Bizness Magazine March 2016 issue

M A G A Z I N E

YOU CAN COUNT ON OUR

SHARING THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS Greater Jerusalem Area www.biznessmagazine.com Circulation: 21,000 copies MARCH 2016

Aryeh Deverett

Alef Alef Garage Netanel Buta Meryl Cohen Shimon Cohen Nachum Eilberg Minda Garr Jerrold Hyman Paul Incitti Ari Katz Tzvi Lefkowitz Moshe Orman Rechavia Dental Center Restorno United Hatzalah Moshe Wilshinsky Ilan Rubinstein

TAMA 38: A Unique Opportunity

Brothers Moving Company

How a Team of Brothers Keeps Their Clients Glowing

Mentor

The Secret of Manufacturing High-Quality Suits

Itzik Or

Why the Truth Never Lies

Meryl Cohen

A Unique Approach to Magnificent Art

Rechavia Dental Center

There’s Nothing Like a Newly Paved Road

Ari Katz

Announcing the Mr. Fix It School of Repairs

Egert Cohen Insurance Purim Insurance

Interview with

Baruch Eliezer Gross author of The Diary Of Baruch Eliaz

Nesiyata D’Shmaya My Silent Partner

SIDE

N IN OUPO

ine

gaz a M s iznes ders B r fo rea C

Jerry Hyman

The Benefits of Learning to Swim

Restorno

What Custom Upholstery Can Do for You

Element Wood Art

Prepare Your Backyard for Spring

CIRCULATION NOW

21,000COPIES!!!

Bizness Magazine is now online WWW.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.COM

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contents MARCH 2016

EXPERTS and ARTICLES 7

What is TAMA 38?

28 Honesty is the best policy

9

The latest innovation to keep your kids busy!

30 The road to smoother smiles

10 Art - Ordinary things become extraordinary 12 Put the spring back in your yard

31 Why your next upholstery should be custom 32 Zecher L’ Churban

13 Spring cleaning and your air conditioner 14 Behind the scenes - Besadno investments 19 Handmade Jewelry in the Heart of Jerusalem 20 Brothers unlike any others

34 Guide to buying a new apartment 35 How to prepare your car for spring 36 Mr. Fix It School of Home Repair 38 Living intentionally

22 Teach your child to swim 24 Interview with owner of Mentor store

42 Customizing your kitchen needs

26 Ve’Nahafoch Hu insurance claims

43 How to purchase the right vacuum cleaner

27 Fighting stains wherever they are

46 Safety rules for Purim

TRUST • FOLLOW-UP • ONTIME FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS • FLEXIBLE PAYMENTS • GENERAL DENTISTRY • WHITENING • COSMETIC RESTORATIONS THE “OLDESTâ€? DENTAL PRACTICE IN RBS A ...

THE “NEWEST� DIGITAL EQUIPMENT.

Dr. Avrohom Levy MB ChB BSc MNIMH

Herbalist and Doctor

Conditions particularly suitable for treatment by herbal medicine are: s Recurrent infections s Skin conditions s Digestive disorders s Urinary disorders

s Stress Allergies s Women’s health s Joint problems and more

Dr. Ari Stern Consultations available in Jerusalem (Har Nof ) and Bet Shemesh Appointments t Email: DrAishHerb@gmail.com

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MARCH 2016

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DOCTOR OF DENTAL MEDICINE GENTLE DENTISTRY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

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Shofar Blowing in Adar Purim advice on how to blow one’s shofar in public

SHARING THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS

Dear Readers, Instead of our regular letter from the editor and as a Purim special the following are some directions on proper etiquette for blowing your nose.

There are many things which may be considered rude and unappealing when done wrong. One of these many things is blowing your nose. Although you may think that the way that you blow your own nose is not so bad, others may find it to be extremely or even just slightly rude. Nose blowing etiquette is something that everyone should learn.

Do it in private While we all have emergencies sometimes that may cause us to need to blow our nose in front of someone else, it is best to try to avoid doing so. If you know that you need to blow your nose, you should walk into another room or another area of the room. No matter where you go, it is best to make sure that you do not blow your nose in front of someone else.

Try to be quiet about it When you are in the privacy of your own home, being as noisy as you want when blowing your nose is acceptable. When you are in public, however, there is really no need to sound like a herd of elephants. This is especially true if you are in a place which is meant to be very quiet, such as a synagogue, library, or doctor’s office. Go into an area which may offer you more privacy, such as outside.

Don’t look at the tissue Although you may be curious about what swam out of your nose and into your tissue, don’t look at it! There is absolutely nothing more disgusting than seeing people spread out their handkerchiefs and peer into them as if pearls and rubies might have fallen out of their heads. Once you have finished blowing your nose, throw the tissue directly into the garbage.

Handkerchiefs?

Hankies are not acceptable economic substitutes for tissues. Blow your nose and throw away the tissue. If you can’t throw it away, it still seems to help the people around you if they know that it will eventually be thrown away and not be kept in your pocket until next Shabbat. What are you saving it for? Do you know what it’s full of?

If you use hankies to help the environment it’s better to plant an extra tree or two and buy tissues instead.

Don’t wrap your finger with a tissue Do not wrap your finger with tissue and stick it into your nostrils three inches deep.

Although you may think people see it as a higher level of pure hygiene, they do not.

Bring your own tissues If you know that you are going to need to blow your nose all day, it is a good idea to come prepared with your own box or bag of tissues. It is rude to stick your germdecorated fingers into someone else’s bag or box.

Wash your hands One of the most annoying things is when someone repeatedly blows their nose, gets their hands filled with germs, and then opens a door that you will later have to open yourself. To prevent this, wash your hands and do not spread your germs!

Never shake hands One of the most selfish things is to shake someone else’s hand after blowing your nose or after covering your sneeze with your hand. No matter how careful you are, your hands will be carrying germs and mucus others do not need or want.

Remember that Shul members saw you blowing your nose. They do not want to shake your hand for the traditional Gut Shabbos/Shabbat Shalom greeting. Please hold your handshake until you wash your hands.

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M A G A Z I N E

Bizness Magazine

Editor in Chief Ariel Topf Business Development Yisroel Meir Simon Chief Designer Adam Ram Editorial Manager Aviva Sapir Contributing Editors Naomi Isaacson, Chayale Saibil, Yael Unterman Contributing Writers Alef Alef Car Garage, Netanel Buta, Shimon Cohen, Tomer Cohen, Nachum Eilberg, Aryeh Deverett, Minda Garr, Richard Gussow, Jerrold Hyman, Paul Incitti, Daniel Kaszovitz, Ari Katz, Restorno, Ilan Rubinstein, United Hatzalah 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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What is

TAMA 38?

Why it is one of the best investments in Israel

By Aryeh Deverett What is TAMA 38?

TAMA 38 is a unique Israeli construction program created to strengthen and upgrade older apartment buildings. It serves to protect them from earthquakes and to increase urban housing units in high demand areas. Developers get to add new floors on the top of existing apartment buildings in exchange for improvements.

These can include strengthening the existing building, or adding features such as elevators, balconies, safe rooms or parking. The tenants benefit from all of this work for free.

Older apartment buildings tend to be located in the best neighborhoods for which there is high demand – primarily near Tel Aviv, though some are also in Jerusalem. Developers earn substantial profits for renovating these buildings, and are happy to borrow private funding at high rates to fund these projects.

Why is TAMA 38 becoming so popular?

TAMA projects help the State of Israel enormously. They make apartments safer and stronger, create urgently needed new housing, generate jobs, and stimulate economic development and tax revenue. Additionally, investors can earn excellent returns with relatively low risk.

What does American Israel (AIC) do?

AIC finances the first stage of construction in a TAMA project, through loans from private lenders. Lenders earn 15% per year, with the loan timeframe being 24 - 36 months for most projects.

Lenders also have the option to purchase new apartments at discounted prices.

AIC manages the project on behalf of the lenders. The emphasis is on maximum safety for the invested capital.

What is the security on the loans?

Lenders effectively get a registered charge over the rights to the TAMA building project, plus a charge over all of the other projects that the developer has in his portfolio, plus a personal guarantee from the developer. This is similar to the security package that a bank gets. It makes TAMA 38 lending very secure.

How can developers afford to pay 15% per year?

TAMA 38 is extremely profitable for developers. In reality, the developers stand to earn about four times more than the lenders.

However, the lenders get paid out in full before the developer can earn his profits. This gives the lenders excellent security and peace of mind on their loans. Many lenders and developers are going to make serious money in TAMA 38 over the next few years.

What can go wrong?

Like most construction projects in Israel, one of the main con-

This building has had TAMA renovations. Originally it looked like the middle building

cerns is delays in getting a building permit. However AIC only participates in projects that are well advanced and pre-approved to receive a permit. AIC’s lenders are also protected if real estate prices drop in the market. It is very rare that a TAMA project gets delayed, mainly because many of the residents continue to live in the building during the construction process, and they help to make sure that it moves along quickly.

Why invest in a TAMA project rather than buying an apartment?

When you buy an investment property (apartment) in Israel, your rental income will be offset by property taxes, maintenance, finance costs, management fees, etc. At best you might earn 2 or 3% per year – plus, you can expect to get a call that the A/C unit needs to be replaced or there is a major leak in a pipe! It’s a hassle to own. Perhaps your apartment will appreciate 5 - 10% per year but when you sell, you’ll pay capital gains tax. With a TAMA loan, you earn 15% per year. No hassles, worries, and much less tax at the end. Not least, you are helping Israelis live in safer and nicer homes.

TAMA is simply a smarter investment today. And also, if you desire, you can purchase one of the new apartments at a discounted price!

How can I find out more about participating in a TAMA project?

Watch the video on our website: www.americanisrael.com and then call or email us to hear about our most current projects.  American Israel A.L.D. Construction Ltd. USA (607) 241-2595 / Israel 053-831-0270 aryeh@americanisrael.com www.americanisrael.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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Now Available in Israel!!

The Latest Innovation to Keep Your Kids Busy!

Interview with Gershon Schneider, Founder of Schneider Services and Marketing What is Snap Circuits?

Snap Circuits® is the patented and award winning brainchild of Elenco Electronics, Inc in the USA. Elenco®s all-popular Snap Circuits® makes learning electronics EASY and FUN! The Snap Circuits® brand of products is exclusively imported and distributed in Israel by Schneider Services and Marketing (an Anglo business run from Kochav Hashachar) with full local warranty on service and parts.

How does it work?

Snap Circuits are designed for girls and boys from ages eight and up. Each set comprises of dozens of pieces including snap wires, slide switches, resistors, capacitors, motor, speaker and more that snap together easily on the included plastic grid to create hundreds of projects. The more advanced sets also contain FM radio module, a solar cell, voice recording integrated circuits and more. Each piece is numbered and color-coded to make identifying them easy.

All Snap Circuits® models are tested and certified by International and the Israeli Standards Institute. Safety and quality is of highest priority.

Simple, Fun Projects Let Kids Learn While They Play With its easy-to-follow instructions, Snap Circuits® is an investment in your child’s development and gives hands-on Learn by Doing education and sense of achievement.

With hundreds of projects, children`s (and adults’) curiosity is peaked as they build and learn how electronic circuits work to run the everyday devices with which they are familiar. This includes AM/FM radios, burglar alarms, digital voice recorders, doorbells, adjustable light controllers, lie detectors and many more.

Kids also gain valuable lessons in motor skills and in

following instructions. The project manuals include large color illustrations and simple directions for each project.

How many projects can be built?

There are over eleven different model sets making up the Snap Circuits family of products. All the sets are compatible with each other. After building a project the pieces snap off and are returned to the storage case ready to be used again to discover and build the next exciting and challenging project according to an easy to follow index.

4 Base Models: Sets range from 100 up to 750 projects.

6 Upgrade Kits: The Base Sets have Upgrade Kits for a maximum of learning FUN! 7 Specialty Models: Specialty sets each covering different subjects for example, our Alternative Energy Green Set. Create Working Electronic Circuits and Grow as You Go The projects are arranged in order of complexity and therefore kids can build on their skills as they progress through the manual. The lessons start out teaching the basics and once children have mastered several of the techniques introduced in these kits, they can use the components to experiment and create their own customized circuits and electronic devices.

Our friendly new website is under construction where you will be able to view, compare, order and pay online for any one or more of the Snap Circuits® range of products. Coming soon at www.snapcircuits.co.il  Schneider Services and Marketing specializes in bringing to Israel quality games specifically for the 8 - 13 age group. There are very few other games on the market that are educational and also offer a challenge to our inquisitive offspring.

Call Gershon 052- 287-6475 Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 8:30 – 17:00 snapcircuits.israel@gmail.com Also Available at Bazaar Moriah on 18 Palmach, Katamonim in Jerusalem

ORDINARY THINGS BECOME EXTRAORDINARY Interview with Meryl

Cohen, Fabric Fusion Artist

What is your background in art?

Basically, I am self-taught. For as long as I can remember, I have been involved with something creative. As a child, I made paper dolls and paper mosaics. As an adult, though I had no formal training, I was very fortunate to have wonderful mentors along the way in all the cities in which I lived. In Atlanta, I had Ouida Canaday, a well-known local artist, and Professor Joe Perrin, retired Art professor at Georgia State University and an accomplished painter himself. It was there that I took a course in silk painting, and that led me into new art directions. While living in Chicago, I learned new techniques at the Evanston Art Center; and in Columbus, Ohio, I had the privilege of working with Jon Wahling, a nationally known fiber artist, who encouraged me to work in innovative ways with paints and fabrics.

When did you decide to start selling your work and why?

I started selling it when people wanted to buy it! I have had wonderful patrons, plus individual and corporate buyers. In Denver, we artists organized ourselves as the Colorado Jewish Art League under the auspices of the Mizel Museum of Jewish History and Culture. We had a speaker who inspired me to become more professional. She became my mentor and helped me develop a portfolio, stationery and business cards. I still have an agent in Denver who 10

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sells my work in Colorado and Texas. You can see my work at the Crested Butte Ski Lodge in Colorado.

How would you describe your style?

I call my unique approach “fabric fusion.” I freely combine acrylic paint, black and white photography, and a wide range of colorful, sheer, hand-dyed, and textured fabrics on canvas, to create an entirely new perception of the everyday world. Inspired by the rich variety of the geology and landscape all over the world, I explore the inherent beauty and mystery of rocks, trees, and local flora.

Describe to us how painting on silk is different than other more common materials.

From the minute I took a silk workshop in Atlanta, I was hooked.

You are working with dyes, not paint, and the flow and spread of the dye is so different. The outcome is very unpredictable. I like to dye with the Japanese method called shabori, tying and folding the fabric in a multitude of ways. I apply the dye with salt and alcohol and wait for the surprise. With silk you are really involved with the process, which is what I like.

The art here in your studio looks gorgeous. Do people tell you that looking at your art online does not do it justice?

Yes. My work is visually highly dimensional. You feel you want to reach out and touch it or even walk right into the picture. Due to

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the unique nature of my process, it is not fully captured on the web.

On the other hand, my digital reproductions are fantastic.

What do you find so captivating about “ordinary” things such as tree trunks, rocks and trucks that allows you to infuse them with such detail and creativity in your art?

All my paintings are still-lifes. I provide a micro look at this vast macro world. I am fascinated at the infinite variations of texture and color that I see in each individual creation.

To whom does your work appeal most?

Everybody, I hope. All I want is to make people feel good, I have no burning issue that I must express on canvas. I consider myself merely a conduit. I just love watching people’s eyes light up and the smile on their faces when they see my work. I give them the chance to experience Hashem’s world in a different visual way.

Do you have a favorite painting that you have created?

I could say the “Sacred Forest” or I could say the one I am working on at present, whatever that is. If by “favorite” you mean that I want to hold on to it, then the answer is no. I have no attachment to any piece. I simply enjoy creating it. I want my work to be enjoyed by all, that’s it.

Can you paint based on a client’s request?

I prefer not to do that. Since we are all created as individuals, we may all see things slightly differently. Therefore, I find it is very hard to obtain a clear agreement between client and artist about artistic representations.

Do you paint religious motifs?

Well, let’s define “religious.” If you mean art focusing on rabbis and the Kotel, then yes. I’ve done a few of those and no doubt will do more in the future. But if you define “religious” in a broader sense, as I do, then all my work is religious. My artist statement sums it up: “When I observe the world around me, I cannot help but

intuitively understand that the variations of nature reflect Gd’s ability to create an infinitely varied world, where no design is repeated exactly. The concept of an infinite G-d creating an infinite number of ways to see beauty in the world animates my art. In particular, the fusion of fabric and paint in my art allows me to see the world in patterns as well as in a textured and multi-dimensional way.

My work is not flat but round.”

When you sit down to create a painting, do you envision the end product or does your paintbrush have a “mind of its own?”

Right now, I work mostly from my own photographs, so for me the creative process starts when I decide what to shoot and how to shoot it. Then I find the composition that I want, which may be only a small piece of the larger photo. I see an image in my mind and I select possible fabrics for it. But then as you say: “it takes on a mind of its own.”

What do you love most about creating art?

The process. I love working with the materials, the fabric, paints, scissors and iron. I feel that I leave a part of me in my painting and, therefore, I connect with the ultimate owner of each piece. I also like to be in the creative zone where one loses all track of time. I try to set aside studio time, a regular daily time to paint. However, sometimes I can be completely engrossed and be in my studio for eight hours or more.

Do you do exhibitions? What’s the best way for people to see your art?

I’m planning to exhibit at the Tel Aviv Opera House during the 20162017 season (the date is not yet finalized). In Israel I’ve exhibited at the Jerusalem Theater Gallery and the AACI, and I’ve also had several exhibitions in the States.

Presently, my gallery and studio are located in my home in Beit Shemesh where potential customers are welcome. In my studio you will see old and new work, and you can also watch me work if you like. For appointments to view my art, please contact me directly.  077-228-5757 (home) 052-5959-006 (cell) merylcohenartist@gmail.com www.merylcohen.com www.merylcohenart.etsy.com Find me on Facebook: Atmosphere Art by Meryl Cohen www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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Expert

OW

Outdoor Wood Design

Put the Spring Back in Your Yard By: Netanel Buta

S

pring is at hand, bringing with it a wind of renewal. In this pre-Pesach period, people often feel the urge to revamp the house and yard. All that greenery blooming outdoors makes people need and want to get organizing the garden and yard. While upgrading your yard’s appearance, consider investing in the garden, too, and giving it a facelift. For a beautiful yet lowmaintenance garden, the optimal solution is synthetic grass. This comes in a variety of types and prices, each with its own color and appearance. Synthetic turf also saves on irrigation. To this, add a range of garden flowers in different colors to give a natural flowering appearance to the yard. You can also include combinations of pebbles, a fountain, etc., customized for your personal preference.

Now that we’ve invested in the garden, we want to fence it around its perimeter, while still preserving the natural, relaxed atmosphere we’ve created. Here the best option is a wooden fence, which has many advantages: it retains the garden’s natural look, and meshes well with the plants as well as other wooden additions such as a deck or pergola. A wooden fence is simple to assemble, can take a variety of shapes and colors, and doesn’t require much maintenance. It’s a good idea to paint the fence with sealants to provide longer lasting protection with minimal maintenance. You can choose from a variety of special and unusual paint colors to add your own personal stamp to the look of the yard. The new

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trend today is to not to go for the browns we all conjure up when we imagine of a wooden fence, opting instead for turquoise, blue, green, or a variety of other colors according to personal taste.

More options for enhancing the garden including adding a deck in the garden, wherever we feel like it and for any purpose we can think of. It could be used as a floor beneath a pergola, as a path through the yard, and more. A deck serves to upgrade the overall look of the garden. It’s highly resistant to the elements so it’s not a problem to install it in a place exposed to sun. The presence of a deck adds a luxurious air. Naturally, you can choose its type and color according to personal taste. Decks are installed on a base raising them above the ground – walking on them feels a bit like walking on air.

When entertaining friends in the yard, a wooden seating area is the ultimate in comfort. You can build a customized small or large pergola (in keeping with the size of the garden and your preferences) with wooden furniture. Wooden pergolas provide a cozy feel and are the perfect solution for hosting in a rustic, charming style.

We wish you a productive and prosperous spring of abundant renewal in the home and in life . Happy Purim! 

Bizness Magazine

Tel. 050 676 3222 Off.: 02-570-9702 Nati element.nati@gmail.com wooden-pergolas.co.il Find us on Facebook elementwood

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Spring Cleaning

and Your Air Conditioner

By Tzvi Lefkowitz Professional evaporator coil cleaning ensures that the air conditioning unit would work at full capacity with good air flow and air quality.

A

ir conditioners filters, coils and grills require routine maintenance for the unit to function effectively and efficiently. Neglecting necessary maintenance will cause a continual decline in your unit’s performance and a steady increase in its energy consumption.

One of the most important maintenance tasks that will ensure that your air conditioner is working efficiently is a routine cleaning of its filters. Clogged, dusty filters block normal airflow and significantly reduce the unit’s efficiency. The air that is carried through a clogged filter will carry dirt directly to the evaporator coil reducing the coil’s ability to absorb heat. A clean air conditioning filter prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly. I recommend cleaning AC filters at least once a month.

However, even clean filters do not absorb all the dust and debris from the air and over time, and the evaporator coils can still become grimy. Dirty evaporator coils force the compressors to work longer and harder than necessary, increasing its energy usage and decreasing its component life.

For a central air conditioning system, it is advisable to clean out air conditioning ducts approximately every five years. In households which have smokers, house pets, respiratory issues, allergies or recent construction, it is recommended to clean the ducts in three year intervals to rid them of dust, debris, pet dander and other contaminants.

Regular checkup and maintenance of an air conditioning unit are essential for its efficiency and your financial savings. Plus, it helps spot small issues before they become major problems. Beat the summer heat – take care of your air conditioner before the season starts.

For more information or to book an appointment contact Tzvi Air at 02-628-8282 or through our  website www.tzviair.com 02-628-8282 www.TzviAir.com

www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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BEHIND

THE

SCENES

WITH BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND INNOVATIVE BUSINESSMAN

BARUCH ELIEZER GROSS

H

ello Baruch Eliezer Gross. Thanks for interviewing with us. Why did you write a book using a different name than the one on your office door?

I decided to write under my pen name.

The reason is because the point of the book is to realize Hashem’s guiding hand in everything that happens without it just relating to me. The point is that Hashem’s hand guides every Jew’s life.

I did read the book and it’s one of the most enjoyable books I’ve ever read.

Please can you tell me a little about yourself?

I’m 50 years old – a father of five and a grandfather of four. I was born in Bnei Brak. I’m a graduate of esteemed yeshivahs in Jerusalem. I received my rare talent – an extraordinary knack for numbers - from the Ribbono shel Olam. In those days it was unheard of to find a kippahwearing teenager who never studied the core curriculum of secular subjects competing in math competitions against secular guys with ponytails and winning.

Still I must emphasize that this was an inborn talent that my mother, may she live and be well, encouraged me to practice from the age of four – solving complex mathematical equations in notebooks – developing and honing my skills until I reached a very high level.

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Eyeglass Screws

T

Certificate from the Committee for Halachic Supervision of Investments and Finances of the Badatz Eida HaChareidis

Please tell me more. When did you decide to go into business?

I’ve been a businessman from a very young age. I launched my first business when I was nine and still in fourth grade at the Rabbi Akiva elementary school in central Bnei Brak. That business is actually the second story in my book- the story called Schlepping the Floor.

So, what did you do after age nine?

A: Well, when I was 10 I wanted to buy a bike but my father, may he rest in peace, told me that the police were about to auction off lost objects that people had found, given to the police, and no one had ever come to claim. The sale was going to take place in Jaffa in the big flea market and he offered to take me there to buy a bike. We went and bought a bicycle, a skateboard, and a half-broken radio. By the next day I had already sold all the stuff to my friends. After that I began traveling to Jaffa each month on my own to buy more ‘lost and found’ merchandise.

A 10-year-old boy?

Alright, maybe I was already ten and a half. And despite the fact that this business is controlled by the flea market company which is a kind of mafia, they let me buy a little and didn’t kick me out of there because I was a cute kid and a smooth talker.

Remarkable. So, what business did you go into after that?

After that, at age 14, I began travel-

ing to Port Authority auctions in Ashdod, Haifa, and at the airport. Those were sales of products which hadn’t reached their buyers for various reasons. There I bought larger quantities, and besides, those deals were more lucrative.

Fascinating hobby for a teen. So, what did you venture into next?

Next I began doing business overseas, in France, England, Belgium, America, Hong Kong – all those deals were in the same field - buying closeouts. I gained a tremendous amount of experience in almost every area of commerce since I have bought and sold almost everything, from shoes to all types of clothing and toys, diamonds, airplanes and airplane parts, kerosene piping, wheat, tobacco, Algerian seaweed, and on and on…

Are you an expert in everything by now?

No, I’m not, but I understand enough in each field to ask the right questions and to know how an item might be used.

Yet even with all the knowledge and information I have amassed, I still made many mistakes, although baruch Hashem, with siyata d’Shmaya, I have managed to make more good decisions that brought me profits than mistakes which caused me losses. In the end, as I mention many times in my book, it’s all a matter of siyata d’Shmaya. All the information gathering and other work is for the sake of hishtadlus and hishtadlus alone.

You’ve done well but can you also

his episode occurred some thirty years ago when I was still wending my way warily into the world of trade and commerce, dealing primarily in closeouts. An auction was being held in the Haifa port, and I decided to check it out. To my surprise, one of the items up for auction was two crates of eyeglass screws.

It’s tough—if not downright impossible—to calculate the value of such an item without doing a little homework in advance, which is why veteran businessmen wager little for this sort of random item. The low bids result from the knowledge that items like eyeglass screws have a low sale potential in proportion to their high risk. On the other hand, when the merchant does manage to sell, he may earn between 100 to 300 times the purchase price. It’s the classic businessman’s bet.

Young and green as I was, I decided to try my luck and placed a bid that today would equal around $200 for the entire stock. Needless to say, my bid was the highest and I returned with a van to collect the merchandise.

Each of the crates weighed 200 lbs and was filled to capacity with, and I am not exaggerating, millions of tiny eyeglass screws. I dumped the whole stock into one of my storerooms, taking a handful of samples along to show to my local optician and ask if he could recommend an eyeglass distributor who dealt in parts who would be interested in my merchandise.

My optician examined the screws in surprise, fingered them and even tried inserting them into a pair of glasses.

Making a face, he delivered his verdict. “Sorry, but these aren’t eyeglass screws. I don’t know what they’re supposed to be, but they’re definitely not meant for eyeglasses.”

My jaw dropped. “How do you know?” The optician launched into a learned explanation regarding the design and make of a screw. “When you insert a screw into anything, you always turn it clockwise; to unscrew it, you turn it counter-clockwise. This is true of every type of screw except eyeglass screws, in which the screwing is done counterclockwise and unscrewing clockwise. The reason for this is that when you open a pair of glasses,

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Some of the many dynamic startups that Besadno has helped launch

share stories about any lemons you got stuck with?

Sure. There are a number of these types of stories in my book because as I told you, I put everything out on the table. Read the one about the bad hospital beds and you’ll understand. By the way, my Hebrew book came out before the English one and by the time I wrote my English book I had already gathered enough material for a second volume of my stories, so when I find the time I’m going to sit down and write a second volume of my stories in Hebrew. The first Hebrew volume was so successful that in less than a year four editions came out and close to 8,000 copies were sold. For the sake of full disclosure, I want to note that I also gave out 1,000 copies to the investors from my investment company.

Now you are Chairman of the Besadno Investment Company. What happened to the closeout days?

Now it’s more of a side business for me, since it is exhausting work that has required me to travel to the U.S. many times over the past 15 years. Most of that business took place overseas, not in Israel. I started to feel the effects of all that globetrotting, especially on my bad back, so about four years ago I switched to the field of investments in startup ventures.

Tell me about that.

We have an investment group called Besadno- that’s short for Besiyata d’Shmaya na’aseh v’natzliach. With help from Above, we will do and we will succeed. We invest in young companies launched by entrepreneurs who have promising ideas in a range of fields. We accompany them until they can stand on their own two feet. Practically speaking, we help them break into the U.S. and global markets.

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So all the people I see here in this large office complex are involved in helping startups?

Yes. Some are accountants, lawyers, engineers, product designers and business plan strategists. Others are entrepreneurs who use our office as their base, and then there are also people here who offer customer service for our community of investors.

What is the common theme running through Besadno?

As I have mentioned before, Besadno was built on the premise that everything is from above and nearly all of our employees are shomer mitzvos and believe in this concept.

In addition to our company’s moral values we also have a strong foundation of professional values. We believe in using the best consultants and advisors on the market. For this reason, you will see that Besadno is using Ilan Cohn, a partner in Reinhold Cohn Patent Attorneys, the leading patent firm in Israel. Our finance division is headed by BDO Ziv Haft which is internationally recognized in the area of accounting. Zeev Hollander is a consultant for our General Counsel and is recognized as an expert in international law.

The Incubator/Accelerator Fund is headed by Shmulik Angel, the former General Manager of Symantec Israel (later sold to Norton). The USA division is working with DLA Piper which is the largest legal firm in the world.

I believe that when the roots of the company are built by the best people we can attain a level of professionalism and success beyond what the market offers.

Through this strategy we profit together with our investors.

Who are these investors?

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the motion is counterclockwise which means that every time you close your glasses, you’d be loosening the screw.

That’s why eyeglass screws are manufactured opposite of every other screw.

“These screws were manufactured like regular screws, so they won’t fit eyeglasses. My guess would be that they were manufactured especially for some machine. For all you know, they might even be valuable.” I approached several screw companies in Israel, but none were interested in my product.

Eventually, I despaired and stuck the screws in the back of my warehouse, consoling myself with the thought that all I’d lost was two hundred bucks.

Lo and behold, several weeks later, I received a fax from an American company with a list of assorted items they required. Stuck somewhere in the middle of the list was a request for “mini-screws.” Now, I wasn’t sure exactly what “mini-screws” referred to, but I decided to try my luck and mailed them a sample of the screws that I’d purchased in bulk. Needless to say, these screws were exactly what they wanted, and moreover, they were highly impressed by the quality of each tiny screw. They agreed to pay a fortune for the entire stock!

What most amazed me about this particular episode has nothing directly to do with the screws, but actually with the way that the American company contacted me. At the time, I was one of a few hundred people in Israel to own a personal fax machine, but my fax number was known only to a select few to whom I’d given it. After signing the contract with the company, I casually asked the company representative how they’d come upon my number. He replied that he’d obtained it from the Israel Bureau of Commerce—an answer that bowled me over because I’d never even registered as a member of the bureau! So how did this miracle sale come about? As usual, an overdose of siyata d’Shmaya!

Author’s note: Incidentally, one of my acquaintances checked out the optician’s claim and discovered that eyeglass screws are also screwed clockwise. Maybe the difference was really in the method of screwing, as opposed to the direction. Considering that it’s been thirty years since then, I really can’t remember! 

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5,000 Left Shoes

T The longest limousine in the world, which appears in the Guiness Book of World records, is owned by the book’s author.

We organize groups of people who want to invest in startups, within the parameters that the Israel Securities Authority and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission place for these types of investments. Under the umbrella of our Parnasa fund, we offer small investors the opportunity to invest small amounts of money from approximately $10,000, and enable them to buy a piece of that startup’s dream, which, if it comes to fruition within the relatively brief time span of 2-3 years, will offer returns that are many times more than the initial investment. Of course it is understood that this type of investment has a not insignificant level of risk and that must be taken into account. For that reason, we recommend that people invest modest amounts and not all their wealth. When it comes to investing larger amounts, and to reiterate, not one’s entire savings, we spread out the investment over a number of startups in order to minimize the chance of losses.

Beyond that we have a ‘combined fund’ which invests most of its money in real estate, a setup that provides great stability, and only a small portion of its money in startup businesses. This enables the fund to operate in a way that resembles a mutual fund, and assures the investor, with a greater level of certainty, the full return of their principle – even in cases where the startups suffer losses.

If so, why don’t all your investment funds operate that way?

According to the securities laws in Israel, we are limited to 35 investors per investment. If we take 35 investors who each invest, let’s say $15,000 in a startup, the total only comes to about half a million dollars. A fund of that size cannot be spread out over startups and real estate, it’s too little. However, when we are discussing our ‘combined real estate fund’, the minimum investment is $40,000 per

person. That creates a fund large enough to split between startup and real estate ventures.

Have you succeeded with any startups?

We’ve had two exits where investors made a good return, plus a number of businesses that paid people a generous dividend on their investment. And baruch Hashem we haven’t had any losses so far. By the way, this does not mean we won’t have any in the future, but over the past four years we have not had any losses. We have over 1,000 investors and they are very satisfied.

Okay, here’s my check. I want to invest with you.

Don’t laugh, but nearly every time I am interviewed, the reporters also try to invest with us and even the editors of the newspapers jump on board. In addition, we have many lawyers, accountants and leaders - of the Chareidi community in particular – from all segments of the community.

You said Chareidi. Why specifically the Chareidi community?

We work within the Chareidi community, both in Israel and in the United States. We don’t discourage other investors from joining us, however, since all our investments are supervised by the Badatz Eida HaChareidis, many sectors of profitable investments are off limits to us, such as gaming, gambling, and companies which operate on Shabbos. Since all our contracts are subject to Halachah, investors who do not understand our needs are not generally inclined to join.

For this reason, we prefer to focus on the Chareidi community. Baruch Hashem we have experienced immense siyata d’Shmaya, and as I mentioned earlier, our very name is an acronym for Besiyata d’Shmaya na’aseh v’natzliach.

My head is already spinning from everything that I see going on here.

his story took place right when I was launching my career in the world of closeouts. One day, I skimmed a list of items scheduled to be auctioned off at the Haifa port and noticed that one of the items up for sale was a shipment of 5,000 left shoes. Left shoes.

Now, it’s obvious to one and all that left shoes alone are virtually worthless without the right match, but still, maybe…

Some inner voice of mischief prompted me to think out of the box and guess who could possibly stand to benefit from single shoes, and finally I hit on it. On the day of the auction, I placed a very low bid of $5,000 for the whole stock—a dollar per shoe—and indeed, one week later, received the news that I was now the proud owner of 5,000 left shoes. Family members and colleagues made no secret of their scorn, but I ignored them all, and with my chin held high, I headed to the port to collect the merchandise.

I arranged for delivery directly to my warehouse. Now all I had to do was advertise my product and wait for the right buyer. I guessed that there would only be one. As expected, no more than a week passed before I received a call from a merchant who inquired if I was the one who’d purchased the container of left shoes and what I planned to do with it.

I verified that I was indeed the buyer and improvised that I was currently negotiating with a Chinese company in the hope that they’d manufacture the identical matches for each shoe.

“Why waste your time?” the caller rejoined. “I’m willing to buy the whole stock from you at cost price plus a small profit.” When I asked why he thought I was wasting my time, he pleasantly replied that I sounded like a novice in the field and that he didn’t want me to lose out big time. “Thanks,” I replied shortly, “but I think I can manage quite fine.” The next day, he called again, this time offering a significantly higher price for the stock. I turned him down.

The fourth time he called, he stated that his final offer was seven dollars per shoe—a full seven times what I’d paid for the shipment. Now you must be raising an eyebrow and wondering what exactly was behind this man’s story. I’d wondered the same, but reasoned that he was really the original owner of the stock and had tried to circumvent the customs authority by

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Can we please get back to your book NESIYATA D’SHMAYA: My Silent Partner? What gave you the idea to write it?

For years now I’ve been in demand as a speaker who tells first-hand stories of siyata d’Shmaya. The tales that I have gathered are truly special, plus I inherited my late father’s gift for storytelling. One compelling incident of siyata d’Shmaya followed another and ultimately, in the spirit of “Mah ashiv l’Hashem…” How will I repay Hashem for all the kindnesses He has performed for me? I decided to publish this book.

You seem like an extremely busy man.

How did you find the time to write it?

Baruch Hashem, I really am a busy man and not just with work. I’m also busy learning with set chevrusas every day. But my ‘Silent Partner’ always gives me the time I need.

I heard that you also write Torah seforim with your own chiddushim? (laughing) Don’t exaggerate. I jot down some ideas for my own purposes, not for publication in seforim. However, I did author a very interesting commentary on Maseches Kaylim, and b’ezras Hashem, I hope to publish it by next year.

The peirush is entitled Kaylim Pashutim and I hope it will resolve once and for all, the challenges faced by anyone studying that masechta. On that note, I want to mention that there are already some won-

Besadno 1-800-801-801

delivering a shipment of left shoes only.

Twenty-five years ago, when this story took place, import tax on sneakers was over 100%, so a pair of sneakers from China that cost a total of fifteen dollars forced importers to pay twenty dollars in taxes.

I realized that the importer must have ordered the manufacturer to separate every pair of shoes into two separate containers before sending them to Israel, and had then purposely avoided picking up the shipment so he could purchase it back tax-free at an auction price of fifty cents per shoe. The next stage of his plan, after purchasing the left shoes, had been to have the right shoes shipped from abroad and to carry out the same trick. Ultimately, he’d pay a total of one dollar per shoe, save the massive price of taxes, and earn a killing on the sale of the shoes.

The trouble was that I’d come along and spoiled his brilliant plan, and he was now forced to pay me generously for those shoes. The importer must have decided against playing the same trick twice, because I never did see the right shoes on subsequent auction lists. He probably decided that it was safer to have them sent directly to him and pay the requisite taxes.

I ask you honestly: Would you have wagered $5,000 for 5,000 left shoes?

Probably not. I learned from this episode that if Hashem plants an idea in your mind, you can earn a fortune in an instant! 

The Jewish Spark

A

s I’ve told you before, I always make sure to daven with a minyan. I’ve been particularly makpid on this the past ten years, but even before that, when I was young and idealistic, I tried to daven every tefillah with a minyan, and if there wasn’t one, I would arrange it myself.

The following story took place about twenty years ago. I was flying from Holland to Eretz Yisrael with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and I was trying to organize a minyan for Maariv. There were four frum Jews besides me on the flight, and several others whom I had the distinct suspicion were Jewish.

I approached the…suspects, and after a brief interrogation, it became clear that some of them weren’t Jews after all and the others weren’t interested. In short, I had no minyan. But my mission was clear: I had to 18

derful commentaries out there that even have illustrations, but as a person who specializes in out-of-the-box thinking, I decided to take all the other commentaries to the next level via the framework of my own commentary. I hope that it will benefit the public.

To wind up, do you recommend that people invest by you? Sorry to head back to the investments again but reporters don’t earn much.

First off, people shouldn’t invest by me; they should invest along with me.

Meaning, they should invest in ventures that I myself have invested in, together with me. Second of all, as you know, a baker cannot attest to the quality of his dough. Thirdly, I don’t even interact with new investors. We have a department that handles that. The phone number of the office appears in the various ads we run in the newspapers.

Can you leave us with one last tale?

You might be surprised to hear that the story I like most doesn’t have to do with business at all. It’s called The Jewish Spark. We put that one in a sidebar too.

Baruch Eliezer Gross we really appreciate the time you gave for this interview and I am sure people will get much pleasure from reading your book. 

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find a way to daven with a minyan. What could I do? I didn’t give up. I went to each of my targets one by one and attempted to change his mind. Then, all of a sudden, one guy turned to me and informed me emphatically, “I won’t let you have a minyan here.

This isn’t a shul. If you try to make a minyan here, I’m gonna bother you till you stop!”

Interesting… I said to him, equally as emphatic, “I was beginning to think I would just give up and daven in the Itzkowitz shtiebel in Bnei Brak, but now, as far as I’m concerned, you can complain to the airport authorities all you want. Because here, on this flight, there will be a minyan—whether you like it or not! And if you try to stop me, I’ll buy you a one-way ticket right back to Holland.”

Suddenly an idea sparked in my mind. I went over to the flight attendant who was in charge of the meal service. I put on my

Bizness Magazine

brightest smile and said, “Excuse me, I’m considering opening a kosher airline meal catering business.” I asked her to point out to me all the passengers who ordered kosher meals so I could do some market research.

I was sure that any fellow who ordered a kosher meal would want to join my minyan.

And that’s how it went. I succeeded in putting together a minyan. We started davening. While we were saying Shema, I noticed from the corner of my eye that Mr. Threatener guy was approaching. I was sure he had come over to bother us. I squared my shoulders and prepared to get rid of him quickly, once and for all. To my complete surprise, he soon turned to me and asked, “Maybe you’ve got an extra kippah handy? I want to join the tefillos.” There’s a spark inside every Jew!!! (Sometimes he just needs a little help igniting it.) 

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Handmade Jewelry in the Heart of Jerusalem Interview with Moshe

Gindi, owner of GoldFix Jewelry Shop

Where are you originally from and where have you lived?

I’m originally from Aleppo, Syria and subsequently lived many years in New York City.

When did you discover your ability to make jewelry?

Thirty years ago. I never learned the trade officially. I worked in a jeweler’s shop for a year and learned the basics of the trade.

From the start I had an inner sense of the work, and I was able to continue on my own from then onwards.

How is your shop at Rav Shefa different from your work in America?

In New York I would manufacture jewelry wholesale and sell my products to department stores. When I made aliyah, I opened in Rav Shefa as Goldfix– a place to bring jewelry for repairs or buy it new. I display items for sale in the front of the shop, and keep a workroom in the back where I do repairs and create new jewelry. This way, I can fix things for customers on the premises, or change one of my creations on the spot where necessary. It’s very convenient.

What can you do for existing jewelry?

I repair, clean and refurbish jewelry and diamonds. I do my repairs with laser, so everything is very precise. The work is usually done quickly, often within an hour or two; and I can even offer this service while you wait, often within a ½ hour to hour window. People are understandably nervous to leave their diamond rings in a store for several days. This way, they can wait while I do the work, or come back an hour later to pick it up, with peace of mind.

I’d like to add a recommendation for your readers: I do suggest bringing in your valuable earrings to check that they are strong, so that you don’t lose the earring. Sometimes earrings are loose and you don’t realize it until they fall off. If they are indeed loose, I will add gold to strengthen them.

What type of jewelry do you make? How do you decide in exactly what styles to design them?

I make only handmade designer pieces. I spend time searching out what is currently in style in the Italian designer jewelry industry and then I make similar items for the local market. It goes without saying that Italian designer pieces are very expensive – I make an authentic replica for a third of the price.

Clients can also special order their own items by bringing me a picture of something they like. I work with the client to make sure the end product is exactly as they would wish. Any customer of mine has my absolute guarantee – they can always bring something in if there is a problem.

Who are your clients?

Mostly Americans but I get clients from everywhere. My clients are generally very satisfied with my work and will come back to me for all their jewelry needs.

How many of each piece do you make?

Some items I will only make one of, but there are certain things that I make a few of. I also sell to stores some of my work.

What was the most unique piece you have made?

Everything I make is unique. It’s hard to pinpoint one special thing.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to branch out more to department stores like I used to do in America. After the price of gold went up, all the sales in America went down. Now, I am going back to how things were previously, but according to the current trends.

What keeps you inspired?

For me creating jewelry is art and I live through the creation of beautiful things. I create my jewelry to be as nice as possible- I don’t compromise.  Hours 10 AM-1 PM, 3 PM -9 PM 02-651-6019 GoldFix is located in the Rav Shefa Mall in Jerusalem.

053-527-2036 Hours 10 AM-1 PM, 3 PM -9 PM 02-651-6019, 053-527-2036 www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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Brothers Unlike Any Others Interview with

Jake Lessard,

Co-owner of Brothers Moving Company How did the Brothers Moving Company start?

Approximately 10 years ago I purchased a large family van, and the need arose to supplement my income for our growing family. I responded to advertisements looking to hire a man with a van. Six months later I left my regular job to devote myself full time to moving, and my brother Yonah joined to establish The Brothers Moving Company.

Why do your clients choose you over other moving companies, and what are three principles your company always stands by?

Sensitivity, Honesty, and Professionalism are our guiding principles. These principles, among many other reasons, are why our clients continually choose us. Additionally, either Yonah or I is usually present during a move; this results in a real connection with our workers and customers.

How do you enable the moving experience to not become the nightmare that so many of our friends and neighbors have described?

Before the actual move begins, we take the time and care to wrap furniture properly to prevent damage. We always try to instill calmness and an enjoyable experience even from the initial price quotation. We are very attentive to our clients’ requests and are happy to accommodate specific needs. We make sure to properly organize and label cartons and furniture so they arrive at their designated locations and make unpacking much easier. We patiently organize the customers’ belongings even if we are asked to move the same item several times, which we happily do. Before we leave, all furniture is unwrapped and all plastic and refuse is removed from the premises.

Our clients really glow with satisfaction throughout the process and we thrive on repeat customers.

Why do Anglos prefer working with Anglos?

Anglos understand we are all here in Israel to settle the land and fulfill a common goal. We speak the same language – both literally and figuratively; there are no misunderstandings due to a different language or nuances of culture.

How does pricing work?

We provide a very detailed price quote which ensures there won’t be any changes made except when the customer needs to add or de20

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lete items. The customer will not be surprised with any hidden charges at the end.

Do you provide packing services?

We provide highly professional packing services for any residence. In addition, our company has specially manufactured packing boxes according to specifications which are based on many years of experience. This combination ensures a safe arrival of our customers’ fragile items. You can refer to our website for further details on our packing services as well as clear guidelines on all the specifics of an insured moved with us.

We heard you just bought a brand new truck. How is your new truck going to improve your service?

Baruch Hashem we purchased a larger Mercedes truck in order to ensure a safer and environmentally friendly transport for our customers’ belongings. The Mercedes truck can fit more, so it would be less likely to make a second trip, which decreases time and cost.

How do you pick your staff and do they undergo any training before going out on the job?

Our staff consists of three brothers who are second generation movers in Israel, and Yonah, our business developer, is a fourth generation art and antique dealer who has extensive experience in packing and transporting antiques and fine art. We are always on the job site to ensure everything is transported professionally. All of our employees are Jewish professional movers and packers. As part of our selecting process we make sure they are responsible, healthy, strong and free from drug and alcohol abuse. If the need arises to employ new movers they are under careful supervision. There is no need for us to seek out new employees; they know about our professionally managed company and its generosity to its employees, so people really want to work for us. We generally employ individuals who are experienced and have similar values to our own. Our workers become like extended family which creates a comradery among us and makes the work environment enjoyable for all.

Have you ever uncovered anything interesting when moving furniture out of a home?

Many times when we pack for customers we find items of monetary and sentimental value and our clients are very happy when we bring them to their attention.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I personally enjoy the physical labor and the opportunity to live in this Holy Land and assist many in relocating. At the end of a successful move, our customers see firsthand that it’s not about the money. The enjoyment we always look forward to is extending a beracha of yishuv tov to our customers in their new location, and our customers’ glowing, smiling, happy faces.

What are your plans for the future?

Future plans B’ezrat Hashem are to open our own storage facility and expand our fleet. 

Bizness Magazine

Jake – 054-216-0087 Yonah – 054-238-1003 brothersmovingisrael.com

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PT

PERS O N A L TR A I N ER

Teach Your Child to Swim “…Torah, a trade and how to swim…” Kiddushin 29a

By Jerrold Hyman

A

s we get closer to the spring season and balmy weather, many parents are thinking about enrolling their children in swimming classes. As an educator, former director of swimming programs and instructor of ages toddler through adult, I’m often asked the same question, year after year, and I’ve learned a lot about the answer.

Why is swimming, seemingly a pastime or exercise, so important that the Talmud (in Kiddushin 29a) requires a parent to teach it to a child, along with Torah and a trade? What makes it a Jewish life skill? One can easily understand the commandment to teach Torah as well as a trade; both provide structure and sustenance.

In this context, swimming seems out of place. There are surely many other subjects more important than having fun in the water.

Many people live inland; their exposure to danger from water is, at most, infrequent. Learning how to swim may be more necessary today than in the past, but how much more necessary? Is it so necessary that one would have to tie up resources for a prolonged period of time to learn it properly? One would need to find a water source, a teacher and the time to learn.

What ties Torah, a trade and swimming together? It must have been obvious to the sages, as sources do not discuss this question.

But we’ve pointed out strong arguments against learning how to swim. So what’s going on? When we understand what goes into learning how to swim, how our mindset must change, and how our bodies must adapt to survive in the water, one can begin to understand that learning how to swim teaches us how to survive outside the water as well.

Physical, emotional, social and spiritual processes occur while involved in Torah study and learning a trade. These are subjects done sitting or on your feet, and the lessons learned apply to all aspects of life. This learning, technically, is happening while one is grounded, feet fully on the ground. These are certainly easier conditions in which to handle survival-related activity than when under the stress of not having your feet on the ground. Swimming is different. Unlike any other modality, subject or area, water (mayim is spelled the same forward and backwards – very telling in and of itself) is immutable. Water can’t be grasped. It’s touchable, but it will slip through one’s fingers.

We spend nine months in the confines and comfort of the amniotic fluid filled womb. The water is not foreign to us, but we are not breathing on our own. Our sages teach us that it is in this place of total water immersion that we learn the entire Torah. Incredible! When we reengage the water for swimming purposes, we do not have our 22

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feet on the ground. We are back to the place where our minds are most open, where we learned before we were even born.

Some personalities approach this endeavor without fear, and others are terrified. Both approaches are dangerous to survival.

The fearless hold their breath and aren’t afraid to be under the water, but they won’t know how to keep themselves up when they lift their heads up. They don’t understand their limits. They don’t have the skills to survive, to endure. The fearful though, are stuck, unable to put their faces in the water. They are held back by the fear of what might happen, by the unknown. The water bothers them, makes them uncomfortable. When they learn to keep their heads above water, it’s often without putting their faces in the water. When their faces get wet or splashed, they become disoriented and feel unsafe, because they don’t have the skills to endure.

At some point in the learning process, both the skills of the fearless and the skills of the fearful come together, and one becomes a better-rounded and safer swimmer. The process of learning how to meet your anxieties, build skills, develop independence and utilize the water as a tool with which to work, to become one with, gives the swimmer ownership. This accomplishment, which is achieved by overcoming fear and challenges, is different from the physical, emotional, social and spiritual processes one goes through while learning Torah and a trade. This is so because, in the water, your life really is threatened. There is an existential threat that can become fatal through bad decisions or poor skills. When one achieves ownership, one is capable of taking these skills and applying them anywhere and while in the process, the discovery is exciting. Learning and fun exist together, creating a wonderful experience and environment. Learning Torah, learning a trade and learning swimming skills unite the processes for preparing for life and all it entails.

The time and obligation to teach your child or yourself to swim, whatever your skill level, is now! Let me help you or your children on the journey of learning how to swim, and we can fulfill the obligation together. 

Bizness Magazine

050-779-8886 02-993-4681 info@elitefitnessisrael.com elitefitnessisrael.com

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“A great read, laced with humor and emunah, to entertain, amuse, and above all – inspire.”

A daring entrepreneur, veteran businessman and Yarei Shamayim, shares incredible tales and life lessons while crisscrossing the globe – all through a lens of deeplyingrained bitachon.

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“Any company can use high quality wool,

but our suits go beyond” Interview with

Meir Bar-Lev

owner of Mentor men’s clothing store 24

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MARCH 2016

What is Mentor?

Mentor is a leading brand of men’s clothing. Our image is to give people what they need, what’s most suitable for them in terms of cut, quality, etc. We will find something to fit their size and style.

Working in the field almost 20 years has given us much experience.

We saw that suits in Israel were either very high quality with astronomical prices, or were cheaper quality. Mentor is here to fill the need for very high quality suits at competitive prices.

What items do you sell?

In addition to our suits, we sell pants, ties, 100% cotton Rosa Negra signature shirts, leather belts custom designed on the spot, and coats according to season.

We took lots of care in designing our Pergamo line of suits. They are Italian suits made from Australian wool, which is considered the highest quality wool available. The material we use is from 70%100% wool, and we even carry certain lines that are Super 140s or Super 160s. From looking at our suits, the average buyer cannot discern the amount of work and detail we put into their creation.

Any company can use high quality wool, but our Pergamo suits go beyond. All the stitching and detail is done at the highest level

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of workmanship in order to make sure the suit is comfortable and durable and will be enjoyed for many years. Comfort and flexibility are made possible through all the small details attended to in manufacture. Our suits are the same quality and workmanship of suits sold in other stores in Israel, but are a quarter of the price.

Who are your customers?

Our goal when we began was to appeal to the younger generation, as people who have been buying suits for decades often already have their “go to” place. Our main success is due to word of mouth which allowed us to branch out to every generation, and we are happy to serve clients from Bar Mitzvah to 120.

Why do your clients choose Mentor over the multitude of other men’s clothing stores?

When purchasing clothing in Mentor, you will definitely get your money’s worth.

We stress great service for every individual, which makes shopping with us a great experience. We are very professional, and can handle many clients at once in the store. All our success can only be attributed to siyata d’shmaya.

If a suit is more expensive does that mean it is better quality?

Usually yes, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg for it.

Do you recommend different suits for a businessman or for someone who needs a suit just for Shabbos?

We try very hard to fit each client with exactly what he needs – and not with what we want to sell. A case in point: Recently a father came in to the store with his 16 year old son.

He wanted to purchase for him a 100% wool suit. We spent time convincing the father that such an investment was not worthwhile on teenagers, due to their lifestyle and immaturity. A bar mitzvah boy, although he should be outfitted properly, he is still growing and the suit will not last for that long to come. On the other hand, for a chassan before his wedding - that is the time to invest in a very good quality suit to last many years.

What do you love the most about your work?

To work with people. By providing great service we really get to know our customers. They invite us to their affairs and we become part of the family.

What are your plans for the future?

To add more items in our store such as shoes, and to get to more customers. For Anglos, it may be hard to find the highquality products that they know from back home. We offer that solution. We provide high quality, great service and a name that you can trust. 

Malchei Yisrael 7, Yerushalayim (above Mitz Uri) 02-567-1580 Rebbe Akiva 89, Bnei Brak 03-613-8885 Sun-Thurs: 10 AM- 9 PM F: 10 AM- 1:30 PM

www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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25

Expert

In

INSURANCE

Ve’Nahafoch Hu Insurance Claims

By Shimon Cohen

I

n the spirit of “Ve’Nahafoch Hu”, we present three of our true insurance claims that somehow turned out differently from what we, or the clients, expected.

Case 1 – The Missing Tefillin: Our client insured an expensive pair of tefillin (+/- $4,000) for All Risks cover (i.e. both inside and outside the house). He called us frantically one day to report that the tefillin were missing from his yeshiva. A week of posted notices, calls to the yeshiva administration, etc. did not bear fruit. Reluctantly, our client reported the case to the police and we filed a claim. The claims check was issued and our client bought a new pair of tefillin. (This time, however, he kept them at home).

One day, during the silent amida, our client’s concentration was suddenly broken by a hand coming from behind him and placing – you guessed it! – his old tefillin on his shtender!! By the time he turned around, only davening yeshiva men faced him. Obviously though, these tefillin no longer belonged to him. He hurried to our office to return them. I, in turn, took them to the insurance company and told the whole strange story.

Results: 1. A huge Kiddush Hashem.

2. The manager promptly asked me to offer the “old” tefillin back to our client at a greatly reduced rate. Our client, when I called him, had just celebrated his first son’s brit milah, and was more than happy to buy the Barmitzvah Tefillin a few years early!

Case 2 – The Car Chase: The claim began in a brutal fashion. Our client’s wife returned to the family car in Jerusalem after a day’s work. As she was starting up, two men approached her and ordered her out of the car.

Not taking any chances, she obeyed and watched helplessly as the two “punks” laughingly drove away. Again, a claim was filed and our client was paid.

One night our client is driving a rental car in Jerusalem and suddenly in front of him appears his car, complete with its original color and license plates! Our client is suddenly filled with passion to have his old, beloved car back. He begins to tail “his” car, at the same time calling the police on his cell phone.

The police join the chase, and on King George St. two police cars suddenly block the road and 26

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force the driver to stop. Claiming total innocence, the driver says that he legally bought the car. Unfortunately (for him!) our client is right behind him to identify himself as the true owner of the car, as proved by the original license papers and bituach chova, still in the glove compartment. The “punk” is hauled away (and later positively identified by the client’s wife).

But who owns the car? Our client, who already has his check – or the insurance company, who has not yet transferred ownership of the “stolen” car?

Results: 1. The insurance company offered to sell the car back to our client for a reduced rate rather than go through the legal tangle that the case presented.

2. Our client was praised by the police for quick, decisive thinking and action.

Case 3 – The Nursing Care Claim: Our clients were given a benefit from the POLICY school they had worked in in the US, when UPDATED they made Aliyah. The school took out a generous nursing care policy which was paid by them every year. The years passed, and one of our clients unfortunately became ill and needed the policy. However, they had never kept any paperwork and the payments did not appear on their Israeli bank statements – they were being paid directly from the U.S.! In other words, their family was not aware that a policy existed.

One day, almost a year later, their daughter called about another insurance and in the course of the conversation, we asked after her dear parents. When we heard of the medical situation, we immediately asked why no claim had been made on the nursing care policy. “What policy??” was the startled reply!!

Results: From there, things progressed very quickly – we arranged retroactive payment and, of course, an ongoing monthly amount to help cover the nursing care expenses.

Moral of the story: Make sure that all your important documents are in an accessible place and that someone in the family is aware of what you have.

May all your claims turn out for the best.

Purim Sameach!! 

Bizness Magazine

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

02 999 3939

Expert

BC

BU I LD I N G C A R E

BCS Israel – Fighting Stains Wherever They Are Paul Incitti and Eitan Ashman jointly own the BCS Israel carpet and upholstery service. Paul’s business partner, Eitan Ashman, is a well-seasoned and highly sought-after property and project manager in Israel. With an MBA from BarIlan University, Eitan provides a high-end level of business management, and is capable of handling almost any situation.

His expertise has added, and continues to provide, a new level of customer service, bringing the BCS Israel carpet and upholstery service to a broader higher-level customer base.

Eitan owns and operates 2e Property Management for which BCS Israel provides full support.

I

t’s Pesach cleaning time of year again, during which many people have their couches and carpets cleaned. Tell us about your services.

We clean almost any material on any surface. We have several methods for cleaning and stain removal. If you send us an email with pictures of your carpet, furniture, mattresses, tapestries, or even auto interiors, we will get back to you promptly with more details.

How far in advance of Pesach do you recommend getting your couches cleaned?

Excellent question. Potential customers need to realize that plans are already being made now. This is the time. We strongly encourage everyone to book their place on the schedule sooner rather than later, so as to avoid the last-minute rush.

What’s the benefit in using BCS over a company that does only upholstery or carpets?

We offer many services, so we can provide a wide range of expertise and a one-stop shop for all the customer’s needs. It should be noted that our carpet and upholstery team is focused solely on this service – and specialize only in carpets and upholstery.

Are there certain materials that are harder to clean than others?

Yes, unfortunately certain types of stains on specific materials can be problematic. Stains might have sat over a long period of time and been absorbed into the material; or the spilled substance might contain dyes and chemicals that cause damage to the actual fiber or threading, and therefore the item cannot be cleaned. We try our best; but we do disclose the fact to our customers prior to starting. There are some materials, substances and stains that we cannot attempt unless the customer absolutely understands this. Usually the manufacturer has alternative methods and advice for such cases, but most likely they will say the same thing. We do have access to research tools on the web etc. and we use these as much as possible.

How long does furniture take to dry after cleaning?

Usual drying time is a few hours, depending on the method and the liquids used. In some cases, items are dry almost immediately.

What was the most interesting item uncovered in a couch during Pesach cleaning?

Over the years we’ve discovered many interesting objects in the recesses of couches! Many are too sensitive and personal to discuss in an open forum… but some notable finds that come to mind include a diamond earring and a stuffed animal that turned out to be made of a genuine deceased animal! And there is always money, of course.

Considering the number of coins and bills we have found over the years, we could have been Rothschild by now! (Not really…)

What do you do with stubborn stains on furniture?

Well, without giving away our methods and tricks of the trade, I can say that our technique often succeeds very well in stain and spot removing. We identify the stain and use one or more of a variety of cleaners to raise each stain and remove it for good. To tackle the stain effectively we are willing to do everything short of destroy the fabric. Our track record is excellent.

That said, it would be best known in advance that not every stain or spot is fully removable, as mentioned above. Due to a variety of factors, some might have become so embedded in the fabric as to have (a) become part of it, (b) permanently damaged the fabric underneath, or (c) changed the fabric color and integrity.

Again, we will do utmost, utilizing the best stain remedies available, but cannot in good faith promise 100% success. Nor do we guarantee it. However, we trust our workers and methods, based on many years of experience and success with some of the toughest stains.

Many homemakers use baby wipes to try to remove small stains on their furniture. Can that ruin couches or upholstery?

No, it won’t ruin the couch. Homeowners should always try to quickly soak up or remove whatever they can. Baby wipes can be effective in many cases, but they cannot save all fabrics from staining.

What other Pesach cleaning services do you offer?

We offer an extremely deep, intense and thorough cleaning of your home by the meter. We combine Pesach cleaning with spring cleaning and bring a whole new spirit to the process. We clean where most homeowners don’t even think to clean.

Send us an email and we will give you all the details – and, again, don’t wait too long and get stuck in the Pesach rush.  info@bcsisrael.com 02 678 6234 English 0542427613 Hebrew 0547775528 Skype: bcs.israel www.bcsisrael.com www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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27

Honesty is the Best Policy Interview with Itzik Or, owner of Machon Or L’polygraph

Itzik Or is a veteran police investigator who has used his vast experience to open a polygraph testing center in Jerusalem.

Tell us a little about your background in the police.

I served in the Israel Police Force for 20 years. In that time, I had the privilege of serving in a number of units and roles, including as a member and commander in the Jerusalem Riot Police (YS”M), an officer of the Moriah patrol squad, and an investigating officer in the Jerusalem fraud division. In the latter role, I and my staff dealt with a large number of incidents including: • Human organ trafficking • Forgery and fraudulent property documents/ title deeds • Instances of forgery and credit card fraud on a national level • Numerous and varied felonies involving government bodies and individuals in power What prompted you to step into the field of polygraph tests?

I took part in multiple investigations of suspects, trying to uncover the true story, and along the way was exposed to many types of offenses and acquired many tools of the trade. In that context, I became deeply interested in understanding how a two-hour-long polygraph test can succeed in replacing hours and days of investigation. I’m personally motivated by the knowledge that the data gathered in the course of an investigation is then channeled into tailoring the exact questions for use in the polygraph test. This proves very helpful in every single test. After an in-depth pre-test and careful construction of the central questions for the suspect, I get the results via sensors attached to the suspect’s body, revealing whether the respondent is telling the truth or is lying.

So your background in investigation helps you in the polygraph business?

Yes, my investigation background is, in fact, of tremendous help in the business of polygraph testing. A good polygraph tester comes with a solid foundation of investigation experience. I would say that my many years in the field and contact with all types of population are my most important tools.

Who are your customers? Who should seek a polygraph test?

Business clients come to me while recruiting personnel – I offer a pre-employment polygraph test to determine whether job candidates have been telling the truth, or have been fired in the past due to workplace theft etc. I cannot emphasize enough how useful such a test can be to business owners in terms of preventing future troubles. Experience speaks for itself.

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MARCH 2016

I help employers ensure they’re not being cheated in a variety of possible areas: • Work hours (i.e. writing a false report) • Employee theft • Giving or receiving of bribes • Information theft and transfer to competitors • Property theft and so on.

Private individuals come to me for clarity in a number of areas too: • Marital issues, a very sensitive and delicate subject • Harassment • Suspected thefts by home workers: foreign workers, cleaners who may have pilfered items, etc.

• Parents who suspect their children of stealing or using drugs and so on (the tests can be performed from the age of 14 -15 onwards).

Today I receive many requests from lawyers, rabbinic judges, and mediators, all of whom need my help in the legal process. I’m happy to say they find my work extremely useful.

What’s the level of accuracy?

A polygraph machine is highly accurate. Currently, two tests come with an accuracy of 100%, namely fingerprint checking and DNA testing. Next is the polygraph test, with an accuracy of 93%.

Where do you perform the test?

Either at my institute on 38 Pierre Koenig Street, Jerusalem, or at the premises of the institutions with which I work. In fact, today the test can be carried out in any location. What’s most important is privacy. If I am away from my own office, I always make sure

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I have the proper location and quiet required.

What if someone is anxious, tired or stressed about something else. Could he or she fail the test even when speaking the truth?

Every single person who comes to me feels some pressure or anxiety, even those who previously passed a polygraph test! But an in-depth explanation helps to lower that stress and tension. The pre-test we run, and the calibration (where the subject is asked to lie) at the start of the polygraph test, serve to show the person what the real test is going to look like.

Are polygraph results admissible as reliable evidence in a court?

Yes, in all Israeli courts. Before a test can be conducted, two conditions must be met: both parties must agree to the polygraph test, and the evidential weight that will be given to the polygraph test must be determined. In criminal proceedings, a polygraph can be used only from time of arrest until the end of proceedings.

Once the hearings have started, only actual evidence can be admitted.

What have you learned in your experience about human psychology and why people lie?

I invite readers to read The World of Falsehood (Olam HaSheker) by Adir Cohen, and The Psychology of Lying and Methods for Exposing It (Hapsichologia shel hasheker veshitot lehasifato) by Eitan Elad. Truth is that we all lie on a daily basis. We do this from a very young age, and the average person lies approximately 30-40 per day! It’s mostly “white lies.”

When we’re small, we avoid being punished by our parents by denying our actions, and basically by age two we tell falsehoods as a defense mechanism.

Can the polygraph be fooled?

It’s rare for someone to try to tamper with a polygraph examination. The subject cannot see the data being transmitted by the sensors; and fortunately it’s impossible to cheat. There is a pretest first, and then a calibration, and only then does the test take place. An experienced polygraph tester will recognize any attempt at disruption. In fact, part of the learning process is knowing how to identify any attempts at tampering.

Who prepares the test questions? Is the exact phrasing important?

In some cases the court or the lawyers write the questions to be asked, but the tester then rephrases them in a professional manner.

The precise formulation is very important, and long experience in investigations and tests is the best guarantee of an accurate result.

Do you lecture on this topic? Who are your audiences?

I’ve been asked a few times to lecture on the subject of “The world of lies” for teenagers. I’d be happy to make the time to come lecture in the framework of the workplace, schools, and seminars.  1-700-077-350 050-599-9600 ltzikor70@gmail.com http://www.polygraphor.co.il/

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29

Expert

DC

DENTAL CENTER

The Road to Smoother Smiles

By Dr. Daniel Kaszovitz DDS, FAGD

I

magine a freshly paved road.

The surface is smooth, the color is uniform, and the drive is much easier. Well-maintained roads are also much safer.

Compare this to a road that is constantly being repaired. While all the big holes are filled with tar, after a while the filled holes make for an uneven surface that is not only unaesthetic, but can be dangerous. Unfortunately, too many local governments focus on the short-term solution of filling holes and neglect the longterm strategy of re-paving at one time.

That road with the filled potholes? That’s how most of the people come into my office.

Most people go through life and every few years have an urgent need to see a dentist. They may need fillings, a root canal, an implant or a crown. Sometimes a certain tooth will just wear unevenly and need to be repaired. While a competent dentist can take care of these problems when they occur, after a few decades the patient is left with a mouth full of repaired “potholes.” The teeth are uneven, they become worn, the colors are all a little different, and everything from chewing to smiling is problematic.

The solution is to treat the whole mouth, essentially paving the road. Rather than filling a “pothole,” all the teeth are treated with an eye to consistency and long-term health. The result – a beautiful, healthy, and fully functional set of teeth. Not to mention a great smile.

Unlike doing dental work piece-meal, a full mouth rehab requires the dentist to not only treat the individual tooth, but to take into consideration how it impacts the rest of the jaw – which then affects the patient’s whole face and smile. For example, if there are missing teeth, the remaining teeth will slowly drift into the empty spaces. When teeth have been worn down over the years, the same thing happens. One can individually treat the tooth in question, but it can result in a bite that is uneven (and can even be different shades of color.)

Many people over the years have worn most or all the enamel on their teeth. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, even denser than bone. Yet over decades of chewing, even enamel will get worn out. Once the enamel is gone, the underlying dentin is much softer and will erode much faster. This is the last layer before the nerve so it is essential to have the teeth protected before that happens. Porcelain or other modern mate30

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Before

After

rials like zirconia not only mimic the look of the enamel, but are even harder.

The length of your teeth is what establishes the height of your face. Over the years, as your teeth wear, your face gets shorter, and wrinkles get more pronounced. Many people no longer show any top teeth when they talk. A fully restored mouth may often include lengthening the teeth, allowing teeth to show again past the lip. Restoring the teeth to their original height can make for a more youthful, healthy smile. A side benefit is that as the face is restored to its proper length, the lines of the face are often smoothed out.

Look at yourself in the mirror. If you see a yellow circle on the edges or chewing surfaces of your tooth, you have already worn through your enamel. If you have done so on one tooth, it is likely that another tooth will also be in the same condition – even if you can’t yet see it yet.

Many people come in believing the worst, that their mouth is in terrible state. Often they say to me, “I bet this is the worst case you have ever seen.” But it rarely is. With cutting-edge equipment and techniques, there are many options available for almost every problem. There is no cookie-cutter solution for everyone. After a thorough exam, including digital x-rays and a functional and aesthetic analysis, we can offer a few different solutions and help you choose the one that suits your needs and desires.

One of the most gratifying feelings is hearing from a patient how the treatment has changed their lives. People have told me how they used to be embarrassed to smile because they weren’t happy with how they looked. Or worse yet, they were missing teeth. Now they go out more and they feel their personality has changed. They feel comfortable in a crowd again.

Ahh…there’s nothing like a newly paved road. 

Bizness Magazine

15 Ibn Gevirol Street, Jerusalem 02-561-9770, 02-561-9780 www.rechaviadental.co.il

02 999 3939

WHY YOUR NEXT UPHOLSTERY SHOULD BE CUSTOM

I

n the last issue of Bizness (February 2016) I established the merits of premium and custom upholstery. The principle was that greater comfort and durability requires greater investment than inexpensive furniture. Serious consumers know that they cannot afford to be cheap.

(See Bizness March 2015, where I proved that expensive furniture is ultimately less expensive than cheap furniture, based on amortized value). What to expect from your investment in upscale upholstery?

What comfort means to you: Decide what firmness is good for you. A little study of ergonomics will go a long way to assure your satisfaction. Try out the various available foams and stuffing with the part of your body that will use them. Plan in what position you will be on the sofa, sitting or lying; if you expect that someone will sleep there, make sure the seat is deep and long enough. Pillows are not just decorative. When short people sit on deep sofas they need thick pillows so that their legs don’t dangle in mid-air.

The ancient Egyptians were slave drivers, but they knew how to get comfortable by inventing the first chair with an angled back that accommodates our posture. With cheap furniture, manufacturers do not usually apply ergonomic design. Even if they do, the shape does not hold up long due to cheap materials.

Modern vs. traditional - no longer a battle: The tension between these contrasting styles used to be intense, but has diminished, especially in Israel. Here, modern is popular, for various reasons (see Bizness May 2015 for my discussion of why). Sabras especially like to look to the future rather than cherish the “baggage of the past.” That may sound like hyperbole, but younger generations (throughout Europe and America, too) simply cannot relate to a classy camelback sofa like they can to a modern Lawson.

However, the pendulum is swinging back quickly as more people realize that modern may be practical, and sometimes comfortable, but traditional is essential, too. So many modern homes have traditional pieces: it reminds many of the nostalgia of grandparents; it infuses warmth into an otherwise cold and linear décor; and the craftsmanship and design give an impression of good taste and luxury.

Where to begin?

You can start your custom upholstery indulgence on the practical side by making simpler projects: throw pillows, bench seats, window cushions. Ottomans are not just footstools, but versatile and space saving when used as coffee tables, kids’ toy bins, linen presses, and more. Headboards and\ or banquettes (you don’t find many footboards these days) make an elegant statement that your bed is important.

Fiber Content, the factor beyond your control: Fabric manufacturers strive to make their products more durable, comfortable and economical.

Regarding the quality of fabric, the adage ‘They

don’t make them like they used to’ could not be more true. Natural fibers like wool, cotton and others are used less and less, because synthetic fibers have become higher quality.

However, sometimes manufacturers get it right. The most popular fibers on the market are polyester, polyamide and acrylic as microfibers in an ultra-suede fabric. Rather than relying on coatings to resist stains and dirt for a few years, the fabric is engineered to resist them itself.

Even customers with fine antiques are choosing this more and more, because it’s similar to elegant velour and so practical. Amazing to think that these fibers were developed from the sludge leftover from refining petroleum!

Customizing your upholstery enables you to coordinate your décor in a way that could not be done with ready-made furniture. Restorno ensures quality material and design that will last for decades.

Project in focus

This custom-made sectional sofa was commissioned by a young couple whose small living space required very efficient planning.

The first-time mother made the storage bin to accommodate baby paraphernalia, while the lower storage areas were used for linens and blankets for guests. So, the seats were made from premium mattress material and made deep enough to be beds. They chose a Tefloncoated fabric, because they like the look and feel of real fabric, and because it cleans easily. They plan to build a matching ottoman, when their budget allows. So, their investment in high-comfort, custom upholstery will last them for many years and many children to come.

Call or write to Restorno for estimates for your custom upholstery.

02-650-8777 050-764-6726 yona.restorno@gmail.com BUSINESS MAGAZINE • 1

Expert

PA

PA I N TI N G

Zecher L’ Churban

By Nachum Eilberg

O

ne of the questions we ask our customers before painting their home is, “Do you want to leave a ‘zecher l’churban?”

What exactly is a zecher l’churban? After the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, a number of practices were introduced to remind us of Jerusalem and the Beit Hamikdash. In addition to the common ones we often see such as breaking a plate at a t’naim, or breaking a glass under a chuppah, is leaving a small section of your home unpainted.

Ideally this unpainted section should be across from the front door of your home. As soon as you walk into your home you face the reminder of our loss. The unpainted section should be one square amah. Depending on different halachic opinions, my customers have requested the size from as small as 40 cm x 40 cm to as much as 60 cm x 60 cm.

The gemarah discusses leaving a section of a home unpainted, but most of my customers want more than just that. They will either ask us to remove the existing plaster and get down to the bare cement, or they will have us add plaster (that we then do not paint) to have it look like an unfinished section.

In a number of homes we have encountered quite exotic themes for a zecher l’churban. Not wanting to have your painter’s home have any less of a zecher l’churban, my family has also worked on a zecher l’churban that is quite unique.

First a little background on where I live. We are in a community in Jerusalem called Nof Zion (View of Zion). The name could not be more appropriate as we are just south of the Old City, and we see Har Habayit along with the Old City and Har Hazeitim from our windows. Our zecher l’churban is on the wall just next to floor-to-ceiling windows that give us our view. As can be seen in the picture, the center part is the typical, unfinished section of wall. In actuality it was finished and each member of my family chipped away to give it the unfinished effect. We then consulted an artist (whom I am always happy to recommend) to come up with a theme and actually draw the mural on the wall.

Under the unfinished section is a take on the standard Israeli tourism symbol of the spies carrying grapes. Here they are carrying the Dome of the Rock away – further east towards Mecca.

Above the unfinished area is a mural of building the Beit Hamikdash. Jews from all walks of life are working together and, although it is nearly impossible to see in the picture, the one painting is wearing the famous Walls R Us Painting T-Shirt.

As the saying goes, ‘Keep saying it and hopefully it will hap32

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pen soon.’ We look forward to the day when the zecher l’churban will be obsolete and we will see the building of the Beit Hamikdash. LeShanah Haba B’Yerushalayim Habenuyah!  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. Nachum of “Walls R Us Painting” can also be reached at 052-611-9500 or by visiting the company website at: www.wallsruspainting.com

Bizness Magazine

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

02 999 3939

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Expert

RE

R EA L ES TATE

Bringing Jews Home

I.L.A.N’s Guide to Buying a NEW Apartment in Israel (Part I)

By Ilan Rubinstein

T

here are several advantages and disadvantages with buying a new apartment in Israel. There are also significant differences between buying new and existing property that go way beyond the level of finish you may receive. Accordingly, it is important to be advised by a professional consultant that can help you weigh all the pros and cons.

Firstly, keep in mind that builder’s representatives are just that and, as salesmen for the builder, they are working toward a monthly target.

However nice or polished they appear to be, always remember that they are acting first and foremost in their employer’s interests rather than yours. Accordingly, they could be trying to persuade you to buy a flawed, less desirable apartment with an unrepeatable discount limited to a certain number of hours or days. Under these circumstances, it may be worth hiring an independent professional who knows how to ask the right questions to verify what is being told and can give you an objective opinion. A recent case in point was when an unadvised client was expecting to get a panoramic open view from his bedroom. After signing a contract to purchase an apartment with an amazing view, it became apparent that when the building behind would be built, all he would be able to see would be the new neighbor’s shower! Luckily, we saved the day and got the apartment switched for him.

New build apartments often take 2-3 years to complete, which if you are converting to shekels with funds from overseas also means exposure to volatility in foreign exchange rates. It is also worth noting that outstanding balances are usually index linked, raising the base price of the apartment.

Discounts on paper may not be as real as they seem. After all, your money is tied up for much of the time and you may have to pay rent simultaneously. Additionally, new apartments often require significant additional investment despite much vaunted claims of many extras being included.

Also bear in mind that the development may be in an area where there is going to be continued construction for years to come. This means poorer transportation links and amenities, not to mention the extra dust and noise.

If buying for investment, bear in mind a possible oversupply of new apartments for rent. It may be harder to find a tenant at what you believe is the market rent.

Using the services of an experienced interior designer is strongly recommended before making ANY commitment, even just the “reservation” form. Changes requested afterwards will 34

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be much more difficult to negotiate and will inevitably cost you much more.

Hiring an independent engineer to check on the work being done is a good idea. Not all builders are happy with having outsiders coming onsite during construction, so this is an important point to check beforehand.

Don’t sign on a booking form until your professional representative has had a chance to negotiate all the terms or changes for you.

Be prepared for delays. The compensation clauses do not give you an automatic, immediate or full entitlement to money to cover any extra rent you might have to pay until the apartment is complete.

Purchase or purchasing groups ostensibly provide a cheaper way of buying property in Israel. The former are a group of non-related buyers or a non-profit organization that acquires the land and together hires a contractor to build for them. There are sometimes tax savings on the land. However, there may be delays, unforeseeable expenses and overruns. Many costs are not avoidable.

The latter may co-operate with a developer to bid together and gain a smaller discount, eliminating risk for the developer. This is a low risk form of bulk buying, but there may be less flexibility with design.

Today, the government’s main platform for “solving” the housing crisis is through the sale of new apartments via the “Target Price” program. This program is aimed at a very limited market and we will cover this topic in more depth next in month’s issue. The subject of building your own home will also be covered separately.

To sum up, buying in Israel can be both challenging and yet also rewarding. It is my hope that this article will have proved to be a helpful resource for you in your quest for a new apartment in Israel.  The above information is intended as a general guide only and not intended to be an exhaustive compendium on the subject. Accordingly no warranty is given on any information herein. The writer, Ilan Rubinstein, UK born, is a licensed Israeli real estate agent with 15 years’ experience in Israel. Ilan is the C.E.O. of I.L.A.N. Estates & Investments. Ilan specializes in assisting olim acquire new and existing property, investments and businesses in Israel.

Bizness Magazine

Tel: +972(0)774108011 Cell: +972(0)504-910-604 Skype: ilanrubi www.ilanrealestate.com office@ilanrealestate.com www.facebook.com/ilanrealestate

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Under the Management of Avner and Benny Michaeli

How to Prepare Your Car for Spring

M

any of the typical expert recommendations for preparing your car for the spring and summer don’t apply to driving in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, or most of Israel. We typically don’t winterize tires here and don’t have to contend with salt and snow. But we do have rain, and even cold weather itself takes a toll on automobiles, so as the spring season approaches, here’s what you need to do to have your car in top shape.

1. Check your alignment. If your car seems to veer to one side or just doesn’t stay totally straight, something might be off. It’s fairly inexpensive to fix and can save you from loads of problems that might otherwise arise later.

2. Check your brakes. If they’re noisy or rough when braking, chances are you need new brake pads. Long vacation drives require brakes in good condition.

3. Check your windshield wipers. Winter is the time they’re used the most, and you want to see that they’ve stayed in good shape for the new driving season. Israel experiences plenty of dust during the spring and summer, and you’ll still need to use your wipers quite a bit, even though the rain ceases for a few months.

Life expectancy of wipers is only six months to a year.

4. Rotate the tires. Tired should be rotated every so often to make sure the tread is even. Check the overall tire tread for adequacy, especially if you’re nearing the time the tires will need to be changed. Without proper tread, the tires can’t maneuver well and become more prone to accidents.

5. Get a good interior and exterior cleaning. Your car’s likely been

through a lot over the winter getting pounded by rain, hail and perhaps snow (it happens here sometimes, too!) so the exterior may have plenty of dirt and be discolored. The interior is full of whatever your shoes have schlepped in, although you might want to wait until right before Pesach to do the inside so you don’t have to do it twice. You can clean your car yourself, just make sure to use car-cleaning solution instead of plain soap, and use a hose to get the undercarriage cleaned well from dirt and grime buildup. If you’re going to dry it, use a natural-fiber cloth.

6. Check all fluid levels, which may get depleted over the winter season. You can usually do this yourself when you open the hood, but if you’re not sure, your mechanic can easily take a look. You’ll want to ensure that air coolant is up and ready for the hot weather.

7. Check under the hood to make sure that all of the belts, wires and hoses are intact. If anything is cracked, you’ll want to have them repaired immediately. Inspect the air filters so they’re clean and ready for aircon use. You won’t want to have to wait for your car when it’s already hot and sweaty and your air conditioning fails.

8. Test your battery strength. Winter’s harsher conditions strain your battery more, and you’ll need to make sure that it’s still well-functioning.

All in all, it’s best to have the car ready for hot weather use before it gets too hot outside. A few quick and inexpensive checks will have your car in shape for perfect spring and summer driving. 

Mechanics | Wheel Alignment | Electricity | Air Conditioning | Painting Room | Windshield Repair Exhaust | Radiators | Accessories | Alarms | Tire Punctures | 10,000 KM Service | Original Parts Free car pick-up and drop-off service available!

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EL

ELEC TR I C I A N

Coming Soon:

Mr. Fix It School of Home Repair

By Ari Katz What exactly is the Mr. Fix it School of Home Repair?

It’s a two-week comprehensive training course to jump-start a desire into a functional home repair business.

How did this idea come about?

I often receive calls from various people inquiring if I would be willing to take on an apprentice. For many reasons this arrangement usually is of limited benefit to him and to me and the guy begins working as a shlepper or painter for someone else. Months later he’s now locked in as a 35 shekel per hour worker and has given up on learning something more sophisticated and cannot afford to quit. I want to equip them to begin their careers as self-employed, business owners, not second-class shleppers.

Who would be the ideal student?

It’s a serious course for a serious person who knows he has “good hands” and has the desire to turn that ability into a viable parnassa.

What makes your course unique?

I have condensed eight years of hard-learned lessons into a comprehensive package that will enable a person to begin right away saving them months and years of learning everything “the hard way”. There’s no reason why a capable person cannot begin working right away on a whole range of common problems, while experience in more difficult issues will come with time.

In addition, there is tremendous satisfaction that comes from good ol’ hard work, from setting and reaching goals, from taking responsibility for one’s self and family. The lessons will be peppered with hashkafic points, personal anecdotes, philosophical tangents, spontaneity and depth. I will also remain an ongoing source of reference for all attendees who may need coaching through various hurdles and obstacles in the course of their business and personal growth.

Is there certification?

There is no officially recognized certification, but the training is in areas that don’t need certification, such as basic plumbing issues, trissim, door locks and small electrical problems. In Israel, people hire someone they trust based on previous experiences and references. Certification has nothing to do with being a mentsch, connecting with people, managing a business, or work ethic.

What is the curriculum?

I cover the 95% of the problems that arise in homes. From simply hanging pictures, which is not so simple, to opening and closing wall holes, electricity, plumbing, appliance repair, changing win36

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MARCH 2016

dow glass, carpentry, tool education and much more. In addition, I give over several hours of material on building a small business in Israel. Everything from setting up legally, marketing, branding, organization, customer management, suppliers, what to buy, what not to buy, and how to tailor the business model according to each person’s strengths.

Is the training hands on?

Yes. Each day will be several hours of theory followed by a halfday of real work where each person is guided as he himself learns how to implement that day’s lesson. The work is done inside actual homes, where people are living, and students get comfortable being in another person’s private space and treating it with respect.

Where will the classes be located?

Likely it will be in Jerusalem, unless the majority of students are from another place.

Is this a good alternative to vocational education?

This is by no means a replacement for vocational education or those seeking certification in any technical area. Many may wish to take it further and become certified electricians, A/C installation experts, plumbers or gain some other technical expertise. This course is to get a “handy” guy with no experience to actually running his own business.

What if a person doesn’t have a car or tools? Doesn’t it cost a lot to start a business?

I began with a thousand shekels’ worth of tools and a five hundred shekel “tus-tus” that I used for five years rain or shine.

Any business endeavor requires a start-up fee for supplies and the like. The real barrier to entry is not a few thousand dollars for tools and supplies, it’s the inner drive and desire of the person. From day one, the mindset of the course is that each student already has what he needs to be successful. It’s his brain, hands, confidence, vision and drive. The rest is details.

How can I find out more?

You can contact me with any and all questions. There are a limited number of spots that I will fill based on who I feel will benefit most from the course. 

Bizness Magazine

Contact 052-736-7369 premiumrepairs@gmail.com

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Holistic Psychotherapy

Living Intentionally

By Minda Garr, MSW

W

e sometimes ask ourselves, how did I get to where I am at this point in my life? Am I where I want to be?

When we are young, and during the years of adolescence, there are often actions that we take along the road to adulthood that are reflective of the norms of the family and community that we are a part of. Who we play with, where we learn, where we pray, who we date and who we marry, are often part of the expected path to adulthood. Often, we don’t ask ourselves too many questions, as the expectations of family and community are clear. Then the day comes when we are no longer quite so young anymore. We may have a family of our own, a profession or a vocation, and we look around and ask ourselves, “How did I get here? Is this where I want to be? Is this where I want to stay? Is there some aspect of me that isn’t being expressed? Is there something else I would like to have happen in my life?”

Sometimes, just asking these questions makes us feel disloyal – mostly to ourselves. We followed the expected path, created something good, so why the slightly unsettled feeling?

At times there is a small voice within that says, “If only….” or “What if…?” It challenges us by raising the specter of dreams unfulfilled or of roads not taken.

There are times in life when we feel that we are not taking the lead but, rather, that we are being led by circumstances.

Life is typically a series of highs, lows and just “being in the flow.” There are events that bring us joy, others that cause sorrow, and many everyday moments in between. When the unexpected occurs, whether positive or negative in nature, we often respond to events by doing the best we can in each moment.

But in those everyday moments when life is calmly flowing, we have the opportunity to ask ourselves if there is something else we’d like to have happen in our lives. Is there something more I’d like to be or like to create? Is there something else within me that I’d like to give expression to? Sometimes there is something new I’d like to learn and have never had the time for. Sometimes there is a skill within me that I’ve never really used. There are times that there may be a story within me waiting to be written, a piece of pottery waiting to be formed or a piece of art waiting to be created.

Just because I have not yet done something, does not mean I cannot do it. Because I have not explored an option that once 38

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IS THERE MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS?

seemed unavailable, does not mean that road is now closed to me. If I want to branch out and try new things, it does not mean there is anything wrong with the way I am living my life.

But a sense of slight dissatisfaction, or of wanting to just try something, is a feeling worth exploring. It is worth looking within and trying to gain clarity about what it is that feels like it’s missing, or that seems to be waiting to be tried or accomplished. When I gain clarity on just what it is that I’d like to try, I can take advantage of a resource that we all have available to us – intentional imagination.

By using my imagination, I can let my dreams begin to take shape and form. I can bring detail into what I would like to create in my life. Sometimes this can be hard at the beginning. For some of us, our imaginations are rusty, not having been used intentionally since we were children at play. But once I begin to use my imagination, the rust flakes away and the wheels begin to turn. The more I use it, the more effective my imagination can become. There are those that say that the mind doesn’t distinguish between what is real and what is not. Instead of being led by circumstances, I can make conscious choices. With imagination I can bring focus, intention and feeling to what I want to create. The more I do this, the more likely I will begin to create the opportunities I am looking for that will bring even more meaning into my life. 

Bizness Magazine

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

02 999 3939

THE WORK TRIANGLE: THE SECRET TO COMFORT IN THE KITCHEN! As you probably understood from our previous articles, when envisioning your new kitchen, one of the important factors in the planning and design is ease of use. What’s the point of having a magnificent kitchen if you must hike large distances between the fridge and the work surface, and from there to the stove (OK, maybe we’re not talking kilometers here; but try this at home and see awkward it is). Take X’s kitchen, for instance, where things look something like this: X is standing at the marble countertop chopping salad, when she realizes she’s missing a red pepper. Back at the kitchen design stage, X made the decision to situate the fridge in the place that seemed most suitable at the time, at the very end

AT KITCHENS WE PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR NEEDS AND PREFERENCES, AND WILL PROFESSIONALLY DESIGN A KITCHEN TO YOUR SATISFACTION.

of the kitchen. But now the constant back and forth is proving exhausting. “Yanky!” she calls, “Please bring me a red pepper from the fridge ...!” Yanky runs off to the refrigerator and brings his mother ... a green pepper. “Oh Yanky, I said red pepper!” She sends him back for another try. Yanky comes back again, this time holding … a ripe tomato! At this point, mom despairs, and trudges off to the fridge herself, regretting for the umpteenth time that she didn’t let the designer plan this kitchen. It cost so

much, and yet still did not come out right...

Or take Y, for example. Y designed her own kitchen; and for her, the most important thing was to have an exterior “cooking corner” where she could cook and fry without the odors filling the house. However, Y didn’t notice that this arrangement put distance between the stovetop and the countertop, meaning that now every time she wants to fry French fries, she has to first chop the potatoes on the countertop, then put them in a bowl, then walk over to the cooking corner with the bowl in her hands, put the slices into the frying pan, and retrace her steps back to the counter with the bowl! And do this several times until it’s all cooked. (I’m not even going to discuss what happens after the fries are done…)

If she could start over, there’s no doubt that Y would locate the stovetop as close as possible to her work counter and make life easier for herself.

So before you design your new kitchen, allow us to offer you a small but crucial tip: Pay attention to your “work triangle”!

What does that mean exactly, you ask?

The work triangle is an imaginary line connecting the three most important centers in every kitchen: the refrigerator, the counter, and the stovetop.

Almost every dish we prepare starts wit h the fridge. After taking out the ingredients, we head for the work surface where we cut, chop, roll, and shape. Then onwards to the stovetop, where we cook and fry.

Here are three rules for an effective work triangle: 1. The length of each the triangle’s sides should be in the range of 1.2-2.7 meters.

2. The total length of the sides should not exceed 8 meters. (Do measure them!

Seriously!)

3. Make sure no side is interrupted by some obstacle such as a bench, a door opening into it, and so forth.

Stick to the above rules and you can be sure of many years comfort and enjoyment in your kitchen!

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How to Purchase the Right Vacuum Cleaner

V

acuum cleaners are not exactly the most exciting purchase.

They don’t usually get you going in the same way as, say, a fridge or an air conditioner, which provide tremendous enjoyment in use and in purchase.

Perhaps it’s because they are used for what most home cleaners consider pure drudgery; in any case, if you’re in the market for one, you want to know what to look for, and what to look out for, even if it’s not your favorite research topic.

Here’s a pretty painless look at vacuum cleaners.

Upright, stick or canister?

Here it gets a bit tricky, because the machines are different, but the practical differences are not. At least not that much.

Uprights are the most popular, probably because they’re easiest to maneuver – no bending down or pulling around a canister.

But they’re heavy, and the best models are very expensive.

Canisters are a little lighter and may be a little cheaper. They are also more versatile because you can use them in more places more easily than an upright.

Sticks are cheapest and most lightweight, but they don’t come with attachments. They’re best for smaller and simpler cleanups and don’t really replace standard models.

To bag it or not?

There are two categories of machines – with bags or without. Both clean equally well, so it’s a matter of

practicality. It’s simpler to remove the dirt with bags, but the downside is that you have to buy bags, and if small objects that weren’t supposed to get caught in the bag, it’s not easy to retrieve them. Bagless machines don’t require bag upkeep, but dirt removal is more complex, and you have to keep filters clean.

Use the attachments Many machine users stick to the main attachment for all cleaning needs, but there’s a reason it comes with so many attachments, and it’s worthwhile to learn how to use them all. There’s an upholstery attachment for sofas and what not, as well as corner pieces and even wall pieces.They each do their job well and better than any other attachment.

Look for a vacuum cleaner that has several for the best investment.

It’s not the wattage In general, the power of the machine is not the most important feature, and for regular home use, you don’t need anything super powerful. Look for a higher quality machine with better features.

Too noisy?

Try floor models before you purchase to check the noise level. Some models are quite loud and might bother you.

As humdrum as it might be, you want to make the best decision for your home, so do your homework and purchase properly.

Chashmal 1/2 Chinam is a home appliance store located on 9 Yitzchak Rabin St. Bet Shemesh Tel. 02-999-7193

www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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FIR S T R ES P O N S E

Safety Rules for Purim

By United Hatzalah

P

urim is upon us! We’re now on our usual mad search for costumes, or maybe we already have them. But we also need to make absolutely sure that our children’s costumes are safe, as follows: Buying Costumes 1. Make sure they’re approved by the Standards Institution of Israel. Each costume must have its own label stating manufacturer and importer. The instructions on the labels are in Hebrew so do make sure you know what they say.

2. For small children, it’s preferable to have a costume that fits snugly rather than one that is loose or has long sleeves, as the material might get caught in things or, God forbid, catch fire.

3. If you are one of those creative parents who makes the costumes yourself, try to avoid feather, cotton or any other flammable material.

4. Masks: take care that there is no risk of strings choking your child, or getting caught in things and thus endangering your child.

5. Check there is room to breathe properly behind the mask and that it is not limiting your child’s field of vision.

Accompanying Toys 1. Every toy legally sold in this country must come marked with clear warnings in Hebrew: name of importer and manufacturer, clear address, correct usage and age restrictions.

2. Avoid buying weapons that very much resemble real ones.

3. A sword or knife must be checked to ensure the edge isn’t sharp.

Let the child walk around at home with it for a bit, to make sure he or she can handle having it.

Mishloach Manot 1. Avoid small candies that might cause choking.

2. Keep your recipients in mind, and don’t give nuts and peanuts to those you know have allergies.

3. Packages for small children should not contain gum.

Uniting to Prevent Harm Through Explosives We all know that Purim brings with it dangerous games such as firecrackers and other explosive items. If your children do have such items, don’t let them store them in their pockets, only in the original boxes. However, it is strongly recommended not to allow your children to have any fireworks, firecrackers, rockets etc, at all. These have proven time and again to cause severe burns and terrible suffering – anything but fun. Even something as “innocent” as cap guns has been known to cause disastrous accidents. We don’t need any more horrific stories of eye loss and amputation of fingers.

So shocking have incidents of previous years in Beit Shemesh 46

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been that extensive citywide campaigns spearheaded by Ezrat Achim, Keren Yosef, and Ichud Hatzalah, and with the support of the Beit Shemesh police, have set out to target schools and high schools, aiming to convince children not to endanger themselves and others.

The volunteers from those organizations, having witnessed the injuries themselves close up, were galvanized into launching a campaign which, following its first year, already saw numbers of accidents drop significantly, proving its efficacy. This year’s campaign is even larger and more forceful under the slogan of having a “NonExplosive Purim!”, with thousands of dollars invested and with a new, direct approach being made to the schools.

Police chief Shlomi Toledano remarked that the police are well prepared to deal with the issue of explosives, which are not only dangerous but also noisy and constitute a public nuisance. The police are legally empowered to arrest violators, both before Purim and on the day itself. He cautioned against trading in firecrackers and rockets, etc. and added that the police are running a special intelligence operation to eradicate the phenomenon and arrest perpetrators.

The organizations urge the public to increase safety awareness, and stress the duty incumbent upon us all to prevent family and friends from dangerous acts. Reckless and unthinking actions by children who think it’s all just a game can end up causing them and their friends to suffer with burns or loss of limbs or eyesight.

Any school or group of children that would like to have someone come speak to them about the dangers are invited to call Ezrat Achim.

The presentation is done in a positive way. Every children who commits not to play with dangerous items will be entered into a Grand Raffle for bicycles, with dozens of other gifts and prizes also being offered. Stickers with the motto “Non-Explosive Purim!” will also be handed out and the children are encouraged to pass them on.

The police and the organizations encourage everyone, young and old alike, to contact the police in any case of known dangerous materials, in order to prevent disaster. Have a happy and safe Purim! 

Bizness Magazine

In the event of an Emergency, Dial 1221 United Hatzalah Beit Shemesh United Hatzalah Of Israel

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Chaiyanu Children Go to Paris!!!

S

ixteen year old Bat-el had a dream since childhood; to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Having been diagnosed with cancer at 14 years old, she thought that dream would never come true.

This past February, Chaiyanu took 16 children with cancer, Bat-el among them, to France where they had the experience of a lifetime!! Three days in Disneyland, three days in Paris, and Shabbos in Epinay.

Watching these children being embraced by Disney characters and feeling like they’ve never been sick before was a thrill for everyone! Visiting the greatest places in Paris, including the aquarium and boat rides, and the nightly dinner parties created an unforgettable experience!

Among the children being hosted over Shabbos were three girls who had never kept Shabbos. These three girls said they wanted to experience a real Shabbos even though they did not know what to expect. One said it was the most incredible experience of her life.

A seven year-old girl told her mother that one of the highlights of the trip was keeping Shabbos, which she had never done before.

She said it was so beautiful and so rejuvenating.

Once again, Chaiyanu has given H.O.P.E. to children with cancer: Healing, Optimism, Power, Euphoria.  Donate to Chaiyanu at www.chaiyanu.org.il

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Bizness Magazine

02 999 3939

Real Estate Ilan Rubinstein A veteran real estate agent with 25 years’ experience, Ilan of Ilan Estates & Investments makes the procedure of buying property in Israel as painless as possible.

077-410-8011 Cell: 0504-910-604 office@ilanrealestate.com www.ilanrealestate.com Personal Trainer Jerrold Hyman Jerrold is an experienced personal trainer with a wide range of skills, which are available through his company, Elite Fitness Israel. He works with any age, and is available to make a custom made plan to help you achieve success. 050-779-8886 02-993-4681 info@elitefitnessisrael.com www.elitefitnessisrael.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 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 Air Conditioning and Heating Tzvi Lefkowitz Tzvi of Tzvi Air is a licensed technician who provides care and maintenance service and sales for all major air-conditioner brands. 02-628-8282 www.tzviair.com

Insurance Egert-Cohen Egert-Cohen is a Jerusalem-based brokerage specializing in helping English speaking Olim with all insurance needs.

Shimon Cohen 050-548-2192 or Yona Egert at 050-536-3897 | www.egertcohen.co.il

Emergency Response United Hatzalah Largest network of first responders across the country with 3,000 volunteers in 40 locations operating 400 ambucycles. In the event of an emergency or life-threatening situations it is vital to call 1221 or 101 to ensure a rapid response time.

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

Car Mechanics Alef Alef Car Garage Alef Alef is a full service car garage in the Industrial zone Nesher Har Tuv (behind the police station). They have decades of experience and they service all makes and models. Call for any consultation at 02 991 5777 or 053 723 1031.

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 | rechaviadental.co.il Antique Dealer Moshe Orman Moshe buys and sells items of value. That includes gold and silver pieces, watches, antiques and more. 054-837-3874 | 054-250-2043 ormanantiques@gmail.com Electrician Ari Katz Ari Katz, a.k.a Mr. Fix It, has been successfully fixing things since he was a child. He specializes in electricity, and makes customer service his top priority.

052-736-7369 premiumrepairs@gmail.com

Building Care Services BCS Israel BCS offers a comprehensive solution to all you building’s needs. Thorough and efficient, you can count on them for any job.

02-678-6234 info@bcsisrael.com

Meryl Cohen Fabric Fusion Artist Meryl is highly talented fabric fusion artist who crerates an entirely new perception of the everyday world. Check out her work online, or contact her directly 077-228-5757 or 052-595-9006 | merylcohenartist@gmail.com | www.merylcohen.com | www. merylcohenart.etsy.com

Outdoor Wood Creations Element Wood Creations Netanel Buta is a creative craftsman who is always expanding his knowledge in the field. Element wood creates custom made decks, pergolas, pools and anything else you can dream of for the outdoors.

050-676-3222 element.nati@gmail.com www.wooden-pergolas.co.il

www.BIZNESSMAGAZINE.com

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