dr. Bo Get the FAQ about Dr. Bo’s diet Netanel Grossman Helping you create your dream home Sima Wolpin Steering you clear of the tax authorities Yossi Golano Beautifying your Mikdash Me’at

Karen Wolfers-Rapaport How to fend off feeling useless Moshe Wilshinsky The cost of conservatism

Meet

Harry H.

Moskoff Remi Award-Winning Film Producer & Writer of “The A.R.K. Report” - THE JOURNEY TO THE LOST ARK

Albert Kahn ...if you cannot afford it, you should definitely do it!

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contents PESACH 2015

MAIN FEATURE

26 Interview with

Harry H. Moskoff

EXPERTS

FEATURES

08 Pesach Deep Cleaning

05 Content

11 Post Election and the Cost of Conservatism in Israel

10 Smart Design for Wills and Trusts of U.S. Citizens in Israel 16 I Can’t take it Any More

12 What is the Best Type of Paint to Use?

29 How to Choose a New Refrigerator

14 Who Needs Therapy Anyway?

32 Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Bo’s Diet

15 What You Need to Know about the Different Taxing Authorities 18 It’s That Time of Year – Renewal, Spring, New Starts and…Pesach Cleaning!

19 Turn Your Silver Items, Jewerly, Antiques and Judaica into Cash!

20 Should We Be Thankful for an Inheritance?

21 The Mikdash Me’at…

Building a Mini Sanctuary 22 Increased Comfort and Convenience with Innovative Implant Techniques

33 What Your Anxious Child Wishes You Would Know 34 (Pesach) Cleaning Up your Affairs… Before the Angel of Death Comes 36 THE FOUR ANSWERS – The STAR System 39 Reaching Friends and Family Across the Ocean 40 My Rabbi’s a Tour Guide; My Rebbetzin Sells Quality Clothing 42 Tiling 101 46 Meuhedet’s Professionals Series 48 Oops! You Need a Network

23 We’re There for You in Your Time of Need 24 Should I buy a new or pre-owned home?

25 Renovating Your Home to Fulfill your Dreams 30 Small changes make a big difference in your life!

38 A Pesach Tale of Two Consumers 44 Property Rights 4

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PESACH 2015

26 In every issue 06 Letter from the Editor 49 24 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 Sekula Contributing Writers Helen Abelesz, Shimon Cohen, Nachum Eilberg, Rachel Factor, Minda Garr, Yossi Golano, Netanel Grossman, Richard Gussow, Hatzala Bet Shemesh, Nati Journo, Daniel Kaszovitz, Nicole Levin, Yossi Lipsh, David Litke, Moshe Orman, David Page, Yaakov Prince, Mirit Reif, Ruthie Weinberg, Moshe Wilshinsky, Karen Wolfers-Rapaport, Sima Wolpin, Daniel Zahavi-Asa Advertising Chaya Hyams Graphic Artists Aliza Sokol 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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Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers: What does it mean when the plumber tells you that he is coming back on Tuesday?

Does he actually mean he will come back on Tuesday? Perhaps he means that he intends to. Or perhaps it simply means that he will come back sometime in the near future? After the plumber is a “no show”, we may sarcastically say to ourselves that he did not specify which Tuesday.

Mishpacha Magazine’s Family First just interviewed me on the topic of the importance of “time” in our society: “I find a direct relationship between success and respect for time,” says Ariel Topf, director of BiznessPro, a business consulting firm and publisher of Bizness Magazine. Topf… has built up 15 companies in five different countries.”

Successful people have tremendous respect for their own time and for the time of the others that they work with – whether they are employees, co-workers, suppliers or clients.

I find it very unlikely that a successful executive of a well-known company will offer to call you back at a certain time and simply not follow-through – without a call to apologize. In my experience, the higher the level of the person, the less acceptable it is to be late to a meeting, or to simply not show up!

People and professionals are justly judged on their ability to produce and deliver their commitments on time. Your time, your word, should not to be taken lightly if you want to gain the respect of those around you.

The majority of people are both word and time challenged. Success and respect are achieved by people who do things differently than the masses.

Happy Pesach to you and your family!

Ariel Topf ariel@biznessmag.com

Ariel has built several companies on 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, restaurants, advertising and publishing. In this process, Ariel has headhunted, hired, trained and managed over 20,000 individuals. Among other ventures, Ariel heads BiznessPro, a business consulting division dedicated to help companies and entrepreneurs who are serious about success. (www.biznesspro.com).

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PESACH 2015

Bizness Magazine

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Restoring your Furniture:

“Why Does My Furniture Always Fall Apart?!”

Here’s Why and What You Can Do About It:

The question I hear most frequently is: “Why does my furniture always fall apart?”

My answers include psychology and economics as well as technical considerations. The psychology relates to the type of furniture you own and how your family cares for it. The economics is determined by the globalization of the furniture market. This article also includes a review of one of our repair projects and will address a possibly surprising explanation on the difference between owning cheap vs. expensive furniture.

The Psychology of Furniture: Furniture reflects your tastes and standards. For those smart and/or fortunate enough to have bought or inherited good vintage or antique furniture, you probably try harder to take care of it. Everyone knows Israeli kids are less respectful (toward furniture, of course) than kids raised abroad.

Additionally, few homes in Israel have separate dining rooms.

So furniture here in Israel generally takes more abuse than it did in the old country. I still stress that parents should tell their kids not to rock back on two legs of a chair or play on the sofa like in a gymboree.

If you want your upholstery to last and your dining set to fit a growing family, you must expect more maintenance and repairs. Rather than buy a new set, you can extend the dining table up to five meters long with new slides or reupholster the sofa. Neither is cheap, but quality restorers generally provide better work and materials, hence more value than you get from new furniture.

If, however, you bought cheap furniture, that furniture was made to be disposable. Most of it is made from materials which cannot be restored. Some people like the idea of renewing their furniture every few years -- no matter how much more it really costs (and how much it pollutes the environment.)

Economics of Furniture: Globalization has ruined American furniture manufacturing because the factories have been transferred to places like Vietnam. For a comprehensive analysis on why it’s becoming harder to find well-made furniture for reasonable prices, read Joshua Kennon’s brief article on how globalization has inflicted the hour-glass effect on the furniture industry. Compare the amortized cost of a cheap chair to an expensive one: A 500 NIS chair may last three to ten years before it needs to be trashed.

A 1,700 NIS chair should last over 50 years. The cheap chair thus costs you 27 agurot/day, while the expensive chair costs 8 agurot/day! If you add in reupholster and refinishing costs, the expensive one will still be cheaper (and more comfortable and more elegant and worth passing on to the kids)! Smart new couples will not rush out to furnish their new home with cheap furnishings but rather invest in quality furnishings over time that will not lose their appeal and which may appreciate in value.

Technical Difficulties: Israel, like many countries, still produces some good quality, reasonably priced furniture. The biggest problem, however, is not the quality of the parts produced by high-tech machinery under exacting quality control. I often see great quality furniture that has been assembled as if the maker wants it to fall apart!

Cheap or too little glue and the use of nails are the signs of future construction failure. The only solution to this problem is to have your good quality furniture repaired by a company which gives long-term warranties on its repairs.

Project: “So why did my expensive furniture fall apart?”

A case study of a mid-range dining set that we saved from the garbage and upgraded for a large-family: This beautiful Canadian maple chair belongs to a mid-range quality dining set. It has nice, clean lines and color that can blend into both modern and traditional décor. The Israeli family brought it on their lift, expecting it to last a generation before needing repair.

The factory, however, prioritized only getting it off the showroom floor. Due to its cheap glue, it fell apart in a few years but the nails prevented us from disassembly without splintering the joints and ruining the chairs. Even many experienced restorers would give up (or beat them up).

However we turned one of their weaknesses into a point of strength by replacing the hidden screws with wooden dowels which were held by special glue. The glue blocks at the joints reinforced our repair to the point that we could warranty our work for many years of carefree use. The owners were so happy that they refinished the table with the hardest acrylic lacquer and replaced the short, wooden slides with metal ones, adding eight more places! Not everyone is this lucky. But, because they invested wisely, we were able to make their investment give many years of returns.

RESTORNO Tel. 050-764-6726 | email: yona.restorno@gmail.com

Expert

NT

nar r ati v e th e r a p y

Pesach Deep Cleaning

By Karen Wolfers-Rapaport, MA

P

esach preparations are in full swing. We are spending our days getting rid of the chametz that lies on our countertops, beneath our ovens, in between the cracks. Many of us use this time to de-clutter and reorganize. We are throwing out impractical, non-vital, and sometimes sentimental “chametz” that no longer serve a purpose in our lives. Can we use this time to remove some of the emotional chametz that is clogging up our daily existence? Definitely yes. Cleaning both our physical and emotional chametz is a powerful way to start the New Year. Generally, “sweeping” changes cannot occur in a limited time, but processing our emotional last year, acknowledging and celebrating growth, and clearing out some baggage can be done in tandem with our spring cleaning.

Aviva is overwhelmed. It’s like clockwork; a month before Pesach comes a wave of anxiety envelops her. Despite raising a family and working part- time, Aviva feels utterly useless when cleaning/organizational stressors emerge. Right now Aviva is not proactively doing what needs to be done. Right now Aviva is paralyzed.

Aviva feels everything is hopeless. There is no point expecting anything different each year; Pesach time will be out of control.

Sometimes Aviva realizes how far she has grown in this department; daily tidying has increased, disarray has decreased, and the overall running of the house is smoother. Despite this Aviva tells herself the house has not changed; she hasn’t changed.

Aviva has a story. In her story there is a perpetual belief that she is incompetent when it comes to systematizing her environment. She has convinced herself that arranging and cleaning are not her forte. She believes she is unable to bring harmony into her physical space, especially under time constraint.

Can Aviva’s story be thickened and enriched? Is this her whole picture? Has Aviva’s belief in her incompetent “cleaning and organizing” robbed her of savoring and absorbing the special potential inherent in the work of cleaning for chametz? I believe it has.

Let’s delve further…

Aviva began by naming this long standing feeling. She labeled it “useless”. “I feel absolutely useless before Pesach. I am always behind schedule and I am inefficient with my time. The cleaning is never at the level I want it to be. After all of this “useless” effort I feel drained and depressed and the seder is lost for me.”

Clearly “useless” has eaten up some of Aviva’s overall identity.

We needed to find a way to slow useless down. In the past, when was Aviva able to resist the power of “useless” and succeed despite its expectations?

Aviva gave examples of times when she had overcome this 8

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PESACH 2015

powerful nemesis, like the time she had consulted an organizational expert and had implemented her ideas. It made a real difference. There was the time she practiced breathing techniques during the process. She was more relaxed and got far more done than ever before. There was the time she confided in her husband. She had communicated to him how painful “useless” was for her, how alone she felt prePesach. He became more conscious of her plight; and supported her emotionally and physically. There was the time Aviva gave herself the gift of self – love and acceptance. Aviva forgave herself for not being the perfect balabusta and focused on all that she had help developed and “organized”; content, self- aware children, a thriving part- time career and a loving albeit challenging marriage. She was more efficient that year.

These were the times when it was easier to fight “useless”: when Aviva felt supported, when Aviva practiced self- forgiveness, selfcare, and self-acceptance, when Aviva got outside help.

What did Aviva’s life look like before “useless” showed up”?

Useless showed up when she began having children, but as a newlywed she had felt different. She felt competent enough in her abilities to feel at peace with her skill set. “Useless” was not a core belief. Useless had yet to become a dominant story.

Aviva found it powerful to remind herself that there was a time before useless. It was also important to remember all the times she was able to fend off “useless”. As her awareness grew so too did her self-confidence. Useless had been tempered before. Useless had been challenged in the past. Useless was not always the controlling story.

This is the beginning of a process. It illustrates the power of sifting through our personal chametz in order to relieve ourselves of beliefs that do not serve a purpose in our life. This is Pesach.

This is freedom. Wishing you much success in your outer and inner cleaning endeavors. 

Bizness Magazine

050-990-6368 karenwrapaport1@gmail.com

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Smart Design for Wills and Trusts of U.S. Citizens in Israel Optimal Planning to Minimize Both U.S. Estate Tax (the “Death Tax”) and Gift Tax*

By Adv. David Page, Senior Partner at Woolfson Weinstein & Co., Jerusalem, Israel American Citizens Living in Israel Still Are Subject to US Estate and Gift Taxes – Even if They and Their Assets Are Located Only in Israel American citizens living in Israel may be unaware that despite the tax treaty between the United States and Israel on income and capital gains, US citizens are still subject to US estate tax and gift tax even if they are full-time residents of Israel. Moreover, they are liable for estate tax and gift tax even if all of their assets are Israel-based rather than US-based and even if they have been Israeli residents for many decades. For US citizens, there is currently a “unified” gift and estate tax. That “unified” tax means that all gifts during the life of a US citizen and all property left at the time of inheritance are added together to determine the US citizen’s “gross estate.” This means that we US citizens cannot avoid estate taxes by gifting our possessions during our lifetimes.

In the United States, as a matter of both federal and state law, “gross estates” and gifts above a certain threshold are subject to significant inheritance taxes -- currently the federal threshold for estate and gift tax exemption is $5.35 million adjusted for inflation (and now approaching $5.5 million), beyond which federal estate tax is approximately 40%. For purposes of calculating the value of US citizens’ gross estate for US estate tax purposes, all of their assets all over the world – including both real estate and financial assets – are included by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS has an agreement regarding reciprocal sharing of information with the Israeli Tax Authority, something that affects US citizens residing in Israel. In the case of the US and Israel, each country has information on the other country’s residents.

In contrast to US citizens, in the case of non-resident non-UScitizens (such as non-citizen spouses of US citizens), virtually everyone is affected by estate and gift taxes, not just high-net-worth individuals. This includes Israeli citizens without dual citizenship.

For such non-US citizens who reside in Israel, the federal threshold for exemption from inheritance tax is only $60,000 adjusted for inflation for US-based assets. This means that the heirs of a foreign citizen with US-situs assets such as real estate (and also many kinds of financial assets and investments) lose fully 40% of their USbased assets to US inheritance taxes above the exempt $60,000.

Using Trusts as a Way of Legally Minimizing US Gift and Estate Tax Exposure US law provides an array of tried-and-true tax planning solu10

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PESACH 2015

tions for both US citizens and their non-citizen spouses (and indeed other non-resident aliens or “NRAs” with US-situs assets) to legally avoid paying excess estate and gift taxes. Via the use of a number of kinds of foreign and US trusts – that have been in use for many decades – it is possible to plan during one’s lifetime to ensure that our inheritance is not subject to the punitive American “death tax” unnecessarily. By placing our assets into specially designed trusts during our lifetimes, tax liability can be minimized. This is in addition to the benefit of trusts as ways of avoiding US probate proceedings for traditional wills and to using trusts to serve the needs of families across generations.

It is of course impossible to create a one-size-fits all trust and estates solution. Instead, a person’s financial planning, family needs, priorities for charitable giving, and tax consequences and preferences need to be taken into account to properly design a will, trusts, and estates structure that honors both the estate and tax planning needs of the person designing that structure and using the provisions of applicable law, including Israeli law, US federal and state law, and if applicable Halacha (Jewish law) as well to achieve an optimized but highly personal result. To do so, it is important to develop an estate planning solution together with one’s attorney and accountant to ensure that one’s priorities are fully expressed for gift, inheritance, and tax planning purposes.

In the next series of Bizness Magazine articles, I will explore common tools used to legally avoid unnecessary tax liability via the use of trusts while at the same time fulfilling other important estate planning needs.

*In accordance with Treasury Regulations Circular 230, any tax advice contained in this article was not intended to be written to be used, and cannot be used for the purposes of (i) avoiding tax-related penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matter addressed herein. This article is also not meant to constitute legal advice for a particular client, for which consultation with a qualified attorney is required.

The writer, David Page, is an American and Israeli attorney at the law firm Woolfson Weinstein & Co. His practice areas, among other fields, include Wills, Trusts and Estates Law and International Tax practice under both Israeli and US law.  Contact David at 02-678-9111 ext. 222 or 054-463-6824 Visit his website at www.ww-law.co.il/en/ Connect with David on LinkedIn.

Bizness Magazine

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Expert

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MO RT G A G E

Post Election and the Cost of Conservatism in Israel

By Moshe Wilshinsky, CEO, Moville Mortgage and Finance Ltd.

T

his is not an article on politics per se. That being said, with a new government in formation and discussions of banking reform to increase competition and reduce prices taking place, I want to raise an issue that I am sure is one of many for the politicians, regulators and the banking industry. I believe, however, that it is a meaningful step to help many Israeli consumers reduce their cost of living.

Allow me to explain my use of the word “conservative” in the title of this article. By this I mean the perspective one uses to choose a mortgage. Higher returns usually mean higher risk and lower returns usually mean lower risks. This is a well-known adage in investing (Readers of this publication know I have written about a number of issues mentioned in this article, I review the issues briefly again for context). With investing, risk refers to a loss of capital.

Return is the amount of profit expressed as an annual percentage or interest rate. A conservative investor will accept lower returns in order to avoid the risk of loss of capital. Before we adapt this for mortgages, one must understand that just as there are commodity and stock markets, there is also an interest rate market. While there are many things that drive this market, a major factor is the term (or period of the loan) the shorter the term the lower the interest rate (and vice-versa). For a borrower, the lower the interest rates on their mortgage, the lower their monthly payment. So a mortgage with an interest rate adjusting every three months will be much lower than one fixed for thirty years. When comparing the convenience of lower monthly payments that come with lower adjustable interest rate mortgages to the much high monthly payments that come with fixed interest rate mortgages, the risk factor of increasing interest rates that result in high monthly payments need to be accounted for the same way that an investor accounts for risk associated with return.

For someone planning to own a property for the long-term, I have always been an advocate of fixed interest rates for a significant, if not the entire, amount of the mortgage. The Bank of Israel evidently felt the same way when not long ago it introduced regulation that required Israeli borrowers to get at least one third of the mortgage at a fixed interest for the term of the loan (meaning that if a loan was a thirty-year loan, the interest rate had to be fixed for the thirty-year period).

Fixed interest rate mortgages have been used in the U.S. for over half a century. There was a time when fixed interest rate mortgages in the U.S. had pre-payment penalties. A pre-payment penalty means the borrower pays a fee as a penalty for paying the loan principle prior to when it was due. Pre-payment penalties are important in that they can determine whether or not it is worthwhile for a borrower to refinance in order to take advantage of lower interest rates. Market forces and competition have brought fixed-interest rate mortgages to the market in the US without pre-payment penalties. For the most part, this has been the case for decades.

In Israel there is regulation that allows the banks to charge a prepayment penalty. This penalty significantly limits (and often eliminates) the benefit a borrower would gain by refinancing a fixedinterest-rate mortgage when interest rates drop. I won’t go into the details here of how this is calculated, the point I want to make is that the penalty can be significant and it is preventing many borrowers from taking full advantage of the unprecedented interest environment we are currently in.

While it is understandable that the banks in Israel need some protection from the lost income a mass refinancing boom would cause, but there is plenty of room here for a middle ground. There are many different scenarios that can be used including staggering the pre-payment fee so that it is greater for the first couple of years and then it decreases e.g. a yearly reduction – 3 %, 2%, 1% of the outstanding principle (this is one of many possible structures). This would allow borrowers to refinance more effectively.

A new government is a time for review of legislative initiatives and renewed dedication to social causes. One of the initiatives the new government can look into is a new pre-payment regulation that balances the interests of the borrowers and the banks and allows redemption for all.

If you feel the same please email me at prepay@movillefinance.com 073-796-2226 ext. 911 questions@movillefinance.com www.movillefinance.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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PA I NT I N G

What is the Best Type of Paint to Use?

By Nachum Eilberg

A

question I am most often asked is, “What is the best type of paint to use?” In this article I will give an overview on the use of various paints and which to use when.

Before beginning the paint discussion, I want to stress that while it is important to use the proper type of paint, it is equally important, if not even more crucial, to properly prepare the areas prior to painting. The preparation process includes scraping away damaged areas, opening up of cracks, removing peeling paint, filling holes and disinfecting from mold. You are then able to proceed with repairing the damaged areas and sanding after the filler dries. Depending on the types of surfaces, it may also be necessary to apply a coat of primer prior to painting. The primer acts as a glue between the surface and the paint. In areas that require priming, it is important to do so to because without it the paint will begin to peel within months.

When beginning to paint a room, you will notice that the painter generally starts with the ceiling and then continues with the walls. One of the reasons for doing so is because different types of paint are used.

Ceilings It is crucial to enable a ceiling to breathe. This allows the moisture in the ceiling, should it exist, to pass in and out of the paint and maintain its stability. If acrylic paint is applied to your ceiling, it will act as a waterproof barrier and cause mold to grow in areas that normally would not be susceptible to a mold problem. Plastic paint will also form bubbles from moisture and, as a result, the paint will blister. Therefore, ceilings should be painted with sid -- a lime wash which breathes. The drawback to sid is that it is not washable.

If food were to splatter on the ceiling, it is virtually impossible to clean it and it would have to be touched up with the ceiling paint.

Walls Generally you want to use the most washable paint, especially in high traffic areas. However, washable paint only comes in a satin finish (shiny). Some customers do not want to see any sheen on the walls and they will forgo the ability to wash down the walls in order to have a totally matt (flat) finish. Additionally, a satin finish allows you to see imperfections in the walls. If the walls are smooth this will not present a problem. However, if your walls were never finished nicely, it may be a reason to use a flat (not washable) finish that will hide imperfections.

Doors and Door Jambs Until just a few years ago, oil paint was the only option. It held up well and was very washable. In recent years, water-based 12

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paints have come out to replace the oil paints that are due to be discontinued for health and safety reasons. These paints can be used on both wood and metal doors and can be purchased in a flat or glossy finish.

Metal Bars Window bars and outside gates and railings should be painted with an anti-rust paint. These paints, when applied properly, should prevent rust for about eight years.

Pergolas A pergola, wood siding or a wooden deck should be treated with a wood stain that has UV protection. Although local Israeli companies make excellent paint, Walls R Us still prefers the American brands for their UV protection. Israeli brands seem to last three years while U.S. paints can last between 5-15 years.

Mold Issues If there is a mold problem in a room, it is important to use an anti-mold paint. The anti-mold paints have special chemicals that prevent mold from growing. For anti-mold paint, we find that it is also best to get the brand imported from the USA which has been proven to last for five years without mold. Israeli brands only last up to two years.

This overview gives a summary of the various types of paints available and which ones to use where. We did not discuss any particular brand, as they are, for the most part, quite similar. We do have our preferences and would be happy to answer any specific question you have.

Nachum Eilberg of Walls R Us Painting, will be happy to answer any painting related questions. Please submit questions to nachum@wallsruspainting.com and perhaps your question will be published in a future issue. 

Bizness Magazine

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

02 999 3939

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13

Expert

HP

Holistic Psychotherapy

Who Needs Therapy Anyway?

By Minda Garr, MSW

O

ften, one friend or family member will say to another, “You need therapy.” This sometimes triggers a defensive response, irritation and/or resistance.

Why go to a therapist?

Therapy is very much a part of the infrastructure of middleclass life in the Western world. Sometimes families have so many therapists involved in their lives that they have forgotten how to be alone together. I know a family of five in the U.S. that at one time had individual therapists for each spouse and each child, a marital therapist and a family therapist. I was overwhelmed just listening to the tales of each therapist’s role in the family. On the other hand, in Israel, it is only recently that people have sought out therapy to support themselves, their children and their marriages.

In the early years of the State, energy was focused on surviving.

As Israel has thrived, so has the awareness of issues beyond mere survival. People invest more in their health, in leisure, in aesthetics and in their sense of personal satisfaction and well-being.

So why would or should a person seek out a therapist? Does going to a therapist mean that you can’t solve your problems on your own? Does it mean that you are being self-indulgent or that there is something really wrong with you? Many of us are disappointed in ourselves if we can’t figure things out and fix them on our own. Some may feel that there is a stigma attached to therapy.

This is a belief that still lingers -- even though many of us recognize it is outdated. Many people go for therapy and most of them are normal, well-functioning individuals.

So what are the types of issues that might indicate the need for therapy?

Sometimes there is a physical illness or disability that requires support to help deal with the reality of a difficult or overwhelming situation. Even though the issue has been medically diagnosed and treated, it may still have an impact on the individual or other family members. Sometimes there is a mental health issue in a family, and coping skills may be needed to help family members navigate living with it.

There are also issues that are not the result of coping with clearly demarcated disorders. Sometimes we just need help. The source of this need may or may not be obvious. When an issue is creating dysfunction in our lives, it may be an indication to us that we need help. We may sometimes have specific or non-specific, issues with our spouse and the sense that the differences between us are irreconcilable. Sometimes a chronic sense of anxiety, fear 14

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or a specific phobia may be impacting on how we function in the world. Sometimes there has been a recent trauma and we can’t move past the way it is affecting us. And sometimes we may have experienced the loss of a loved one and we can’t seem to manage the overwhelming sense of grief.

Less obvious, but no less important, are issues that may be affecting us in subtle ways. Perhaps things are not going well in your life. You may feel generally unsatisfied or stuck, unfulfilled or just want a better understanding of yourself. Or, you may find yourself really triggered by your spouse, parents, siblings and/or children. There may be times that your personal issues get in the way of your job and your overall functioning. Perhaps you feel like everything is going against you. You may be quick to anger and then feel remorseful, or you may be miserable in your job or just can’t keep one. You may once have experienced a major crisis in your life and since then everything seems to be going wrong for you, or sometimes, in very subtle ways, a long-ago trauma is impacting on your current functioning.

Whatever issue in your life is keeping you from fully functioning or from feeling fully satisfied, it may be best dealt with in the context of a therapeutic relationship. Sometimes all we need is a place to be heard without judgment, or a place to work through problems or explore the source of the issues that are negatively affecting us. The best indication for exploring the option of therapy is that in this moment, you are not as happy as you deserve to be.

When we are feeling at a loss, therapy may be the best gift we can give ourselves. 

Bizness Magazine

052-614-6932 wellnessisraelhealing@gmail.com www.wellnessisrael.wordpress.com

02 999 3939

Expert

TA

TA X A D V I S O R

What You Need to Know about the Different Taxing Authorities

By Sima Wolpin, Certified Tax Advisor

T

his month I want to focus on three primary types of taxes that exist in Israel. I’ll start with a true story, (name has been changed). Rachel called, sounding distressed. She had received a letter from the tax authorities and could not make heads or tails of what they wanted from her.

She had been sent a whole pack of forms, the first of which was titled ‘Net Worth Statement’. I was surprised that she had received such a request as usually these are requested of self-employed individuals. I recalled that Rachel was not self-employed. Or so I thought.

I asked her, ‘Are you an employee at your job or are you working there as a self-employed individual?’ Rachel was unsure how to answer; she really didn’t know. She did know that when she was hired they asked her to go to the tax authority to open a tik so they could pay her with a check every month.

I explained that if she was simply an employee the company would deduct all her taxes from her check and pay them for her.

However, since she was self-employed, if they weren’t deducting these taxes, she would have to pay the Income Tax, National Insurance, and Value Added Tax herself. She then expressed some panic as she had only opened files at the income tax authority.

I assured her there was nothing to worry about as I would open those files for her and file all the forms accordingly.

What we learn from this is that the onus of responsibility to know if you are considered self-employed or an employee is on you. With that being said, I will summarize below the definition of these three types of taxes and how they work.

Value Added Tax (VAT) VAT is an indirect tax of 18% levied on most goods and services we consume. Payment of the tax is applied throughout the production chain. It starts from the very beginning of the manufacturing process and continues through to the ultimate consumer. During each step of the way, VAT is paid with each purchase and charged on each sale. The difference between the two gets submitted to the VAT office. The final consumer, who has no customer to collect VAT from, bears the ultimate tax burden.

Businesses that in 2015 will have billings under 79,485 NIS can get a classification of an esek patur (an exempt business) and need not collect and submit VAT payments from their customers, although they will have to pay VAT on their expenditures.

Income Tax Income tax is the tax imposed on all individuals and

businesses. The tax is based on ‘Taxable Income’. This is determined by deducting related expenses and/or deductions and exemptions allowed by law.

Salaried employees are not allowed to deduct expenses, but are entitled to certain exemptions based on their family situation and a number of other considerations.

Income Tax is assessed based on a progressive scale, where the rates are lower on the initial earnings and are increased at marginal levels as the income goes up. Additionally, the tax rates are different for earned income (personal exertion) and passive income, such as interest, dividends and gains on sale of property, etc.

National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) This is very similar to Social Security tax in the States. National Insurance is required to be paid by all Israeli Citizens from the age of 18. The purpose of the National Insurance is to provide protection to the citizens against such needs as unemployment, disability, death of a bread winner, natural disasters, retirement benefits, maternity leave, etc.

Payments into the National Insurance are determined based on an individual’s status as follows: • A self-employed person pays based on their self-employment taxable income. The rate applied against that income is three tiered. The first amount, up to 5,453 NIS/Month, is taxed at 9.82%. Any amount over the 5,453 NIS/Month is taxed at 16.23% up to 43,240 NIS per month. Beyond 43,240 no National Insurance tax is assessed.

• A salaried person has their National Insurance Tax taken out of their monthly paycheck. Up until 5,453 NIS/Month the tax is 3.5%, anything over that, until 43,240 NIS/Month is then taxed at 12%. Over 43,240 NIS/Month is not subject to National Insurance Tax. • Individuals who are unemployed and not self-employed are required to pay a fixed monthly amount of 166 NIS. As always, most people have unique circumstances where professional guidance could be helpful. Do not hesitate to be in contact should you have any questions.  052-763-2408 sima.taxadv@gmail.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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15

I Can’t Take it

Any More

Interview with Mr. Albert Kahn

J

ust in case one person suspects a personal motive for this message, I want to make it very clear that neither I nor any member of my family sells insurance. There is no personal gain for me or my family, monetarily or otherwise, from anyone paying heed to this important message.

Mr. Kahn, what is your background?

Grew up in N.Y. Attended the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s, z”l’s yeshiva. I have a degree in accounting and I built a real estate business where I own and managed properties.

Where do you live?

In Flatbush, New York.

What prompted you to devote your energy to motivating people to get life insurance?

I’ve always been involved in collecting money for widows and orphans. Only a few short years ago, a rebbe with a life-insurance policy to protect his family in case of a tragedy, G-d forbid, was a rarity. A friend of mine, who was a rebbe, suddenly passed away.

There was no life insurance policy. I was involved in raising money so that the rebbe’s family would be able to survive. At that time it dawned on me that the tens of thousands of dollars that I was raising for a single family could purchase life insurance policies for dozens and dozens of rebbayim who couldn’t afford a policy.

Shortly thereafter, I began my, “I CAN’T TAKE IT ANY MORE” campaign to motivate parents of children in yeshivos, businessmen and principals to implement a program in their yeshivas to insure every rebbe.

It is a simple solution to a major problem, solvable with a few dollars. For a few dollars a month, you can buy term-life insurance. I’m trying to prevent a bad situation from becoming catastrophic.

How much of your time do you dedicate to this mission?

I gave over my business to partners to dedicate myself 24/7 to this crucial mission.

What are the most dramatic cases you have seen?

Just recently, the parents of a 27-year old Mir yeshiva man bought a life insurance policy for him. Just three months later, the unthinkable happened. The policy will make all the difference to his family until they are self-sufficient.

What type of efforts are you making to raise awareness?

I place ads in newspapers. I target chassan/kallah classes. I go to speak with every gadol and organizations such as OU, Agudah, 16

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day schools, yeshivas, companies and groups in general. OU already implemented a plan for its Employees and Mashgichim and Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood has a Plan for 1,700 of its Avreichim. I speak to anyone with Jewish workers. I encourage them to pay a part of the premium so that the cost will be shared with the employee. It’s a great Hanukkah present for a few bucks and shows the employee how much the organization really cares.

Who pays for all the media coverage?

Most of it is my personal money. For those who want to share in the mitzvah, I have created a non-profit organization that gives tax deductable donation receipts.

Do you fundraise for the advertising campaigns?

Not actively. Sometimes, at the end of my ads, I write an invitation to people to be part of this life-changing mitzvah.

Are there any particular groups that you direct your message to?

I do not discriminate or select any particular group. I talk to and help make programs for all groups.

Do you find people saying that they have bitachon and therefore they do not need or want insurance policies?

Not any more. With great Siyatah D’shmayah, I changed the whole mindset and all agree with it now. It is an act of kindness to take care of your family. If you do not do it, then it will fall on the community; therefore you should do it.

What are the Gedolim saying about this effort?

R. Yaakov Kamenetzky z”l agreed with it. R. Eliyashiv z”l said that this is the proper thing to do and his son-in-law, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, said that this is a mitzvah of pikuach nefesh. R. Moshe Feinstein z”l said that it’s a form of effort that is proper and permitted by Hashem. He said that people should get term-life insurance during the sheva brachos.

The Mesilas Yesharim teaches the concept that there is nothing new. I just have to keep repeating the message over and over. So I keep saying just two things: 1. Get adequate term-life insurance for husband and wife (separate policies) and 2. I’m not in the insurance business, nor is anyone in my family.

Based on a psak I received, this is an expense you can put be-

Bizness Magazine

02 999 3939

fore calculating your ma’aser and tzedakah, if necessary. Termlife insurance can be put into your household expenses. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Give us an example of a thank you letter from families who have had to use the insurance plans?

A woman wrote to me thanking me for implementing the program in the yeshiva where her husband was a Rebbe. She realized that they would need even a higher insurance amount than what the yeshiva provided, which she then bought. Then the unthinkable happened. She wrote, “I cannot describe to you how important it was for me to know that my family would be able to survive financially after my husband’s passing and not have to depend on friends, neighbors, and strangers to help us.

The funds from these policies have literally saved the lives and futures of my children. There are really no words to express how important having this insurance is to us. I plead with all yeshivos that have not yet joined your campaign to do so immediately!”

When should families start buying insurance?

At the shevah brachos. The latest, after the first child. The earlier the better to prevent becoming uninsurable which could happen at any time. Therefore, buy as much as you can for as long a period as you can afford.

Should both parents have separate policies?

Absolutely. The breadwinner must have insurance for the obvious reason. The other parent should also have insurance as the breadwinner will need that money to hire extra help in the house and potentially other expenses related to the emotional well-being of the family as a result of the loss of a parent.

How much insurance does a family need?

I recommend people get a minimum policy of 15 times the family’s annual expenses for the breadwinner and 10 times for the non-working spouse.

People should continue to carry their term-life insurance policies until the youngest child is at an age of being self-sufficient.

What type of money are we talking about for a new couple getting married or for a young family with a few children?

Until 35 years old, the price is very affordable. In Israel, a one million shekel policy costs about 75 shekels per month for a man and about 65 for a woman. In the US a million dollar policy costs about $25 per month.

A bonus in taking a free simple blood test (in the privacy of your own home) has been that I have been able to save lives.

Occasionally the blood test had revealed a serious disease which then had been treated just in time.

Are some plans better than others?

Look for an honest, independent broker who will shop around for the best policy from a solid company, even if that means a small commission for him.

As you do not gain financially from your chessed, are you able to direct people to the best plans, brokers and companies?

Yes, and of course people have no obligation to buy from them.

I work with experienced professionals in the States and in Eretz Yisrael who want to be part of this amazing mitzvah.

What’s the biggest obstacle you encounter from individuals or communities?

Procrastination. People feel that it’s not going to happen to

them. People feel they are still young and they have time. People think it’s expensive. Fortunately, the issue of emunah and bitachon is no longer an obstacle.

Some people think that they are covered by having mortgage insurance. This is good but not enough. That pays for the home.

But what about the daily living expenses?

Do you get involved passed the stage of promoting awareness?

I review people’s policies and advise them and their brokers as to the best companies for special policies for people with medical conditions and for lower prices in general.

I’m happy to speak to any group to raise awareness and to help them implement proper plans for their students, members or employees.

“If you can afford it, you should do it and if you cannot afford it, then you should definitely do it!”

How can you get more people involved in being part of disseminating this crucial message?

When people really connect with what I’m doing, with the reality of a tragedy, they realize that there are very few mitzvas that can accomplish what this one does with relatively little money. As one Gadol said, this is the Refuah before the Makah.

If everyone would just take care of their own four amos, meaning their own family’s insurance needs and their own community’s insurance needs, that would be enough.

Give us some ideas.

Chasanah present. Buy them insurance for one year. The benefit includes that you are educating them on this need. If tragedy strikes, it will cost you much more than that; try to collect one million dollars for that family.

This is the cheapest and most probably the most important gift you can buy your kids or grandchildren and you should never need it.

How about shuls?

I suggest that shuls make it “mandatory” that all members get life insurance to avoid the financial burden to the whole community when tragedy strikes. I help shuls implement such programs.

What is your long term goal?

My goal is that no one should get married without life insurance, which, in essence, is the kesubah, which demands financial security for your family.

If you had the choice for another mitzvah mission, what would it be?

Wills. I would raise the awareness for wills for the purpose of whom you want and who wants to take care of the kids should something happen to both parents. If not done, the State will decide what is best for your children. Not necessarily what you may have considered.

How can people contact you for further information or advice?

People can call me in the USA at 347-203-4712 and in Israel at 02-581-1805. My e-mail is albertkahn51@yahoo.com  www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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17

Expert

In

I NS U R A NC E

It’s That Time of Year – Renewal, Spring, New Starts and…

Pesach Cleaning!

In that spirit, we offer you the Egert and Cohen Pesach Insurance Cleaning Manual!

By Shimon Cohen 1. Simplicity Are you like most people? Do you have “layers” of insurance policies – some from old places of employment, some from pesky telemarketing salesmen some from the “Old Country”, and even some from Egert and Cohen?

It’s always a good idea to get all your paperwork together and have your agent or financial advisor look it over. At Egert and Cohen we provide this service for a fee. We will study, advise and give you a written report.

2. Health Insurance For most, this is a confusing area. What does your Kupat Cholim give you (Adif, Si, Zahav, etc.) and what do the private insurance plans offer?

At Egert and Cohen we advise all our clients to purchase a basic private health policy that covers overseas operations, transplants and medicines not covered by your Kupah. The cost is reasonable, i.e. approximately eighty shekels a month for a family of three. This fills in the gaps of the Kupot Cholim coverage.

3. Mortgage Insurance Check with your agent to see that you have the best deal here for both life and property cover.

4. Travel Insurance Here I would davka not necessarily go for the cheapest cover!

Travel insurance through your Kupat Cholim may be the cheapest, but if you have a claim, who will deal with it? At Egert and Cohen we personally deal with all your claims and our prices are competitive.(We can also insure you if you’re already at the airport and forgot!)

5. Motor Insurance This is probably the most competitive area of insurance in Israel today. It’s certainly worth comparing prices but at the same time think of the following scenario: It’s a rainy Jerusalem night and your car has broken down. Do you have an insurance agent 18

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who will personally and politely answer the phone and help you?

It might be worth the extra few hundred shekels.

6. Claims In the past month alone, we have had three clients who “lost” expensive diamond rings, were paid out and then found the rings!

(I’m not sure if this has to do with Pesach cleaning or not). Please check your own policy’s requirement for expensive rings – they usually have to be worn or be kept in the safe.

7. Life Insurance For all those with U.S. policies, please get in writing from your U.S. insurance company that you are covered: a) in Israel and b) for active and passive warfare.

Your other option is to opt for a slightly more expensive Israeli policy,which covers all the realities of life in Israel.

We wish all of our friends and clients a Chag Kasher V’Sameach. 

Bizness Magazine

02-623-2546, 050-548-2192 www.egertcohen.co.il

02 999 3939

Expert

AD

A NT I Q U E D EA L ER

Turn Your Silver Items, Jewerly, Antiques and Judaica into Cash!

A review of this month’s purchases

By Moshe Orman

A

s always, it’s been an interesting few weeks in the trade.

Items have been purchased and items have been sold.

I would like to go over some of the items that I have purchased from clients with the hope that the information will be both educational and monetarily beneficial – educational for those who are interested in learning something new about an old world and monetarily beneficial for those who will know what to look for in their houses in order to sell. Every issue of Bizness will report on the different items that I have bought, the mistakes that I have made and ideas on what to sell.

In a different era, at a time when cigarettes were considered the norm, the upper classes had cigarette cases made for them. These cases, often silver and sometimes even enameled, were a perfect way to show one’s status.

Last week I bought a silver case with a tortoise shell jacket. Tortoise shell becomes very malleable when heated. This allows it to be shaped onto another object. The cigarette case is from France. I know this from the tiny boar’s head hallmark that can be seen inside the case. This is a mark that is stamped on small French silver items produced from 1838 until the present day. The case I bought is around 100 years old and is still in great condition.

People still have this type of item lying around collecting dust. I am always glad to buy them.

Throughout the ages, gold has been worth, well, its weight in gold. Yet, the price of gold has not always been so high. Just twenty-five years ago, the price of gold was three times cheaper than today’s gold price. This is perhaps the reason why people are selling more gold than ever before. Most gold jewelry or coins that people have were bought at a time when gold was much less expensive. This means that not only have the owners gotten their money’s worth but they have even made money from the purchase price!

The gold items which I recently bought are just run of the mill. The only thing they have going for them is the material that they are made from. If they were made from almost any other metal, they wouldn’t even be worth the trip out to buy them. Sometimes, however, gold pieces can

be worth more than their metal value. These pieces were not as fortunate. Though seemingly nothing special, they certainly added up to quite a sum. Buying gold is standard in the antique business but it never gets old.

One hundred years ago, in a town in East Germany, a shochet (a Jewish butcher), sharpened his knife. He was about to take the first step in preparing the Shabbos meal for so many Jewish families that lived in his town.

Little did he know that a century later the knife he was using would be sought after by so many collectors of Judaica. Judaica can be defined in different ways. For our purposes, we will define it as anything that the Jewish people ritually used in their homes, their work places and in their everyday life. It can be an antique Italian ketuba, a fancy “sheviti hashem linegdi” traditionally put in the synagogues or an old grogger traditionally used on Purim to blot out the evil Haman’s name. Even antique post cards with Jewish themes fall under the category of antique Judaica.

A little while ago, I bought several post cards. These are no ordinary post cards! They are from Germany dating back 80-100 years and have beautifully depicted Jewish themes.

One has a mother helping her daughter shake a lulav – not the usual imagery we get when thinking of pre war Europe. These post cards were lying in a box and were moved from place to place as homes were moved and the owners did not exactly know what to do with them. Although not incredibly valuable, they bring up a lot of Jewish pride and sentiment.

I am always interested in buying all kinds of Judaica – either ceremonial items or more personal items that are from an old world that has not been forgotten.  NotJustAnyYear@yahoo.com Tel: 054-837-3874 www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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Expert

PF

PERS O N A L FI N A NC E

Should We Be Thankful for an Inheritance?

By Richard Gussow

I

work in a company that deals with wealthy individuals. Our clients became wealthy through various ways. Many of our clients founded successful companies, while others worked for these companies and after years of hard work were able to cash in their stock options. These people took a risk, worked hard and are now enjoying the fruits of their labors.

There are also those that become wealthy through a windfall.

When I lived in Miami, not one but two members of the Orthodox Jewish community won the lottery. According to most opinions, if you win a prize like the lottery you say ‘Shehechiyanu’ (He who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion). If you are sharing the prize with others, such as other family members, you say, ‘Hatov v’hameitiv’ (He who is good, and bestows good). Both are perfectly reasonable, as you are saying thank you for your good fortune. However, there is another very different kind of windfall where you say the same brachot: an inheritance.

We recently observed my mother’s 2nd yahrtzeit. My mother was an extraordinary individual, the kind of person who lit up a room when she entered. She adored her grandchildren and they adored her. So when she passed away, a major void was created in our family.

My mother was always generous when it came to her grandchildren, but she was also a child of the depression and rarely spent extravagantly. So despite having never owned her own home and earning a middle-class income as a teacher, she managed to save a respectable amount of money. She was what we call today an over-saver, the exact opposite of the more commonly known over-spender. She could have afforded to spend more on herself but she chose not to. It was and is that way with many from her generation who grew up during the depression.

When she passed away, I was her sole heir as I am an only child. I was (and still am) grieving for her, and yet I was told that the proper thing to say upon receiving the inheritance was ‘Shehechiyanu’. What? I am supposed to say a prayer of thanks for an event that was triggered by my mother’s death? Sure, I gained something of a material value, but it was only at the far greater emotional loss. How could this be?

I tried to rationalize it in whatever way I could. I finally determined that it was okay to say ‘Shehechiyanu’ because my mother

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had been saving all her life so that she could give this money to us.

It was what she had wished for. However, knowing my mother as I did, it came with a key unwritten condition: Responsibility.

You have probably heard of someone who received a windfall and promptly squandered it. There are many cases where this happened with lottery winners who thought that they would be wealthy forever and then, through lack of planning and knowledge, lost it all. It is bad enough when that happens if you win a prize by luck, but I think it is much worse when one squanders an inheritance that your parents worked a lifetime to achieve. They wanted you to have this money, and they also wanted you to act responsibly.

Sudden wealth can be overwhelming. You now have to determine what to do with this newfound money. How should you invest it? Should you pay down debt? These are all issues you can discuss with a qualified financial advisor.

So yes, say ‘Shehechiyanu’ after receiving an inheritance.

Your parents wanted you to have it. But at the same time, remember that they would have wanted you to act responsibly. Doing so would be the fulfillment of one of the most important mitzvot: ‘Kabed et avicha v’et imecha’.  The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other advice. It is general in nature and not specific to you. Before using this information to make an investment decision, you should seek the advice of a qualified investment advisor and undertake your own due diligence.

Bizness Magazine

(03) 970-7070 (052) 806-6690 richard@theservice.co.il www.richardgussow.com

02 999 3939

Expert

CR CR A FT I N G

The Mikdash Me’at…

Building a Mini Sanctuary

By Yossi Golano

I

f someone wants to tap into the heart and soul of creativity and inspiration one has to look no further then the Mikdash Me’at. The Mikdash Me’at is a mini sanctuary, the place in which the Torah is read, learned and lived, the place that has the power to attain the same sanctity as the Beis HaMikdash and Mishkan.

One the highest privileges I have had in the last 30 years of designing and building furniture and cabinets for commercial and residential customers, has been to build furniture for shuls, and other places of Torah learning. To construct an Aron Kodesh, Bima, Amud, Mechitzah, bookcases or even shtenders has caused me to tap into the highest level of creativity in which I have gained the most satisfaction.

One of the challenges in creating this type of furniture is to design pieces that reflect the heart and soul of the community that will use them. Sometimes there are limited budgets and limited space issues to contend with and require much advanced planning. For example, when designing and building an Aron Kodesh around an existing safe one must consider not only how to incorporate the safe into the design, but also ease of access and allowing for storage. However when care is taken in the design and layout, I have witnessed first hand how a community’s prayer and learning can be transformed, by adding beauty to their surroundings.

I remember the first Aaron Kodesh that I designed and built many years ago. I had finished installing the new Aron Kodesh just moments before the procession for a new Torah Scroll arrived for a newly established shul. After I completed the finishing touches I could hear the increasing sound of hundreds of people singing and dancing as

they worked their way down the street to their new shul. In a matter of minutes I watched the massive joyous crowd enter the shul as they danced with their new Torah. This went on for quite some time until the doors of the new Aron Kodesh I had just built were opened and the Torah was placed safely inside. As the doors to the Aaron Kodesh were closed every eye turned toward me as smiles and the nodes of approval went around the room. I have to say that no greater joy could have filled my heart knowing I had helped to provide a place for the Torah to rest. When the davening began the power of the prayers could be tangibly felt. When the Torah was removed and placed on the Bima I designed and built…it seemed as if the words ascended upward as they penetrated the hearts and minds of everyone there in ways not experienced before. I could not help but feel the joy of knowing I participated in some small way, through the furniture I built and the spiritual surroundings I helped create.

Creating shul furniture has been the most satisfying experiences I have ever had. I have enjoyed working through some of the unique challenges communities as they grow. If your shul is looking to design and build a new Aron Kodesh or any other furniture, Golano Design can help revitalize the heart and soul of your Torah learning and Prayer through helping you build your Mikdash Me’at.  052-704-2800 yossidesigns@gmail.com yossidesigns.blogspot.co.il

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Expert

DC

DENTAL CENTER

Increased Comfort and Convenience with Innovative Implant Techniques

By Dr. Daniel Kaszovitz, DDS, FAGD

D

entistry has advanced tremendously in the last twenty years. Options available to us today were not anything that our parents’ dentists could have conceived of in their wildest dreams.

One of the most significant developments in the last few decades is the advent of the dental implant. In the past, if you lost a tooth, your options included a bridge supported by adjacent teeth or a denture that you would take out and put in a glass every night.

You’ve seen the cartoons. Today, missing teeth can be replaced and restored to perfect form and function with an implant.

What is an implant and what is involved in the procedure?

An implant is a titanium screw placed in the jaw at the site of the lost tooth. A small incision is made in the gums and the implant is inserted into the jaw. A few months later, after the implant has had a chance to integrate and become part of the jaw, a crown is placed on top of the implant. Today, we can often place the implant without even an incision or sutures -- by opening the gums with a laser!

I’ve been told I can’t have an implant in my top jaw because there is not enough bone or that I would need a sinus lift.

What does that mean?

The back area of the upper jaw often lacks sufficient bone to place an implant because the sinus, a hollow space above the back teeth, is too low. Traditionally, a sinus lift involved opening a window in the bone from the side in order to expand the available bone area for implants. The procedure came along with a week of swelling, bruising and discomfort.

Today, we offer a new innovative solution developed here in Israel: The “iRaise” Implant. The “iRaise” implant contains a chan-

nel along the side through which a bone graft gel is injected under the sinus. This enables the dental surgeon to complete both sinus lift and implant placement in one short visit. The “iRaise” system is so efficient that what once had to be stretched over two lengthy appointments can now be achieved in one sitting, saving you time spent “in the chair” as well as the waiting time necessary until the restored tooth is in your mouth.

Often, when I’ll call patients to see how they feel the night after the procedure, they’ll tell me that all they took was an advil - and they’re already feeling fine. You can often go back to work the very next day.

“I’ve heard of “teeth in a day.” Is that for real?

Yes. The concept of “teeth in a day” or “all-on-four” was popularized and perfected by Dr. Paulo Malo in Lisbon. I went there seven years ago and studied with him personally.

It is a great solution for some. For those who have few or no teeth, and very minimal bone available, this system, in which an entire mouthful of teeth are supported by just four implants, is an ideal option. If you have more bone, and more teeth, then we will of course make use of all the available support to create the best possible reconstruction. Dr. Malo himself told me – “Never use four implants if you have room for more. You always want as much support as you can get.”

The key is to recognize that every patient is an individual case and that no two are the same. The more tools you have in your dental “toolbox,” the better you are able to tailor just the right treatment for each of your patients.

I understand that a patient must often go to one doctor for the implant and then another for the crown. I would be more comfortable staying in one place. Is that possible?

Yes. We at Rechavia Dental are a full-service office so we can take you from the initial implant and on throughout the restorative phase.

How do I know what is right for me?

On our first visit, we will do a complete exam. We have digital x-rays (which provide us with a clear and comprehensive picture with 90% less radiation for you) and an intra-oral camera so that we can see and understand the nature of your particular issues.

Then we’ll sit down together and look at the different options and find the plan that best suits your mouth and your needs. 

Implant replaces the root of a tooth giving support for a crown.

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Bizness Magazine

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Expert

FR

FIRST RESPONSE

We’re There for You in Your Time of Need Hatzala Beit Shemesh A true life-saving episode “Call Hatzala! The baby is coming!” Yitzie Sachs heard the frantic call from his mother-in-law. He immediately found the closest phone and dialed the Hatzala Beit Shemesh hotline number. He advised the dispatcher that his new daughter just didn’t want to wait for the trip to the hospital.

“Once I finished the call with the dispatcher, the birth was rapidly progressing.” Within moments of placing the call, Moshe Braun came dashing through the door. By that point, the baby had already been delivered.” It took Moshe only one moment to understand that this was no simple delivery -- this was a lifethreatening emergency for the fragile new baby.

“I didn’t know something was wrong but Moshe noticed it immediately. Our baby had a pulse but was not breathing.” Immediately scooping up the baby and placing her on the dining room table, Moshe began to perform resuscitation. Then Benzi Novack rushed in.

“I remember the scene. They were doing their best to save our daughter’s life. They were so calm, cool and collected, working like clockwork to ensure the compressions continued unabated.”

But there was another complication. There was more than one patient. Mrs. Sachs also needed medical care.

“In ran Dovid Yudkowsky. Seeing that my baby was being tended to, he immediately went to help my wife finish the delivery.” In the meantime, Moshe and Benzi were still performing resuscitation on the little baby. “For over thirty minutes, Moshe and Benzi and other responders, whose names I don’t even know but appreciate to this day, helped in any way they could. I remember the scene when they cried out, ‘she is breathing!’ It was a great relief.”

Although the baby was breathing, it was still a critical situation. The baby and mother both had to be transported to the hospital quickly. “Inside the ambulance, the team continued to exude confidence, professionalism and cool-headedness. They were so calm and collected, they kept us calm as well!”

Yitzie says that today, his daughter shows absolutely no effects of her thirty minute ordeal. “We know who to thank for this -- Hashem and his shlichim in Hatzala Beit Shemesh. In hindsight, there were so many things “right” that helped us. Not just the professional medical care but the quick response, the care and concern, the caring for our privacy and the respect shown me and my wife. All of these ingredients came together to make this terrifying ordeal something we were able to face with confidence and clear minds.”

For Yitzie and his family, that day will always remain in his memory. But thanks to Hatzala Beit Shemesh, he will be able to remember that day with birthday cakes and presents, hugs and kisses.

“Hatzala Beit Shemesh is so important for our community.

Without them, who knows what the outcome would have been?

Hatzala Beit Shemesh is an integral and much needed part of our community. And they will be part of our family forever.”

Interview with Rabbi Binyamin Jacobson Rabbi Jacobson, can you tell us why you called Hatzala Beit Shemesh?

We called Hatzala Beit Shemesh several times over the last number of years. Mostly, we called them for childbirth calls but we also had to call them more than once when our son had a serious allergic reaction.

Can you tell us how Hatzala helped you during your son’s allergic reaction?

The situation with our son was extremely life-threatening and very, very critical. It was a case of anaphylactic shock. He had lost consciousness and was unable to breathe. In a panic, we called every number we knew that could help us. Ultimately, Hatzala Beit Shemesh’s ambulance was on the scene in a matter of moments, supplying much needed oxygen, comfort, and assurance until advanced lifesaving paramedics arrived. Baruch Hashem, his situation was stabilized.

Hatzala Beit Shemesh prides itself on quick response and caring but professional, service, do you attest to that being correct?

More than once we had a situation where there was reason to believe that we needed to rush to the hospital to have a baby. We got the clear sense that we were dealing with neighborhood people who were sincerely interested in helping us on the personal level. During the ride, they conveyed the clear feeling of comfort and friendliness on the one hand, and, on the other hand, they conveyed professionalism, privacy, respect, and confidence such that we really felt assured that we were in good hands.

You recently dedicated a large amount of time speaking about Hatzala Beit Shemesh in shul on Friday night. Why do you feel it is important to vouch for Hatzala publicly?

An organization of community members that is dedicated to the welfare of the community and is providing an invaluable service to the community which is geared toward us, deserves the attention and support of the community. Moreover, it is not about supporting Hatzala per se; it is about our responsibility toward our community.

We are all looking out for each other’s welfare and safety by facilitating the existence and success of Hatzala Beit Shemesh. Just like the local tzedakah organizations, youth support organizations, etc., Hatzala Beit Shemesh is one of those special organizations that our community should be proud to cultivate.  Office: 02-991-2345 Emergency line: 02-999-9992 hatzalabeitshemesh.org www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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Expert

RE

R EA L ESTAT E

Should I buy a new or pre-owned home?

By Yossi Lipsh

O

ne of the most basic questions you must ask yourself as a potential homebuyer is this: Should you buy an existing home or a newly built one? Although this seems like a fairly straightforward question, coming up with the right answer for your situation can be surprisingly complicated. That’s because there are so many factors to consider. There are distinct advantages and disadvantages to either option, depending on your point of view and your personal and financial situation.

While shiny and new sounds nice in theory, what’s actually behind the allure of these properties? Let’s dive into the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a new property The Pros • When you buy on paper it is almost always cheaper than an existing home.

• You can get together with a couple of close friends and buy in the same building/project.

• Easier to re-sell.

• The value of the property goes up fairly quickly.

• You’re able to have the builder customize the home before construction is completed, so it will be built with your personal touch and painted in your color palette – a big bonus!

• With new construction or pre-construction purchases, the work is done for you. You don’t have to lift a finger, paintbrush, or hammer.

• New homes come with some of the design elements that today’s lifestyle demands: open eat-in kitchens, walk-in closets, and large master suites to name a few.

• New homes are often equipped with the latest technology built right in – think alarm systems, speaker systems, internet wiring, and a central vacuum system – saving you lots of time, money, and holes in the walls.

• Utilizing new construction materials, just-built homes are usually more energy efficient, which means potentially lower utility bills.

• A big financial benefit of new properties is that you won’t have to do much maintenance. With brand new plumbing, heating, and air, you should be repair-free for at least a few years.

• However, if any constructional issues do arise, there is an up to 7-year contractor warranty that starts fresh from the moment you receive your key.

• Sometimes the contractor may grant you a few minor upgrades as a bonus in order to close a deal.

• Most new apartment buildings have elevators.

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• You’re moving into a house that should be totally complete and absolutely perfect. That “new house smell” is definitely a luxury!

The Cons • All those fabulous amenities you saw in the model can really add up. Upgraded features are marked up heavily for the construction company’s profit and can end up costing you far more than you ever intended. Therefore, you must put X amount of money aside for even simple additions such as bars, screens, a/c and an alarm system.

• Sometimes constructional issues such as leaks, dampness and other insulation problems come up only a year or two later. It’s hard to know of potential issues until you experience a winter or two.

• When imagining what your home will look like you will have to rely on illustrative measures.

• The apartments are generally sold on paper or during construction, meaning you will have to spend money on rent until your home is ready to be lived in.

• Often, receiving the key may be postponed due to various unexpected delays such as Palestinian workers not being allowed into Israel during certain sensitive times, which can result in an extended rental period.

• Also keep in mind that newly constructed communities don’t have the personality that mature neighborhoods do. Not only are the trees and landscaping brand new, but you could also end up living next to an empty lot or spec home for quite some time. In multi-phase communities, you’ll also have to deal with ongoing construction.

Yossi Lipsh Realty is here for you whichever way you end up choosing. 

Bizness Magazine

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Expert

BR

Building & renovation

GROSSMAN

ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION

‫גרוסמן‬ ‫הנדסה ובנין‬

Renovating Your Home to Fulfill your Dreams

By Netanel Grossman

S

o, you’ve purchased a house and want to renovate it to become your dream home in Israel.

Creating a dream home does not start with finding a builder. It starts way before, with planning. As renovating a home will probably be one of the most complicated and expensive projects you take upon yourself, you want to plan it right so you can come out with as few gray hairs as possible.

Where do you start?

There are two key items that should be resolved from the get-go.

The first is financial. You must decide at the beginning how much money you have to spend on renovating your house and then not let anyone convince you to go over budget. Most people go over budget because prices are always rising and there is always a better window, a more decorative door and amazing floors out there. You need to find out how much the entire project will cost. To do this you must get an idea of what materials you will need, how much of everything you will need and the price of each item. It is important that you consult an expert in the field- this is part of the service we offer.

The second is functionality. It is your house and thus, ideally, it should meet your needs and lifestyle. You will need to decide on how large a house you really want. When making this decision, you need to keep the future in mind as well. Your plan should offer some flexibility to accommodate an addition to the family or for opening a home office which may become necessary for you in the future. Write down your priorities for each room that you want. How important will outdoor space like a patio be? Additions are one of the most important factors in the cost of renovations. Check out how much the average square footage will cost you per meter for your locality. Then multiply the square footage of your building plans with this estimate and you will know your general cost. Different areas in Israel have different rates per square meter. So beware.

This is your home and your dream. You must decide what part of the house is most important to you. Is it your kitchen? Will most of your meals be eaten there creating a demand for a suitable eating area? Do you have a lot of appliances and need space for them in the kitchen? Maybe you have a collection that you want to display in your living room? And how many bathrooms do you feel are necessary? How big do you want your master

bedroom to be and how many bedrooms do you want altogether?

Work out a plan that will suit your needs, while keeping in your budget. Consult with your contractor on different options and tips that can save you a lot on the costs. Some basic information can sometimes go a long way, for example, building a second floor will cost more money than building out.

If the total cost of the plans is way over your budget, you will have to consider choosing a new design or scaling down the one you have. If you are just slightly over budget, you may be able to adjust your plans. It is very important to catch such a problem early on than to find out that you are unable to finish your new dream home. Too many Israelis have found themselves in this predicament.

If you find that you are over budget, consider the option to build a smaller home now and expand later. Knowing in advance that you plan to expand, foundations can be set and accessibility options included for later on. There are also many finishing touches you can consider holding off on until your budget allows them.

For all your building and renovation needs, please contact Grossman Engineering and Construction.  052-423-9580 grossman.engineering@gmail.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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BIZNESS MAGAZINE FEATURE Interview with

Harry H.

Moskoff

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Harry H. Moskoff is a Remi Award-Winning Film Producer and Writer of “The A.R.K. Report - Secret of the Century”. A Canadian-born legal analyst, Harry has been working with MMLC (Israel) as a legal consultant for media organizations since making Aliyah with his family in 2005. Previously a Patent and Trademark Agent, he has effectively applied that knowledge to his real passion, i.e.

- investigating the locations of the Temples and their treasures. Poring through hundreds of sacred and secular documents led him to the formation of his awe-inspiring book and film, being acclaimed as an international ‘Ark Expert’ both in Israel and abroad.

The ARK Report is a must read for those curious and concerned about the past, present and future of Israel and the Middle East.

Throughout history, many have searched for the legendary Ark of the Covenant, and Moskoff reviews the Ark’s fascinating history and offers his own theory on the Ark’s whereabouts.

Being one of the only religious film producers, Moskoff started Moskoff-Media (Israel) Ltd. in 2010, and is working with his pilot for a new “independent content” TV series in the USA. He is also an international public speaker and presents to many diverse religious groups on the subject of the Ark of the Covenant and the latest archeological discoveries in Israel and their relevance today.

Q: Harry, what led you to become a successful entrepreneur as a film writer/producer?

A: (laughing) – I always say that if you want to become a successful media mogul, you have to start off in the IT field, then go into Patent and Trademark law, then get into production! The truth is, there is no tried and true formula to get into the film and script-writing industry. My background in writing legalize and proofreading has come in handy for sure, but you just need that creative drive and a real need to get your message out there to the world. It’s not the type of job you can expect to make big bucks, but it can be incredibly rewarding if you have faith in yourself and persist. There are three things that make a movie great: Script, script, and script. Work on it, finalize it, then stick to it like glue – no matter what the budget is! You can glean more details and learn about our film crew and the making of it from our A.R.K. Report Wikipedia and IMDb pages.

Q: Mr. Moskoff, in your flyers you advertise to reveal the latest biblical discoveries in archeology. Anything that has come up in Israel recently that you can mention?

A: Actually, there are a couple fascinating discoveries that haven’t quite made it to the press. One of them is the discovery about a year ago of one of the bells from the bottom of the robe of the High Priest. It was found at the very bottom of the Western Wall tunnels. As Moskoff-Media is also a press organization, I was there on a special tour for foreign journalists to the lowest of the tunnels, where the First Temple walls actually meet Mount Moriah.

It was so intense that the tour guide actually gave us the option of remaining there for a couple moments to meditate or pray. There they found the little golden bell. It was interesting to see the real thing because we learn about how it really was made. The bell is completely enclosed in gold and looks like a pomegranate – and still jingles! Amazing.

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Q: How did you come to be known as an international ‘expert’ on the Ark of the Covenant?

A: It wasn’t easy – just ask my friends! Seriously, I have done 20+ years of research on the whereabouts of the Holy Ark and the location of the Temples on the Temple Mount, as well as the secrets behind where the other Temple ‘treasures’ may be buried.

This included researching the Vatican and being somewhat of an investigative reporter/biblical archaeologist here in Israel, i.e. travelling to remote areas in Mitzpe Ramon, the caves of Qumran, and even Jordan. As a result, I wrote a white-paper on the subject, and produced two documentaries (available on YouTube), as well as a feature drama by the same name: The A.R.K. Report. Only recently I’ve decided to share all this material, as it has always been a dream of mine to pursue, and it certainly beats doing Patent and Trademark work all day! (laughing) Q: So, how are you finding it so far?

A: The best part of this experience is the people that I’ve met along the way. It’s so refreshing to deal with creative people again, as I was originally trained as a musician.

Q: You were a musician?

A: And still am! As a teenager, I went to Interlochen and Berklee, both on scholarships in Jazz ensemble and composition, and ended graduating in Fine Arts at York University in Toronto. When I couldn’t make a living as a studio musician, I started getting into technology. The best friends I had though, and still have, were those musicians, and now it’s great to be back in media. Moskoff-Media Israel now has a partnership with LightCatcher Productions from Arkansas/Texas along with my Associate Producer, James D. Long – a great guy, and right hand man to the famous Dr. Vendyl Jones. Rabbi Issamar Ginsberg is another creative genius that has helped me along the way, and of course my parents, who, thank G-d drilled into my head this idea of: “Publish or Perish.” In addition, my man in the White House (hopefully), Governor Mike Huckabee is a prize, to name just a few.

I think that people are into this book and film concept because the Temple Mount is making headlines all the time. I’m finding that people of many different denominations want to know there is a future where good will prevail, and quite frankly, they look for hope, especially when hearing about the prospects of a nuclear Iran, etc. They need something powerful to hang on to, and thank G-d, it seems like people find it in my book and lectures. I feel very lucky actually, that I can contribute something meaningful and important.

Q. What would happen if the Ark was finally found?

A. This is a question I’m often asked after my lectures. For the record, I don’t condone going up to the Temple Mount or excavating because there are halachic concerns. If the Ark were to be found now, the government and the UN would probably put it in its own Smithsonian Museum located somewhere in East Jerusalem, or even Jordan, for all we know. The findings of The ARK Report point to entrances in the warren of tunnels beneath the mount that comprise a starting point so that if and when the time comes, people will know where to begin looking for it. Many big Rabbis have gone searching though, and there are fascinating stories with Rav Yehudah Getz, and former chief rabbi, Rav Goren, breaking through the Western Wall gates moving eastward into tunnels that I record in the book (and video). Also included is a first-hand account

Photo Credit James D. Long. MOSKOFF with 2016 US Presidential hopeful, Governor Mike Huckabee in his NYC interview

of a tour in 1992 that found the members digging in the middle of the night for Temple treasures, breaking through and finding a passageway, only to experience a real earthquake tremor - tremors that didn’t stop! It’s just as dangerous now as it was 2,700 years ago!

Q: Where do most common folk assume the lost Ark is located, and how does your theory differ?

A: There are many valid theories ranging from Ethiopia, France, and even Arkansas, but the most common from a Jewish perspective is right here under the Temple Mount, i.e. – Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. The conventional approach is that the Dome of the Rock is the place of the Foundation Stone and the Holy of Holies. The findings of the Report and the “Moskoff Theory” point to a mistake in this conventional opinion. The theory states that the holiest spot in the world is actually removed further to the southwest in an open area on the Mount. In my book, I bring all kinds of proofs from the Talmud, Tanach, Torah commentators, Midrash, Zohar, including recent technical and archeological discoveries. My theory is based originally on the Rambam, and the findings of Sir Charles Warren with the Palestine Exploration Fund over 100 years ago, amongst others more recently.

These results have practical halachic applications today for those who choose to ascend the Temple Mount. According to this theory, people have to remain further to the southern side, closer to the Al Aqsa Mosque in order to stay out of forbidden areas.

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Q: Have you met with any opposition or skepticism, whether politically or religiously motivated?

A: No, never! Just joking. Of course, this is very sensitive subject matter, on pretty much all levels, so there is always a certain amount of opposition. A fictional movie is open to interpretation, but when you write a non-fiction book it’s a whole different ballgame. I’ve encountered all kinds of responses to this project. Everything from people writing me to interpret their dreams about the Ark, to people who claim to have prophetic visions of where it is and want my professional opinion - from all around the world, and I haven’t even started the marketing yet!

Like any small business venture, the trick is trying to figure out where the challenges will come from next. Often, the people who want us to stop and not “make waves” are from the far Left politically, but also from the far Right. We do have Rabbinic backing though from many Rabbis, both Sephardic and Ashkenazi here in Ramat Bet Shemesh, including Rabbi David Abuchasira and HaRav Yaakov Hillel shlita. The truth is, only Eliyahu Hanavi knows where the Ark really is, but with respect to this work, the “Moskoff Theory” raises awareness and brings biblical artifacts like the Ark to life, especially in these times.

The Ramban writes that finding the Ark will be an immediate catalyst for Mashiach to come.

Q: Does the “Moskoff Theory” deal with other Temple treasures, such as those that are claimed to be in France (DaVinci Code) or at the Vatican?

Yes, I have a whole chapter on that subject, and I myself actually visited that area in France to check it out first-hand.

With respect to the Vatican, I have some incredible stories in that chapter that deal with people I interviewed that actually were down in the basement vaults and saw what they saw .

According to their claims, the Parochet curtain (with a long tear in it) and the tzitz headplate of the Kohen Gadol are really there, as per the evidence presented. These items, and how they got there, are also mentioned in the Talmud in several places.

Q: Where can people buy The A.R.K. Report book?

A: The book is selling on AMAZON and the Ebook is available on Kindle. Sales are going quite well, and people are loving the book, especially the non-Jewish readers who are looking for something grounded with references. There is even a chapter that deals with the Ark from a scientific perspective, built like a superconductor that discharges electrostatic energy. In general, the book is geared towards the “faith-based” conservative crowd, and has received good reviews so far. If you Google the book title, you may find the book on sale elsewhere on web-stores, etc.

Q: How did Gov. Mike Huckabee become interested in your work?

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A: Many people have asked that question, especially since he left his highly successful FOX MOSKOFF with the gatekeepers at the tomb of talk show. First of all, Aaron the High Priest in Jordan he’s a great supporter of Israel and comes here 3-4 times a year. I really respect his courage and his taking a stand with our Prime Minister, so we decided to hook up in publicity. I submitted his last Op-Ed article on his behalf for the Jerusalem Post, and it was a great success (“Calling James Taylor!”) being a real eye-opener with respect to the current Obama administration and their actions vis-à-vis Israel.

Q: You are one of the few Jewish, religious entrepreneurs in the media industry in Israel, and anywhere for that matter.

What tidbit of advice can you share with our readers as a unique entrepreneur in this field?

A: Well, this can probably be applied to any field, but I once asked a world-famous musician that same question. After the show he said the following words, which have stayed with me all this time: “Know that you’re either #1 or #2. Don’t fool yourself: if you’re not #1, you’re #2. There is nothing else.” In other words, either you’re the best or you’re like everyone else. Where the media is concerned, the gold medal winner is the best guy in the world. But the silver medalist? Never heard of him!

Q: Once you’ve “arrived” – and many would say you already have, as a Jew, how would you deal with the fame and fortune?

A: Remember why you got into it in the first place, the love for what you do, and seek out the redefining moments. Those rare moments when it all comes together and everything goes right. Then it happens: Your MOMENT. Like Queen Esther appearing before the King. Everyone has their hour, as it says in Pirkei Avot. Terry Bradshaw, the famous NFL quarter-back once said: When you’re at the Super Bowl at the top of your game, always play it down. Never let the moment, the hype, catch up with you. In the case of starting up Moskoff-Media in Israel, my motto has been: Happiness is in the journey, and not necessarily in the destination. Israel has a great and holy future, and in effect, that’s the message we’re selling. 

Bizness Magazine

For more information about Harry Moskoff and The ARK Report, check out the following sites: www.arkreportfilm.com www.KosherTube.com www.facebook.com/ArkReport www.jpost.com/blogger/Harry-Moskoff You can contact Mr. Moskoff directly via his Facebook or Linkedin pages For legal or media--related consultations, please visit: www.legal.moskoff-media.com

02 999 3939

How to Choose a New Refrigerator

By Tomer Cohen

T

here is such a huge range of refrigerators available on the market today that if you don’t know what features you’re looking for before you enter the appliance store you’re likely to feel addled. Modern refrigerators typically last between 10-20 years, so you’re going to want to make sure that your purchase will serve you well. Most people have budget and size at the top of their list of features when purchasing a refrigerator. Both are important but there are many other factors to think about as well.

Tall fridges are great for gaining that extra space if you have no cabinetry on top, but short housewives or elderly people should consider how far up they’re willing to reach.

The configuration of a fridge-freezer may also determine how much bending down you do. Most people open the fridge more than the freezer, which means that if the freezer is on top you’ll be bending down a lot.

Price wise, top-freezers are usually the cheapest option with the fewest features, although they tend to have wide shelves.

If you’re on a budget, consider paying a little more for a more energy-efficient refrigerator as it will save you money in the long run. French-door refrigerators are generally on the more expensive side, but if you have an island directly in front of the fridge, or if the refrigerator door opens to a wall, then you may require a French-door refrigerator because of its narrower doors.

If your fridge will have to fit in a narrow niche, a side-by-side refrigerator (with the fridge and freezer next to each other) will probably be the best choice since such fridges offer the most space compared to other options. Keep in mind, though, that the freezer may be too narrow for some items like pizza boxes.

When it comes to the configuration of shelves inside the refrigerator, it’s useful to be aware of your lifestyle. Do you host a lot of parties? (Think Shabbos and Yom Tov with the entire family.) If so, you may require wide shelves to hold large platters, enough room for drinks, sufficient height for tall pots, shelves which can be arranged flexibly and so on. To really ensure that your fridge will fit your needs, take along some containers to the store so that you’ll see exactly what fits where.

Chashmal 1/2 Chinam is an electric appliance store located on 9 Yitzchak Rabin St., Bet Shemesh Tel. 02-999-7193 

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Expert

LC

L I FE C O A CH

Small changes make a big difference in your life!

By Helen Abelesz

A

s wives and mothers we always imagine life should be easier! We think to ourselves, ‘Everyone else seems to be coping with their kids, and their houses are clean and tidy. So why can’t I manage? What’s wrong with me?’.

Amy* moved to Israel 4 years ago and had 3 children. She was slowly making new friends but missed everyone back home. She especially missed having a lot of help at home since her parents had lived nearby and were only a phone call away if she needed anything. Now though, things were tough.

She didn’t feel close enough to her new friends to tell them she needed help, but she also didn’t want her family back home to worry about her, so she didn’t tell them. Her husband was working hard at a new job with a lower income and was very stressed, so she didn’t want to burden him too much either. She felt stressed, pained and alone, struggling to cope with her endless chores, so she gave me a call for a free initial consultation.

Amy felt like she wasn’t getting anything right – she wasn’t being a good mother or giving her kids the attention they needed, and they were uncooperative at bedtime. She was so tired by the time the children went to sleep that she had no energy to clean the house or sit and talk with her husband. Her home was a wreck, she had begun to put on weight and she had no time or energy to exercise. She felt that her life was in a never-ending downward spiral.

Amy needed to discover just how capable she actually was, and that she was achieving many things every day without even realizing it.

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I set Amy a daily task: Every evening she should write down five things that she had achieved that day. These could be simple things, like reading a story to her son, going to the park and even staying calm when her toddler had yet another tantrum. We also made a plan for a better bedtime routine. This resulted in the children having a calmer bedtime and Amy having more time for herself and her husband.

We then worked on her feelings of being alone. I set her small tasks to open up a little to her new friends – to share one small issue she was having with her kids. Amy discovered that they were a great sounding board for ideas and that she was a great sounding board for them too. This resulted in allowing Amy a real connection with her friends, who were then able to open up to her.

Amy began to take control of her life. She had more energy, felt positive and started losing weight. Her husband mentioned it was nice to see her smiling again!

If you can relate to Amy – being a regular mother who just needs a little help from a caring and dependable third party then contact me today for a free and confidential initial consultation.  *Not her real name and all identifying features have been changed.

Bizness Magazine

054-482-9815 helenabelesz@gmail.com

Facebook: Life-Coaching-for-Women/643214162406829

02 999 3939

Expert

WL

W eig h t lo s s

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Bo’s Diet

By Dr. Bo Rosenblat, M.D. Chief Physician, Dr. Bo’s Diet 1. What is Dr. Bo’s Diet all about?

Dr. Bo’s Diet is a 5-phase program. Each phase varies in length, and has its own unique objective. The average patient completes the first 4 phases in 10 to 16 weeks, with significant weight loss occurring in the first 30 to 45 days, often exceeding 30 pounds!

Patients will experience continued weight-loss beyond that point but with a greater focus on the long-term objective of keeping the weight off forever without having to diet forever.

Since each patient is unique, with a different body, lifestyle, and set of circumstances, Dr. Bo’s Diet Center’s team of doctors, nutritionists, dietitians and counselors create an individualized protocol that is specific to each patient’s unique needs. We provide nutritional guidance and counseling that is custom tailored to each patient and provide one-on-one weekly private consultations focusing on short-term, rapid weight loss followed by long-term sustainable weight management.

2. Is rapid weight loss safe?

I am often asked this question by people so overweight, they are at immediate health risks for hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, or diabetes. A customized nutritional plan that provides rapid weight-loss in the short term, followed by a plan for proper weight management in the long-term is generally safe when monitored by the right team of professionals. In an ideal world, we want to lose excess weight at a slower pace but unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world. Most of us need to see results to stay motivated otherwise we give up. If we give up and increase our risks for these serious (often life threatening) conditions then we are in much bigger trouble compared to losing weight at a rapid pace.

3. How is Dr. Bo’s Diet different from other diet plans and programs?

There are many great programs out there but unfortunately many are also too narrowly focused. Regarding weight loss, most physicians focus on the physical or medical contributing factors, like thyroid conditions or metabolic disorders. Most nutritionists focus on strictly nutritional education and meal plans that are sustainable for only short periods of time. Most therapists or psychologists will focus on only mental health and behavior modification protocols. At Dr. Bo’s Diet Center, because our program addresses all three of these contributing factors to the struggle with proper weight management - physiological, psychological, and nutritional, patients have a much greater ability to not just lose weight, but also keep it off for good.

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4. Will I gain the weight back after the program?

Our primary goal is long term, sustained weight loss for our patients. Over the course of our program patients gather an arsenal of tools for proper weight management, and then are slowly transitioned from a diet plan back into “real life”. We continue to support the patient beyond completion of the initial program, ensuring that you will be in a good position to maintain your healthy weight in an enjoyable, long-lasting fashion.

5. Is exercise required on your program?

No. While we recognize the health benefits of regular exercise, it is not a prerequisite to success on our program.

6. Do you offer any guarantees?

100% of the patients that follow our program are successful and 100% of patients that don’t follow our program are unsuccessful.

However, if you join our program and are less than completely satisfied for any reason, we will refund your money without any questions. The option to cancel our program for a refund expires 30 days after the patient joins and excludes a small cancellation fee.

7. What can you tell people who have done other diets unsuccessfully?

Never ever give up. This journey is often long and difficult but well worth it in the end. Remember, dieting is hard but being overweight is also hard. Don’t look for a quick fix or easy solution because they don’t exist. Instead, set yourself up for success by doing the right homework. Call the professionals: your doctor, local nutritionists, and diet centers. Ask questions, learn more, and in the end go with your intuition. If you can connect with a program’s philosophy, ideology and approach, then give it a shot and put all your energy and focus on getting it right.

Dr. Bo Rosenblatt is a Board Certified Medical Doctor who has served in many leadership positions in hospitals and clinics, and has lectured for physician organizations all across the United States. 

Bizness Magazine

077-228-5877 details@drbosdiet.com

02 999 3939

Expert

AD

Anxie ty D i s o r de r S

What Your Anxious Child Wishes You Would Know

By Rachel Factor LCSW

Q

While most of the neighborhood kids are outside after school, soaking up the sunshine, my daughter is inside copying her notes for school, over and over again. If a letter is not perfect, she must do it again. She has even mentioned that she sometimes writes over a whole sentence because she had a scary thought while writing it. I keep going over the parenting that I gave

her and wonder where did I go wrong? What could I have done differently so that my child would be more carefree?

Thanks, Guilt-ridden Mom A: After years of treating children with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and other anxiety disorders, it is apparent that children are born with predispositions to anxiety and even the best of parenting won’t necessarily prevent it. Most of the children I treat come from healthy homes and started showing signs of anxiety at a young age. Knowing this, our job as parents is to help our children cope with their anxiety. Often, a family will benefit from professional help from a CBT therapist: The child will learn how to manage his anxiety and face his fears while the parents will be taught how to create a healthy atmosphere for their anxious child.

Most children with anxiety are afraid to make mistakes and feel that they need to do things perfectly. Phrases like ‘practice makes perfect’ need to be replaced with phrases like ‘practice makes better’ and ‘good enough’. Mistakes can become valued as part of the process of living and growing.

Rewarding the effort rather than the results is important as well. Growth for all of us involves going out of our comfort zone. Share with your child your own experiences in which you’ve done this, and gently encourage your child to take small steps outside of theirs. (This should not be forced or against your child’s will. Your child needs to be a willing participant.) Remind your child that bravery is not the absence of fear, rather it is feeling the fear and doing it anyways.

Lastly, when a child has a fear, reassurance usually doesn’t provide lasting results. Suggest to your child that they are stronger than they think, and they can handle uncomfortable situa-

tions. Problem-solve with them what they would do if their fear materializes.

My 12-year -old son’s Rebbe tells me what a tzaddik he is. He davens each word super clearly, he never says no when others ask him for snack, and is the first to apologize when there is an argument with a friend. Yesterday, I observed him playing ball with friends and he kept calling himself out, even when he didn’t appear to be out. Am I raising a tzaddik, or is there a problem here that needs to be addressed?

Thanks, Concerned Dad A: He may indeed be a tzaddik, but there also may be a problem that needs to be addressed. If you suspect that there is something to work on here, there likely is. Have a talk with your son, coming from a place of curiosity. Ask him about davening. Does he ever feel that if he doesn’t get every word perfect his davening won’t count? Does he enjoy sharing snack with his friends all the time? Or does he feel too guilty saying no? Does he apologize, even when he believes he’s right, because it’s uncomfortable for him being in conflict with a friend? Does he call himself out in ball, even when he in fact may not be out, as he does not want to risk being dishonest? Is he enjoying life or finding it really stressful to live up to the standards he has set for himself? Remember, your job is to gather information, not to judge your child’s responses. Once you have the information you can decide where to go from there.

As parents we need to remind ourselves that Hashem handpicked us to parent this child. We are the best shot our child has to succeed in meeting their particular challenge. We do the best we can, seeking advice when needed. Our job is not to raise perfect children, but to help our children on their journey towards actualizing their potential and utilizing their G-d given gifts, one day at a time. 

Q

Send your anxiety-related questions to Rachel@ocdsolutions.com Your question may be featured in the next issue of Bizness Magazine.

052-713-4130 (Israel) 845-510-4169 (US) Rachel@OCDsolutions.com www.OCDsolutions.com

www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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(Pesach) Cleaning Up your Affairs…

Before the Angel of Death Comes

By Mirit Reif, Adv.

J

ust as sorting out your assets is important at any age, writing your Last Will & Testament (hereinafter: “Will”) is just as essential. People tend to think that writing a Will is something that only older and/or richer people should do. This is a common mistake. Obviously we would all like to live until 120 and thus control our assets ourselves, but since that is not realistic, writing a Will can be your second best option. By writing a Will, you can control what happens to your property and possessions when you are no longer alive and it is the best way to make sure that your assets are passed on exactly as you wish.

In addition, writing a Will which leaves very clear and precise instructions as to how you want your assets to be distributed, can avoid future disputes between successors.

According to the Inheritance Law (5725-1965), there are four acceptable forms of Wills: 1. A handwritten Will made by the testator bearing a date and his signature.

2. A Will signed and dated by the testator in the presence of two witnesses. The testator needs to declare before them that this is his Will, and then sign and date it. The witnesses need to confirm that the testator signed the Will in their presence.

3. A Will made before an authority. The authority may be a court registrar, judge, notary, Inheritance Registrar or a “Dayan” of an official rabbinical court. The testator appears before one of these authorities and verbally expresses his Will. The Will is then written by the authority and read before the testator. The testator declares in writing that this is his Will and the authority will then sign and confirm that the Will was read before the testator and declared as above.

4. A deathbed Will. If the testator believes that he’s facing death, he may verbally express his will, in front of two witnesses. The witnesses will then have to submit a memo of the instructions, together with the date it was instructed and the relevant circumstances, to the Inheritance Registrar as soon as possible.

However, an oral Will becomes void after a month if the circumstances that justified it no longer exist and the testator is still alive.

A few important things you should consider when drafting your Will: 1. It is important to make sure that you include all the details that you want to be carried out after you pass away. This should include: a. A detailed list of all the money and/or assets you have, including savings and pension accounts; b. Who you want to include (or exclude) in your Will; c. Who should look after your children until they reach 18; d. Desired place of burial.

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e. It is important to nominate an executer of the Will. The executer should be someone you trust who is capable of sorting out your estate and making sure that your Will is carried out.

2. Israeli law allows for writing a Will in English. In fact, according to the Inheritance Regulations, English has an advantage over other languages and a notarized translation into Hebrew is not needed. Please note that the court and the registrar dealing with the application have the authority to request such a translation.

3. In a situation where you have assets in Israel as well as abroad, it is recommended to prepare a separate Will for each country, making sure that the laws and regulations of each country are applied. Probating the two Wills will be much simpler that way since they will be executed in accordance with the laws of each relevant jurisdiction.

Although it is possible to write a Will by yourself, it is advisable to seek legal advice in order to ensure that you are following all of the legal formalities needed for your Will to be valid and that it is written in a clear enough way in order to avoid family disputes in the future. After all, you probably would like to leave a dynasty without it becoming a soap opera…  This article is not a substitute for legal consultation. Legal advice should be sought in accordance with the particular circumstances.

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.

Mirit Reif, an Israeli tax attorney, is a senior associate at the firm. She can be reached at 02-999-9235.

Bizness Magazine

02 999 3939

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THE FOUR ANSWERS

– The STAR System

T

By Ruthie Weinberger, BSW, MSc

he last installment left our case family in a conundrum.

Their conflicts were no longer only about Dad – the focus had shifted to the interpersonal relationships between the siblings and their spouses. Just to recap, Mom has passed away and Dad, in the children’s opinion, is not managing. Dad believes he’s managing well enough. The three siblings Reuven, Shimon and Dina have differences of opinion in how much intervention Dad needs. The problems evolve as their spouses are also of different opinions.

In deference to the season, let’s ask, “What makes this family different from all other families?”

Communication (or lack thereof) is the reason that this family moved into a crisis. This family did not communicate their thoughts, fears and future intentions when Mom and Dad were still healthy and aging gracefully. At that point in time, Mom and Dad’s own wishes, desires and intentions would have weighed in significantly on how the future could have looked.

When our case family came to mediation, it became clear that effective communication skills were lacking. This family needed some direction in constructive communication and active listening. Let’s follow Dina (the daughter who lives close to Dad).

Her husband took the initiative to invite his father-in-law to live with them without first discussing it with his wife (A Big No-No!).

Dina was furious and she shut down. In the safe environment of mediation, raised voices volleyed back and forth until her frustrated husband threw up his arms and declared, “What is wrong with you? I offered your father a place in our home. You should be jumping over the moon.” Dina walked out of the room.

One could interpret Dina’s reaction as evading an uncomfortable situation. However, walking away and not continuing in the destructive communication pattern can, at times, be the beginning of an answer.

A successful tool I use in coaching mediation clients is one I learned from a seminar given by Christina Tamiari – the STAR System: Stop, Think, Act and Reflect.

Stop: (Literally.) Sometimes silence says more than words.

Walk away. Cool down. Refrain from engaging in a non-productive pattern that can be potentially destructive.

Think: Ask yourself honest questions: How do I feel? How does the other person feel? Did my actions help create the problem or help solve the problem? What possible solutions can we come up with? Who can help us in finding a resolution?

Act: Take responsible action by using ‘I’ statements: I feel (emotion) when (what happened) because (why). I would like (this to happen). Be an active participant in creating the dialog.

Ask questions and actively listen to the answers. Then use the answers to aim for best possible actions and outcomes.

Reflect: Ask the following questions: How far have these steps taken me? Am I closer to attaining a resolution? How satisfied am I with the solutions? How satisfied with the resolution is the 36

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other side? How could I have achieved better results? What can I do (preventative) to avoid a next time? What can I do (proactive) should there be a next time?

Communication is hard work. Being a part of a relationship requires each member’s full-time participation. The efforts will be rewarded now and in the future.

This family came to mediation with intentions of good will and a desire to reach resolution. The results were the following: 1. Dad recognized the need for his children to help him. He agreed to accept their assistance on terms that would impose the least dramatic changes in everyone’s lives.

2. Reuven (Recall: He wanted to relocate.) would visit once every five weeks for a long weekend (Thursday-Monday). While he was there, his “on duty” siblings would be “off duty.”

3. Dina’s husband (Recall: He invited Dad to move in.) would spend four hours a day with Dad running errands, going to doctors’ appointments or just keeping him company.

4. Dad would alternate spending Shabbos with Dina’s and Shimon’s families. Reuven and family would bring prepared Yom Tov meals and move in with Dad for Sukkos and Pesach.

5. Shimon’s wife would cook a few of Dad’s favorite meals and stock the fridge every Monday.

6. Dina would be the contact person for an emergency.

Via a facilitative mediation process, this family was able to voice their concerns, fears and disagreements regarding Dad’s future and the implications on their lives. Using the STAR technique of communication, they developed solutions that would work for them.

Planning for the future is more important than we realize. Visit http://rweinberger-mediation.com/elder-plan-questionnaire/ for a short quiz to assess your current plan.

Wishing everyone a Chag Kasher V’Sameach! 

Bizness Magazine

02 999 3939

Art for the Heart Design and art with a touch

Come visit our gallery in Moshav Tzafririm during Pesach vacation!

Special workshops on April 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 7th at 11 AM. Call to register in advance.

An Art Gallery in the heart of nature Creative Workshops Local Hospitality Nature Excursions Live Performances & Musical Workshops Aharon Shahar is a carpenter, designer and founder of Kakadu, who plans, coordinates and produces our unique activities. He is also a certified tour guide who knows this region like the back of his hand.

Reut Shahar is a designer, versatile artist and musician. She is the artistic voice of Kakadu, the leader of our Creative Workshops and the warm hostess who will welcome you to our Gallery.

Everyone is born an Artist Workshops

Gallery

A visit to our Gallery is an enchanting and enjoyable experience you do not want to miss! The space is capable of accommodating both small and large groups.

Meet our Artists

These unique Creative Workshops are suited to adults and children alike (no special skills or prior experience is required). So be you a family, a group, an organization, a school, a class, a seminar, or Taglit… If you are looking to celebrate a birthday, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, learn something new or just have fun… we offer you an unforgettable joyful experience of creation individually and as a group.

Using our unique technics and paints you will find your inner artist and leave with a creation of your own and a lot of fun memories.

Activity Duration: An hour and a half to two hours

Additional activities

Visitors to the Gallery meet our artists one-on-one and take part in a dynamic group discussion lead

by Reut and focused on creativity and design. These Artist Meetings include light refreshments.

Activity Duration: An hour

When visiting Kakadu you will find a lot more to do in the area; next door there is a bicycle renting facility that offers a sporty option to enjoy our beautiful region; all around us are boutique wineries, breweries and restaurants and we are always happy to recommend further activities and experiences to our visitors.

Musical Events and Workshops

Magnificent Adullam Excursions Aharon, our certified tour guide, will take you on an unforgettable nature excursion in which you will discover firsthand the magnificent Adullam region and its fascinating stories and history, all of which are right at our doorstep.

Activity Duration: From two hours to a full day

Reut, Kakadu’s Designer, is also a musician who specializes in ancient Jewish Psalms, from various historical periods, she conducts exclusive workshops in which all partake; singing and playing an assortment of instruments collected from the four corners of the globe. Reut also hosts live performances of original music in which she is joined by fellow musicians.

Visit our website: kakadu.co.il 972-2-9998922

972-52-8625271, 972-52-3477476

www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com • 37 www.kakadu.co.il kakadu@netvision.net.il

Expert

BC

B UDG ET C O U NS EL I N G

A Pesach Tale of Two Consumers

By David Litke

O

nce upon a time two men (let’s call them Eliezer and Avraham) wished to gift their wives a refrigerator priced at 10,000NIS. Eliezer went about it in the following manner: Since the practice of saving money was not anything he fancied, he instinctively ran to the bank for a three-year loan, which would eventually cost him an additional 1,000NIS in interest. Avraham was a habitual planner and saver, so he made the decision to begin saving 300NIS each month for the next three years, at which time he planned to pay cash for the fridge and would probably earn a cash discount to boot.

The above is a simple and accurate illustration of the difference between the ben-chorin (free man) and the eved (slave) in the context of financial management. We can describe Eliezer’s behavior as impulsive and reactive. He is ruled by those impulses and enslaved to his money, often feeling the press of financial stress. Avraham’s behavior is measured and forward-thinking. He controls his impulses, rules over his money and sleeps well. The eved’s favorite mantras are, ‘What? I don’t deserve a new car every five years?’, ‘I’ll start saving when I make enough’, and ‘The checks from the guests will cover the wedding’. The ben-chorin lives by other mantras: ‘I plan 30 months and 30 years ahead, not just 30 days’, ‘I buy tomorrow’s future with today’s income’, and ‘Debt stinks!’.

The eved’s lifestyle is funded by the banks and the credit card companies. He lives in perpetual overdraft and debt. For him, an unexpected expense of 2,000NIS is a major crisis. He has nothing saved for his child’s bar-mitzvah party or education, and has no idea what’s going on with his pension plan - if it exists at all. He mortgages his life many years forward. He also mortgages the life of his children, due to his addiction to debt brought about by lack of financial planning. ‘Sorry’, he tells his son, ‘I can’t help you with university because I’m a slave to the bank.’ His is a life of constant risk, always on the precipice of financial calamity.

The ben-chorin exhibits control and planning. He sets spending priorities and saves regularly, knowing that he will need to replace the refrigerator in a few short years. He has an emergency fund set aside for a sudden large expense. He can afford to take smart risks, such as with investments, because his position is solid.

The ben-chorin is truly free because he budgets his income before each month and therefore has no pangs of guilt or hesitation about spending the money he wrote into his budget.

Another way of looking at this is to focus on ‘needs’ and ‘wants’. What may be a ‘need’, a must have, to the eved, is a ‘want’ to the ben-chorin. Emotions should not play a role in the 38

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process of money management. We must evaluate what is really a need, as opposed to things we merely wish for. We may have fallen in love with a particular product but life will go on if we purchase it only after having saved for it. While it is good to desire the fine things, we must be careful to purchase only what we can afford so that we are not plunged into debt. This requires a mature and honest look at ourselves and at our priorities.

What is the reason many consumers do not change their financial practices? Perhaps they have no idea of the fruits and benefits which await. The price one has to pay to reach financial stability can be expressed with ease but only implemented with difficulty: to commit one’s self to taking responsibility for life and finances.

As with dieting and exercise, a change in financial practice can only result from the commitment to paying a price. Regrettably, this seems a price too steep for many. It’s easier for the eved to run to the bank for a loan than it is to plan and save over time in order to accumulate the resources necessary to free himself from the stranglehold of debt.

The wisest of all men, Shlomo HaMelech said, (‫ז‬:‫– ”עבד לוה לאיש מלוה“ )משלי כב‬ ‘The borrower is slave to the lender’. Slavery in any form brings us low. Our children sing on Seder night, “‫ עתה בני חורין‬,‫– ”עבדים היינו‬ ‘We were slaves; now we are free men’. Let’s sing together with them – like free men.

Chag kasher vesameach!

Subscribe to our free budget tips: www. budgetrelief.co.il 

Bizness Magazine

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

02 999 3939

Reaching Friends and Family Across the Ocean Akiva, what propelled you to start Live Stream Simcha?

My close friend’s daughter was having a Bat Mitzvah party.

The day before, she described to me how sad her daughter was that her grandfather and cousins weren’t able to travel to Israel for the simcha.

I thought of a simple but doable solution. I asked her, “Can I set up a Skype session at the hall for your family in Toronto?”

I had a 3G ipad so it was easy to set up on such a short notice.

Even though the internet connection was slow, the families on both sides of the ocean were delighted that they could feel like they were together for such an important milestone in the Bat Mitzvah girl’s life. I realized then that this live streaming concept could be developed and expanded into a business. I could be the one connecting families for important milestone events. I started extensively researching the latest technologies available.

How long ago did you start Live Stream Simcha?

Live Stream Simcha was launched in March 2014. We haven’t looked back since.

What exactly is live streaming?

Live streaming is a method of filming an event and then having it instantly broadcast over the internet to anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. The viewer does not need to personally attend the event. He can view it from the comfort of his home or office computer for front row seating.

Give us an overview of how your system works.

Our preparation begins with checking each venue to ensure there is adequate cellular reception at the site. My associate and I arrive at the simcha hall with time to set up our professional equipment well before the event begins. Our equipment includes a sophisticated internet connection and camera gear. We then broadcast from the venue to Live Stream Simcha’s website. Now family and friends can simply watch the simcha on our website. All our broadcasted events are archived on our website. They can be accessed at any time.

What kind of events do you cover, which are the most popular?

We find that we are covering mostly weddings. Bris and Bar/ Bat Mitzvah celebrations are popular as well.

Where are your viewers located?

We have reached families all over the globe -- Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Florida, the United kingdom and as far away as Australia.

How many viewers on average are there for a Simcha?

We have had as many as 90 PCs, smart phones or tablets connected to the live stream feed for each simcha. Of course each PC, smart phone or tablet can have a group of guests watching the

Interview with

Akiva Tepperman

Owner, Live Stream Simcha

simcha together. Our website service accommodates an unlimited number of viewers. The simcha hosts can invite their Facebook friends to watch live. They simply share the live stream webpage link on their Facebook page.

What services do you offer, if any, along with the video?

We offer a collection of approximately 300 FREE photos to all our customers. These still pictures can be viewed in clusters as they are uploaded on-line along with the live video during the simcha. We work alongside your photographer providing immediate photos of your event. We pride ourselves in being very unobtrusive.

Our team also includes our own talented professional photographer, Avraham Ben Zev, who can take your still photographs for your portraits and album. Avraham has years of experience working with families to make the photo shooting experience smooth and personal.

We offer photos live to the viewer for free as we take pictures alongside the photographer and videographer at the simcha. We then send the pictures from the hall to the viewer via the live stream webpage. We also offer competitive pricing.

For whom is your service the most suitable?

Live Stream Simcha is suitable for anyone who has access to our website. Often family members are ill and can’t handle the travel. Sometimes commitments to work and school keep guests from traveling. Anyone you wish can watch!  LiveStreamSimcha@gmail.com 058 538 1902|USA +1647 495 9493 | UK + 44 207 048 7028 www.livestreamsimcha.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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39

Interview with Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz, Founder and Rabbi of the Young Israel of Karmiel, and Aliza Schwartz, Clothing Importer and Personal Shopper

My Rabbi’s a Tour Guide; My Rebbetzin Sells Quality Clothing Ephraim, why do you feel you are living the Aliya dream?

We moved here in August 2010 and decided that this would be a new start for our family. I loved Israel and enjoyed leading groups here annually. Aliza liked shopping, particularly finding bargains on quality stuff. So the opportunity to be able to do that for an entire country seemed even better.

You’ve been involved a lot in Jewish education, via outreach programs on both coasts of the US, as well as your weekly blog and emails. What role did it all have in your choosing to be a tour guide?

I became a tour guide for pretty much the same reason I got involved in Jewish outreach work. I wanted to be inspired in my own yiddishkeit. Being raised religious is wonderful, yet can have a down side that you take it all for granted- brachos, Shabbos, learning. I decided that to lead an inspired life I would do it for a living and thrive off the inspiration that comes when you’re experiencing Judasim through someone that has never been exposed to it before. Similarly, when we moved to Israel I wanted to always stay inspired by the privilege of living in this amazing country Hashem has given us.

How did you train to become a licensed tour guide?

To become a licensed tour guide I attended a two year intensive program that included classes on topics like history from pre-historic times through the Forefathers, going all the way to the history of the modern state. We also covered geology, archeology, architecture, botany, wildlife, water sources and major and minority religions. In addition, we went on over 85 tours around the country and we were required to submit 30-40 page papers after each tour. My years of outreach training has given me the skills and knowledge to delve beyond the surface and bring the stories, ideas and insights of our great sages in a way that really connects my clients with the places we visit.

The other part of the training which I enjoyed and they don’t teach you in the course is where to find the best activities, the off beaten tracks place and of course eateries and wineries.

How do your clients find you?

For about 15 years I was involved in Jewish outreach work in New York, Iowa, Virginia and Seattle, so I developed many connections and a network around the States. In addition, because I learned in many mainstream yeshivos I have a large client base from New York, Lakewood and Chasidic communities as well. I have even began taking many from other countries such as England, South Africa, Belgium and Australia. My weekly e-mail at holylandinsights.blogspot. com goes out to 1,600 people each week. It contains stories, insights and inspiration on the weekly Torah portion as well cool places in Israel, tour guide questions, YouTube clips and jokes. It always helps to 40

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remind my readers to send their friends and family my way.

Aliza, how did you get started with selling clothing?

When I first moved to Israel, I was not happy with the quality of the mostly Made In China stuff that I found here. I missed my Old Navy, Children’s Place, Gap and American made brands. So I began to bring it in for my family. After a while, other friends and acquaintances asked me to bring in for them. The next thing I knew I was running a store out of my house! In addition, many people requested lightly -used quality USA clothing. I have friends that were more than happy to locate families who would be happy to see their gently-used clothing sent to Israel and get a second life here. They couldn’t make Aliya but at least their clothing did!

How do your clothing sales work?

Originally I started just selling in Karmiel. My relatives in the center of the country encouraged me to run one- or two-day sales in their communities and before I knew it I was running around the entire country running these sales. Ramat Beit Shemesh, Neve Yaakov, Efrat, Bnai Brak, Tzfat, Beitar and of course Jerusalem. As this became overwhelming, I decided to find other people to host the sales and even run them for me. We take care of all the advertising and drop off the clothing and someone then runs the sale out of her house and receives a nice commission.

Aliza, tell us a little bit about your personal shopping service.

Over the last year, I started getting into personal shopping for my clients. People who don’t want the headache of running around from store to store and not getting the clothing they need call me up with a description of what they need, from baby through adult, and I do the purchasing for them. I can take pictures of samples or send them a whole bag of a variety of clothing, both brand new and quality 2nd hand. They can purchase what they wish and send back the rest. More and more people are appreciative of this option and they wait excitedly to see the clothing they will get without ever having to leave their home. The best thing is that there is no extra charge and our prices are significantly lower than the American stuff that is sold here.  Ephraim Schwartz, 050-597-0649 ourholylandtours.com holylandinsights.blogspot.com Aliza Schwartz, Ameri-$-Kana Clothes, 050-599-0565 amerikana613@gmail.com

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CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Tiling 101

By Yaakov Prince

W

hatever your building or renovation dreams are, you know how overwhelming the details can be. This month, we’re going to give you a quick guide to basic tiling to familiarize you with what’s available.

Ceramic Tile Ceramic tiles are made of natural clay minerals mixed together, glazed on one side and then fired under extreme heat to create a strong, resilient material. You can find them in a glossy or matte finish. Ceramic tiles are very durable; dent-, scratch- and stain-resistant. They come in a huge selection of colors, shapes and sizes, are affordable and very easy to clean.

On the downside, they are hard and cold underfoot and slippery when wet.

Porcelain vs. Non-Porcelain Ceramic tile is either porcelain or non-porcelain. Traditional ceramic tile is non-porcelain and is made from white, red and/or brown clay and other minerals. Porcelain ceramic tile is also made from clay and minerals with 50% of its contents constituted from a white dust or sand called feldspar. Feldspar is a type of crystal found in rock that acts as a “flux” during the kiln-drying process, melting into a glass-like material and bonding all of the molded ingredients together.

Porcelain and non-porcelain ceramic tile can be either glazed or unglazed. Glazed tile has a matte, semi-gloss or high-gloss finish applied to the surface. Glazed tiles have increased stain resistance, scratch resistance and traction, as well as decreased water absorption in comparison to an unglazed tile.

Non-porcelain ceramic tile is among the most economical types of tile flooring. Porcelain ceramic flooring is more expensive than non-porcelain and can be harder to work with. However, it offers greater durability, natural stain resistance, minimal water absorption and full-bodied color.

Natural Stone Tile Natural stone tile is produced from natural materials that are quarried, slabbed, finished and cut to size. Common types of stone used as flooring tile include granite, marble, limestone, travertine and slate. These natural stone types come in thousands 42

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PESACH 2015

of varieties. Their characteristics depend on where and when the stone was quarried.

Granite Granite is a type of igneous rock that is very hard. Its distinctive appearance is due to the speckled minerals found within the rock and the thousands of available colors. Granite is nearly impervious. Once it is polished, it resists scratching. It is an excellent choice for flooring in kitchens and other high-traffic areas.

Marble Marble is a type of metamorphic rock that is available in a variety of colors. Marble is more porous than granite and is not recommended for kitchen flooring – unless honed and then sealed on a regular basis (which makes a big mess each time you do it).

Limestone Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock that offers an earthy appearance in both light and dark shades. Its surface can be textured or polished smooth. It can be easily stained and is also prone to scratching. It is not recommended for kitchen or high-traffic flooring applications.

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Travertine Travertine is a type of limestone that offers an unusual crystallized appearance with an earthy tone. Travertine is a porous stone with a natural surface that has pitting. Travertine is not recommended for kitchen floors as it can be easily scratched and stained. Special care and surface sealing is required to maintain travertine.

Slate Slate is a type of metamorphic rock that is very durable. Slate is available in darker earthy tones. The surface of slate is naturally textured unless a smooth finish is achieved. Slate is an excellent choice for kitchen and high-traffic areas.

Natural Stone Tile Surface Finishes Stone Tile Stone tile flooring can be naturally finished or polished. The finish you apply depends on where you intend to use the stone tile and the desired appearance. Natural surfaces that are unfinished have an earthy, dull appearance. Texture and pitting are visible characteristics of natural stone tile. The smooth, matte appearance is excellent for high-traffic and wet areas to prevent slipping and wear. Polished surfaces are highly reflective with a mirrorlike finish which creates an almost impervious surface that is also more slippery.

Pebble Tiles Pebble tiles are tiles made up of small pebbles attached to a backing. The tile is designed in an interlocking pattern so that final installations of multiple tiles fit together to have a seamless

appearance. Pebble tiles were originally developed in Indonesia using pebbles found in various locations in the country. Today, pebble tiles feature all types of stones and pebbles from around the world.

Terrazzo (Balatot) Balatot were the standard in new Israeli building until about a decade ago. Terrazzo (aka Balatot) is a composite material, poured in place or precast. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips that are mixed with a binder. Terrazzo is cured and polished to a smooth surface. Pros: Very thick and solid, hides dirt well, (no grout to get dirty). Cons: Chips easily, finish rubs off. (If you need to replace a tile, the finish makes it easy to see which one has been replaced.)

Management and Supervision Substrate (under the tiles) Make sure that the floor is sealed properly so if you have a flood, your downstairs neighbor’s Picasso isn’t ruined (which you would be legally liable for).

Acoustic insulation is highly recommended to be installed under the flooring.

Thermal insulation is a must if you have under floor heating.

(We highly recommend it anyway in order to save energy.)

If you are installing under floor heating, the correct height must be maintained between the heating element and the floor to get the maximum effect.

All plumbing and electric tubing must be thoroughly checked to make sure that the plans have been executed properly. The plumbing system must be checked and tested to make sure that there are no leaks.

The height of the floor must be properly marked in several areas. If you would like to create a slant for water drainage, then the height of the slant needs to be precisely planned out.

The subflooring level needs to be the proper height. There are various different ways of doing that: Lay Out the Pattern The tile layout must be properly planned out so that there are even distances between the tiles and the walls. Any pattern must be pre-tested to prevent any mistakes.

Installing the Tiles There are lots of different adhesives for attaching the tiles to the floor. Each kind of tile has its own best adhesive.

With Prince Construction Management you will be covered on all bases in the best possible way. Prince Construction Management – Consider it Done.  02 535 5732 052 698 3534 Yaakov@princecm.com www.princecm.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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43

Property Rights

By Nicole Levin

U

nlike in the U.S.A., the U.K. and elsewhere, where individuals are the main landowners, about 90% of Israeli land is owned by the government. Before the establishment of the State of Israel, land was purchased privately and the names of the new owners were then registered in the land registry. In addition, various Jewish Zionist organizations, such as the Jewish National Fund (JNF) or the World Zionist Organization (WZO), purchased large land tracts for Jewish settlements.

After the establishment of the State of Israel, public ownership of the land was divided into three parts: • Land owned by the JNF or other Jewish organizations, • Land owned by the State of Israel that had been annexed from the Mandate government and • Lands abandoned as a result of the wars between Israel and her Arab neighbors.

That is why the majority of the land in Israel is publicly owned and is administered by a government agency called the Israeli Land Authority (ILA) (Minhal Mikarkai Yisrael). As a result of restructuring, this land is now administered by the Reshut Mekarkai Yisrael which, in English, is still known as the ILA. At the 1895 congress of the WZO held in Basil, it was decided that all land purchased by the WZO would be held in perpetuity for the Jewish people. Lacking a government, the land was held for the WZO by the Jewish Agency. When the State of Israel was established, the administration of this land was given to the Israeli government.

In order to ensure Jewish ownership in perpetuity, the rights on this type of land are those of a long-term lease which is usually for a period of 49 or 98 years and which is renewed when the lease period is over. This arrangement means that the ILA has to sign off on the transfer of the rights and building permits on these properties. This legal arrangement does not prevent owners of these long-term leases the right to buy, sell or mortgage property. Non-Jewish foreign purchasers are not permitted to purchase property on this type of land.

Privately-Owned Land Land not owned by the government is privately-owned land.

There are no restrictions as to who can own this land nor are there restrictions regarding the inheritance, sale, leasing or mortgaging of the land.

Government-Owned Land This is land owned by the government, the JNF or the WZO and administered by the ILA. This land also includes land that was held by the British Mandate government and lands abandoned by their owners in 1948.

In order to use government land, individuals receive long-term renewable leases for 49 years. Only Israeli residents and nonresidents who are entitled to make aliya according to the Law of Return can purchase lease rights.

There are no restrictions concerning who can inherit these rights and there is no problem getting a mortgage to purchase property built on government-owned land. However, the transfer of rights on this type of land is subject to the approval of the ILA. 44

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The ILA usually does not refuse to approve the transfer of rights as long as the rent for the lease has been paid.

The ILA has two types of long-term rental agreements: Upfront Payment Rent for the entire 49 years is paid in advance (capitalization) and is part of the price of the apartment. There is no charge for the transfer of rights.

Yearly Fee Rent for the 49 years is paid in annual installments. There is a substantial charge for approval of the transfer called “dmei haskama.” As this is calculated by government appraisers, it is difficult to know in advance how much this fee will be. Information about how much was paid by sellers of similar properties can be obtained at the time of the transaction, If a building permit for a house or apartment built on governmentowned land is sought, the ILA must approve the plans before the permit is issued. If there is a change in the zoning laws, the ILA receives a fee for the additional use of the land beyond the original zoning law. The fee, known as dmei heter. is calculated by government appraisers. Information about how much was paid by owners of similar properties can be obtained at the time of the transaction.

You are far more likely to find a suitable property to buy which has been built on government-owned land rather than privatelyowned land. Entire cities such as Bet Shemesh and Modi’in fall into this category of ownership, as do large parts of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Rechovot, Rishon Lezion, Zichron Yaakov and many other places in Israel.

It is important to note a recent change in the law which allows the ILA to give over direct ownership of apartments built on government-owned land to the owners of the long-term lease rights. This process has already begun in many places in the country. This change will not affect the rule prohibiting the purchase of these types of properties by non-Jewish foreign residents.

Much of the land in Judea and Samaria, carries a long-term lease which is administered by the Civil Authority, an agency of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

There are also, lands, mainly in Jerusalem, which are landleased with long-term leases from churches which are the legal owners of the land. This land is administered by the ILA. On moshavim, the farms have usually been built on land owned by the government and leased to the moshav through the Jewish Agency. The individual farmers receive rights to use the land. 

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Meuhedetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Professionals Series:

When did the women’s clinic open in Ramat Bet Does the clinic ever have to deal with obstetrical Shemesh and why was there a need for it? emergencies?

The Women’s Health Center in Ramat Beit Shemesh opened in 2011. Kupat Cholim Meuhedet felt that as the population grew, women’s health was a major necessity and that the time had come to concentrate all the main services needed to cater specifically to most women’s health needs under one roof. This enables women to remain near their home for their basic health services instead of traveling to Jerusalem.

tŚĂƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĚŽ LJŽƵ ŽīĞƌ͍ We offer a wide range of services and a highly professional staff of specialists. Our staff also includes a large number of women gynecologists. Among the services offered, besides general ob/gyn, are also the sub-specialties such as fertility, teens and adolescents, high-risk maternity services, menopause, gynecologic-oncology, ultrasounds, a woman’s surgeon, psychological services and pelvic floor physiotherapy. At the Women’s Health Center we all believe in team work and we work together as a group. We consult with each other freely as needed. We believe women should be treated in a separate and calm environment and the positive feedback we receive daily is proof that we are on the right track.

Obstetrical emergencies do happen from time-to-time.

As the nearest hospital is almost half an hour away, even by ambulance, we have had a delivery in the clinic as well as quite a few near-deliveries. Quite often, women prefer to come in to the clinic to be examined before deciding if the time has come to travel to the delivery room. Our staff is well-trained in handling these emergencies and, when needed, a physician has accompanied a patient in the ambulance to the hospital delivery room.

What advice would you give to women to maintain good health, especially in the childbearing years?

It is important for all women to be counseled and examined on a routine basis once a year. Women in their fertility years must be aware of the importance of daily consumption of folic acid which is recommended for the prevention of neural tube defects in pregnancy. Since it is most important even before women realize they are pregnant, routine consumption is extremely important.

Some women who have given birth in America, and then subsequently in Israel find it strange that midwives are used in place of doctors in the What inspired you to choose this field of hospitals. What’s your opinion on the matter?

The health system in Israel is known worldwide to be medicine?

I chose the ob/gyn field of following my work with gynecologic-oncology patients enrolled in international clinical trials. I have been treating oncology patients for many years and I feel that it is the most interesting and rewarding sub-specialty in ob/gyn. I have also been part of the Shaare Zedek team working on the discovery of genetic carriers of mutations in the BRCA genes which are widely known today to be common in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. I continue follow-up of women known or suspected of being genetic carriers in our clinics as well.

Do you take walk-in patients?

We encourage women to plan ahead and make an appointment as needed. I personally believe that waiting times for appointments should be reasonable -up to two-to three weeks at most. Walk-in patients are accepted on an emergency basis. During office hours, our nursing staff is available for phone consultations and for any assistance needed.

highly professional but different than other systems. In the obstetrics field, the majority of deliveries are done by midwives and not by doctors. A team of doctors is always in the delivery room and are called-upon as needed.

Midwives in Israel are well-trained and highly professional.

The majority of women feel much more comfortable with being delivered by a staff of midwives and I feel it helps the process feel as close as possible to being “natural.”

What is the hardest part of your job?

I feel that the hardest part of the job is providing a service that in addition to being professional is also human, empathic and considerate. Women, like any public, are very varied and everyone has different expectations and needs.

It is our job to service everyone faithfully and equally with a smile and with patience. &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ DĞƵĐŚĞĚĞƚ contact Tzippy Appel at 052-660-9694

Expert

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com p u te r & n e twor k

Oops! You Need a Network

By Daniel Zahavi-Asa

Y

ou fired your boss and started a business in the spare bedroom. Then you hired a secretary to help you stay organized. The customers kept coming so you added a sales person. That wasn’t enough, so you added another one.

Now you need an office manager and more office space.

Who knew that success was such a headache?

Ease your headache with a computer network!

How A Network Helps • Share expensive equipment – like a color printer.

• Share information and protect it.

• Access the internet from a single, secure point.

• Monitor the efficiency of your office.

Companies do all that – and more – with a network. But, there’s a problem: Networks take equipment and effort.

Equipment Here’s the equipment that you will need for your five-person office: • Modem: Everyone has internet service and when you sign up, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will normally give you a modem. Most of the time their standard modem will be good enough for a small network.

(Sometimes an ISP will call their modem a ”router.”)

• Routers and Switches: A switch connects all the computers in the network to each other, and the network to the modem of the ISP. You will only need one switch for your network. As your business grows, you will be able to increase the size of the switch and add new ones.

• Network Attached Storage (NAS): Having a network offers a fantastic opportunity to backup important information. An NAS will allow you to do that. An NAS is actually a small, cheap computer with lots of hard drives that will 48

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PESACH 2015

store information that you hold on your network. It can also act as a central location for files that all the users of a network might need on a regular basis.

• Wiring (or Wireless): Your network won’t work unless all the pieces of that network can talk to each other.

That’s where wiring comes in. For that, you will need category five or category six Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors on each end. The alternative is to go wireless. This requires each part of the network to have wireless capability and to be set up properly.

Time and Effort The effort begins here -- installing all the equipment properly and ensuring that it works. If you haven’t done this before, setup and installation will take up lots of time. Each hour that you spend learning how to install and set up a network is an hour taken away from your business and your family -– as well as an unnecessary distraction.

You have enough distractions already, right?

Let’s Get Started Let me save you from that!

I will ensure that you have the right equipment and software and I will set everything up quickly and efficiently so that your business will continue doing what it does best. And, I will be around to help you when help is needed.

Get rid of the headaches so you can concentrate on your business and make money.

Improve your office.

Let’s get started.



Call Daniel now at 053-726-5175.

Bizness Magazine

053.726.5175 daniel@zahavinet.com www.zahavinet.com

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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 are not achieving their potential. (02) 992 0263 | 054 482 9815 | helenabelesz@gmail.com Weight Loss Dr. Bo’s Team Dr. Bo Rosenblat is a nationally recognized, board certified 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.

They offer a 25-year 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 | 052-806-6690 | richard@richardgussow.com | www.richardgussow.com Painting Nachum Eilberg Walls R Us began in Jerusalem in 1985 and has a strong reputation for its amazing customer service and immaculate cleanliness. nachum@wallsruspainting.com | 052-611-9500 Mortgage Moshe Wilshinsky A 27-year veteran in the mortgage industry, Moshe is the CEO of Moville Mortgage and Finance LTD. Call 073 796 2226 and press their special 711 Bizness Extension. questions@movillefinance.com | www.movillefinance.com 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 052-713-4130 | rachel@ocdsolutions.com | Skype: Rachel-Factor Tax Advisor Sima Wolpin 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 Air Conditioning and Heating Tzvi Lefkowitz Handyman Tzvi is a licensed Electra technician who provides care and maintenance service and sales for all major brands 054-498-5298 | www.HandymanTzvi.com

Carpentry Yossi Golano Yossi specializes in high-end custom made furniture, producing exquisite work.

052-704-2800 | yossidesigns.blogspot.co.il | yossidesigns@gmail.com Insurance Egert-Cohen Egert-Cohen is a Jerusalem-based brokerage specializing in helping Englishspeaking Olim with all insurance needs.

Shimon Cohen 050-548-2192 or Yona Egert at 050-536-3897 | www.egertcohen.co.il Real Estate Yossi Lipsh 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 | www.rbs-realty.com | Facebook: RBS-Realty Wig Styling AG Wigs Ayala Greenbaum and Yaniv Hofi are the founders of AG Wigs. They sell high-end 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 Minda combines all her experience in her work as holistic Psychotherapist. Minda addresses the physical, spiritual, Mental and emotional facets of her clients 052614-6932 | wellnessisraelhealing@gmail.com | www.wellnessisrael.wordpress.com Building and Construction Netanel Grossman Nati brings creative talent to his construction work. His dual advantage of being Israeli and American attracts many Anglos to his work 052-423-9580 | grossman.engineering@gmail.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 American-trained specialists, dental hygienists and dental assistants. 15 Ibn Gevirol Street, Jerusalem | (02) 561-9770 | (02) 561-9780 Home & Office Networks Daniel Zahavi-Asa 25 years of experience in programming, networks and communications for multinationals, start-ups and small offices.

053.726.5175 | daniel@zahavinet.com | www.zahavinet.com Antique Dealer Moshe Orman Moshe buys and sells items of value. That includes gold and silver pieces, watches, antiques and more. 054-837-3874 | notjustanyyear@yahoo.com Emergency First Response Hatzala Beit Shemesh Hatzala Beit Shemesh’s team has been serving the Community for over 10 years.

They provide emergency medical response and ambulance services. Emergency line: 02-999-9992. Office: 02-991-2345 www.hatzalabeitshemesh.org Business Growth Ariel Topf Ariel has built up 15 companies in five different countries. In this process Ariel has headhunted, hired, trained, managed and mentored over 20,000 individuals. ariel@biznesspro.com

Real Estate Law Nicole Levin Nicole is a real estate attorney with 28 years of experience. She has law offices in Bet Shemesh, Jerusalem and Modiin 02-991-5687 | www.levinlawoffices.co.il Budget Counseling David Litke Both Israeli and American trained, David helps families with their monthly budgeting.

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

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Come And Learn About The Amazing Animal World Of The Torah!

At the new Biblical Museum of Natural History in Beit Shemesh, a fascinating and interactive guided tour showcases an extraordinary array of exhibits â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including hands-on encounters with live exotic animals! Book your tour and be inspired!

NEW: We now also offer weekly chugim for kids!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Biblical Museum of Natural History is a fascinating educational experience for children and adults of all ages... The museum was a real treat and an eye-opening experience for me.â&#x20AC;?

- Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman, Congregation Ahavas Yisrael, Passaic, NJ

Exhibits include: t 5IF 1SFEBUPSZ #FBTUT PG 4DSJQUVSF t 5IF 8POEFST PG $SFBUJPO t 5IF ,PTIFS 4JHOT PG "OJNBMT #JSET 'JTI BOE *OTFDUT t Shemonah Sheratzim &JHIU $SFFQJOH $SFBUVSFT t &YPUJD 4IPGBST 5IF 8PSME T -BSHFTU $PMMFDUJPO t 5IF "OJNBMT PG #JCMJDBM *TSBFM ...and much, much more!

NEW!

THE B IBLICAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL H ISTORY

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An Amazing Encyclopedia Of Animals In The Torah!

The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom, Volume One - Wild Animals is now available! This monumental work explains every reference to wild animals in Tanach and Chazal, along with fascinating zoological facts and stunning color photos. Learn more and download two free chapters at www.TevaTanachi.org. Order by phone at 073-2131662 or online at www.TevaTanachi.org and get FREE delivery!

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