Bizness Magazine 2012

TEN EXPERTS you can call now

M A G A Z I N E HELPING YOU ACHIEVE THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS DECEMBER 2012

Bet Shemesh - Jerusalem

Life Coach

Be the Best Mother You Can Be! Financial errors people make every day Why buy a home alarm system New Israel mortgage law and you Discover the Jerusalem Neighborhoods

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Dr. M ichael E. Portman Easing the suffering of

those struggling with mental health challenges

Buying or selling your home Negotiate a fair contract

Travel abroad with your own cell phone

Medical Technology to check your home pipes

Braces are not just for beauty

LED bulbs can save you hundreds

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M A G A Z I N E HELPING YOU ACHIEVE THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS

contents

DECEMBER 2012

14

What kind of support does the Israeli government offer small businesses in Israel? Since making

aliyah I have been involved in many successful enterprises.

16 18

Negotiating a Fair Contract In Israel, any

document that you sign can be legally binding.

Insurance Corner

If a driver does not have a valid license, the claims are transferred to a government agency called “Karnit”. The injured person is fully covered and the driver is sued by “Karnit”.

26

A Tour to Jerusalem Neighborhood Jerusa-

28

Be the Best Mother You Can Be These wom-

30

The Bank of Israel’s New Mortgage Regulation What It Means

lem’s center, founded in the 1880s, began its gentrification with the Machane Yehuda “shuk” in 1985.

en have been able to rise above their circumstances and become amazing mothers to their children.

20

All you need to know about muscle cramp

22

Employment Laws Govern Even PartTime Domestic Work-

32

There’s a new meaning to “Doctor’s House Call” During many of the

Tips for winter car health I you don’t have

34

LED light bulbs can save you hundreds of shekels in energy

A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax.

ers

Therefore, if you have anyone working for you, including part-time domestic help, you have to pay the benefits listed below.

24

an American penny, call me and I’ll lend you mine.

4

• December 2012

to You

If you fall into category number two above you will need a larger down payment.

house calls we made in the past weeks we were asked a fair number of times about the cameras we use.

bills. LED bulbs have many benefits to consider.

38

Smiling from Bet Shemesh to Jerusalem with Smile Talk In the

39

From artist to photographer love photogra-

40

Chanuka: Dreidels & Cards Closely related

beginning, mankind would extract every tooth that hurt.

phy in general, I’ve been in almost all areas of photography possible.

to the custom of playing dreidel on Chanuka is that of playing cards.

42

Peace of Mind Have you ever considered how one person who experienced something similar to you reacted in one way and you reacted differently?

44

The Fourth Commandment: Thou Shall Build a Strong Team To be a

successful entrepreneur, you have to know what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Bizness Magazine 02 999 3939

48 50 52

Editor in Chief Ariel Topf Contributing Editors Rivkah Lender Jesica Myers Chief Designer Adam Ram Contributing Writers Helen Abelesz Yair Bruck Shimon Cohen David Drutman Ari Enkin Eliyahu Gherman Mindy Grinsberg Nachum Kligman Sue Lachman Edo Lavi Tzvi Lefkowitz Nicole Levin Ben Levine Ariel Levy Meir Luzon Eliezer Rosenblum Eva Topf Michael Topf Moshe Wilshinsky Harry Zettel

56

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Send your ads to Letter to the Editor Share your Views Ask our Experts Ask our Readers Kidz Biz Stories Something great to say Request for Interview Announce Job Openings General Inquiries

ads@biznessmag.com editor@biznessmag.com inbox@biznessmag.com experts@biznessmag.com readers@biznessmag.com kidzbiz@biznessmag.com praise@biznessmag.com interview@biznessmag.com

TEN EXPERTS you can call now

M A G A Z I N E HELPING YOU ACHIEVE THE MIRACLE OF SUCCESS DECEMBER 2012

Bet Shemesh - Jerusalem

Life Coach

Be the BEST MOTHER You Can Be! FINANCIAL ERRORS PEOPLE MAKE EVERY DAY WHY BUY A HOME ALARM SYSTEM

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Dr. Michael E. Portman Easing the suffering of

NEW ISRAEL MORTGAGE LAW AND YOU DISCOVER THE JERUSALEM NEIGHBORHOODS

6

those struggling with mental health challenges

BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME NEGOTIATE A FAIR CONTRACT

TRAVEL ABROAD WITH YOUR OWN CELL PHONE

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TO CHECK YOUR HOME PIPES

BRACES ARE NOT JUST FOR BEAUTY

LED BULBS CAN SAVE YOU HUNDREDS

• December 2012

Making it in Israel Here in Israel there is far less room for error.

Preventing Home Burglaries Mission Impossible? Luckily,

54

Advertising

57

Maximom’s One

of the

things we came to realize in the five years we

had been selling vitamins was how especially crucial pre- and post-natal

RYBTECH The last year has shown tremendous growth for RYB Tech, and interestingly enough, we have moved in a slightly different direction.

How to reach Bizness Magazine

ADVERTISING

certainly no guarantees in

a large percentage of home burglaries can be prevented.

Liba Adler Ari Gingsberg Adam Levy Helena Topf Graphic Artists Aliza Sokol Photography Yael Ita

02-999-3939

To have one or not to have one? There are

life.

Advertising

jobs@biznessmag.com info@biznessmag.com

contents

What career should I choose? Machon Tzom-

et is a center for career counseling for the Orthodox population.

vitamins are for women.

58

TCS Telecom a boutique telephone company It is this focus on

customer service that has made TCS synonymous with reliability and call quality.

60

TIMBER - Welcome to Bet Shemesh I took a break from the business

and traveled to the US, where I worked in the diamond industry.

61 63

Humor

Kidz Biz Section

On every issue 8 Letter from the Editor 10 Inbox 62 10 Experts you can call Bizness Magazine is published monthly. 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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02 999 3939

Letter from the Editor

A

“

riel, you have built so many businesses; what business should I start?” Whether phrased like that or with different words, this is a question that I’m frequently asked by people who call me for mentoring or consulting. My answer usually is “what do you love doing?” I’m in the magazine and consulting businesses, among others, because I love to be around entrepreneurs. I love to meet with them, talk to them, interview them, learn from them, and most important, help them grow their businesses and change the quality of their lives.

There is nothing more rewarding than people coming to me and telling me things such as “Ariel, what you suggested is truly working. I’m in business!” Another business owner came to me and said “Ariel, I’m getting so many calls with your advertising strategy that I do not have time to work. I need to hire an assistant to take the calls”. This is simply priceless. It’s all about satisfaction. It’s worth every effort. My passion is helping people succeed, and therefore I choose businesses that allow me to do that. Imagine making a living doing what you love.

I learned that incredible concept “a few gray hairs and pounds” ago. I was one of those kids who couldn’t concentrate in class because I daydreamt about soccer. In my fantasies, I would take the ball in one end of the field and dribble for 100 meters and score spectacular goals. I went to the clubs and got my balls signed by my favorite pros. I just couldn’t wait for recesses to kick the ball.

As soon as I finished high school and got into engineering school, I decided to take action and reach for the stars, literally. I understood that those who do what most people are not willing to do, will accomplish things most people won’t. That required me to step out of my “comfort zone”, to stretch myself. Professional soccer was not a game for “white boys”. Most clubs were in areas where it was dangerous to walk even during daytime. I ventured into the neighborhood of the stadium of the top professional team in the country and looked for the coach of the national team. He was standing in the center of the field giving the players final instructions before their practice game. These were not just regular players. Many of them were international stars. Some of them had autographed my soccer balls a few years earlier.

As soon as the coach finished speaking, I introduced myself. He was stunned to see a barely 17 year old white guy with the guts to telling him that he was good enough to play in the all star team. “Oh really?” he said sarcastically. He looked at his assistant and said “Show him the locker room. Let’s see what he can do.” Suddenly, the dream comes true. I’m actually playing with the stars and I’m getting paid to play with them!

I would’ve paid to play in that team. There is nothing like getting paid for doing what you love. Follow your dream. Get inspiration from success stories. Read the books, watch the videos, surround yourself with positive people. Then take action. Success will not come to attack you. You must go after it.

Ariel Topf ariel@biznessmag.com Ariel has built several companies in 3 continents in the fields of Internet, High-Tech, Retail, Franchising, Food Manufacturing, Clothing Manufacturing, Direct Sales, Wholesale, Personal Development, Restaurant, Advertising and Publishing. In this process, Ariel has headhunted, hired, trained, managed and/or mentored over 20,000 individuals.

8

•

December 2012

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Ask our Experts You can now ask any questions to our Columnists. If your question gets published you will earn a prize! Send your questions to our experts at experts@ biznessmag.com

inbox You write to us we publish it (maybe)

I have something great to say about…

I just called Moshe Wilshinsky for a mortgage and Egert-Cohen for insurance. It was a beautiful issue as always! Y.S. In the process of completing a new film project for Moskoff-Media (Israel), I consulted with Ariel on a variety of levels re: viability, strategy, and PR. I found him to be street-smart, educated, and full of indispensible information - worth every penny. I was impressed with how Ariel’s was able to share his personal experiences and confidently turn them into practical steps for the success of my venture. I’m sure he will end up on my Advisory Board. H. Moskoff



Any subject, share your views.

We may even skip your compliments and hide your name Send your comments to inbox@biznessmag.com

Hello, I brought home a copy of Bizness Magazine today and found the “Letter From The Editor” informative. May I photocopy and/or scan it to show potential entrepreneurs? Thank you, Reuven

ARE YOU HIRING? Send your opening jobs to jobs@biznessmag.com

Dear Ariel, I couldn’t believe it. I picked up this month’s issue of Bizness and opened to my article, as soon as I did so, I received a call to expect a new patient in my Jerusalem office. Do you have some sort of wireless devices embedded in your magazine encouraging readers to call. Keep up the great work! Dr. Eli Gherman

Do you need to hire employees?

Advertise in Bizness Magazine for free.

Send us only the following info: Industry, Job Title, Location and Contact info.

Hi Ariel, I was happy to read your letter from the editor this week. I am defiantly falling under one of the first two groups of entrepreneurs...and like you, putting all I’ve got into my start-up business… Thanks so much, Tami

ASK OUR READERS You can ask any questions to our readers by writing to readers@ biznessmag.com Bizness Magazine reserves the right to publish or withhold any answer and/or the names of the Asking or Answering parties.

Win a surprise prize if your answer gets published. Wanna give it a shot?

• Is it smart to start a new business on a part time basis?

• It seems that I’m stuck in my position at my company. I feel that I can certainly contribute much more.

How do I go about it?

• A guy is making a killing in a business in Haifa. Should I copy it here?

10

• December 2012

Thanks for the article by Edo Lavi on orthodontic treatment, where he advises to get a child’s teeth checked from age 7 onwards. As a result I took my daughter along for a consultation and now have been advised to come back next year for xrays etc. I’m so glad you printed this article as i would have never thought to take her along at such a young age. Best regards, HB, RBS A I think you have a great magazine! Keep up the good work. Mandy Shalom Ariel, I saw for the first time today your excellent Bizness Magazine here in RBS and wanted to congratulate you for the excellent quality and balance (vis-a-vis quality articles to advertising). Many thanks, Benjy One in Spanish: Hola, hoy llego la revista. Esta muy buena!!! Gracias y saludos, Devora Since moving to the neighborhood a month ago, I have been very impressed with what an outstanding Kupah Leumit is. You are always greeted by every staff member with a smile. The doctors and nurses are very patient, caring and so willing to help. It is also very comfortable talking to them because there are so many Anglo doctors. The e-mail service is so amazing because we get answers from the doctor very quickly. It is a Kupah that is worth joining and you are sure to get the best medical care! Thank you to the whole Leumit team of Ramat Beit Shemesh for all your hard work and for giving the best care to your patients. Miriam Holuber

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Business Finance

What kind of support

does the Israeli government offer

small businesses in Israel?

By Harry Zettel

S

ome six months ago, I wrote an article about government-backed loans for small businesses. In this month’s issue of Bizness Magazine, I wish to clarify some points that might have been somewhat confusing in regards to the way the program works and what you must do to obtain a government-backed loan.

If this is the first time you are reading one of my articles, a little bit of personal background might be in order. I am a chartered accountant (CPA since 1986), a former Trustee in Bankruptcy and partner in an insolvency firm in Toronto. I was also involved in many viability studies and turnaround situations.

Since making aliyah I have been involved in many successful enterprises. In the last six months, my partners, AryehDeverett, a marketing guru, and BenziNetzer, one of Israel’s leading business mentors, and I have coached many new olim and Anglos on how to access markets they may not previously have known about or considered. Our aim is to provide comprehensive consulting services to the Anglo market in Israel.

We are indeed fortunate to have Mr. Netzer on our team.

In the course of his career, Mr. Netzer has managed some of Israel’s top companies and has mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs. Mr. Netzer’s extensive connections and expertise will allow us to help bridge the gap between the Anglo community and the Israeli business establishment. Needless to say, it is incredibly advantageous to have such an experienced Israeli businessman on your team.

We decided to target our services to Anglo entrepreneurs who have recently made aliyah to help them avoid the pitfalls associated with venturing into a new business environment where a new language and cultural differences make transactions much more difficult.

Raising capital for a new or existing venture can be a daunting experience, especially under the circumstances we discussed above. Over the years I have helped businesses raise in excess of $10 million from various sources of capital. But raising the capital is only the beginning. The primary reason new ventures fail is because of either undercapitalization or 14

•

December 2012

poor management. And this is where two very interesting Israeli programs, Government-backed Loans for Small Business and the Government Mentoring Program come into play.

KerenL’asakim Ketanim V’benonim, the fund for small and medium sized businesses, is the government-backed loan program which offers loan guarantees to banks in order to support small and medium sized businesses. Currently Otzer Hachayal, Mercantile Discount Bank, Bank Hapoalim and MizrachiTafachot are providing these loans to the marketplace. However, Bank Hapoalim and Otzar Hachayil are the key players in the market. Loans will be made at P+3 ceiling, presently at about 6.75% per annum. Non-government-backed loans are generally negotiated at between P+4 or 6% with the need for external guarantors or security.

Incidentally, a small business, as defined by the government, is any business with an annual turnover of fewer than 22 million shekels. Medium sized businesses are those with turnover between 22 million shekels and 80 million shekels per year.

Small businesses or atzmai people, as defined by the program, may apply for the following government-backed 5 year loans: 500,000 NIS if turnover is under 6.25 million shekels. If you are a startup and post-R&D, but just about to launch, the company can apply for loans of between 150,000 to 300,000 NIS. When the company’s turnover is greater than 6.25 million shekels it can apply for 8% of turnover.

Who can applyfor the loans? The ideal candidate is an existing company or atzmai that employs at least 2 people. And while construction companies may apply to the program, real estate investment companies, diamond dealers and R&D companies may not.

The government will provide a 75% guarantee on the loan; the company must place a 25% deposit or alternative collateral with the bank to secure the loan. So if the company applies for a 500,000 NIS loan, 125,000 nis must be placed as collateral

Bizness Magazine

02 999 3939

to secure the loan. The loan is for 5 years with a 5 month grace period. Although the government guarantees the bank 75% of the loan, the government only pays this guarantee if the company or the owners of the company cannot pay. All shareholders greater than 5% must sign as a guarantor on the loan.

Furthermore, to be accepted into the program, the applying company may not be in arrears to the government on their remittances for Mas Hachnasa and Bituach Leumi. The company may be in short supply of working capital, but it cannot have restricted accounts at the bank (more than 7 bounced checks in the preceding 12 months). In addition, dividends can only be paid after 50% of the loan has been repaid.

There are many companies or individuals on the market that offer to help entrepreneurs obtain theses government-backed loans. But most of these advisors try to obtain the funding without face-to-face meetings with the entrepreneur and they don’t really customize the service to the individual’s particular situation.

By the way, the industry success rate in obtaining these loans is somewhere in the 30%-40% ranges. Mr. Netzer has developed a program that, if followed by the entrepreneur, allows for the highest success in obtaining the loans (he has a success rate approaching 90 %!). Mr.Netzer works on an affordable program of 50% of the fee up-front with the balance of the fee contingent upon successfully obtaining the loans. Note that the loan process takes about 30-60 days but is dependent on the efficiency of the client. The most important factor is having a reasonable business plan that is in-line with statistics in the marketplace. For example, if you are a bakery and you say you will earn an overall 25% net profit when the industry in 6-9%, you could have problems.

The loan application process is as follows: 1. Client goes to the bank and gets an application form for preliminary approval (providing the customer is not in arrears on government taxes and does not have an at-risk account as noted above).

2. Customer works with the business professional to prepare the business plan and book of documentation.

3. BDI receives and checks the plan and then meets with the company’s principals and their advisor.

4. BDI makes a recommendation, if it is approved.

5. The credit committee, consisting of a representative of the bank, a principal of BDI and a government representative, reviews the proposal and the recommendation of BDI 6. If the credit committee accepts the application, then the client is sent back to the bank to process the loan.

7. The client can bank with the issuing bank or take the funds to their own bank.

8. Repayment of loans is made via a 5 year hora’at kevah.

The second small business program is the Governmentbacked Mentoring Program.

This program is not the MATI program, which we under-

stand has been placed on hold due to budgetary issues.

Companies who employ at least 5 people can apply for up to 200 hours of mentoring. The government will pay roughly 60-70% of the fees of 210 NIS per hour plus vat.

The First 100 hours the business pays 60 NIS plus vat, on the next 100 hours the company pays 100 NIS plus vat.

If a company has 2 employees then it is eligible for 30 hours of discounted mentoring fees.

Mentoring can be used for the following: 1. To develop a business plan or marketing plan.

2. To develop sales programs or other programs to increase revenue.

3. To outsource CFO services.

4. To formulate a strategic analysis and/or develop production standards and/or budgets for a company.

5. To develop systems and monthly reporting and evaluation for a business Aryeh, Bentzi and I would be happy to meet with you to further discuss the Israeli government programs for small and medium sized businesses, and to help you grow your company and manage the Israeli bureaucracy.  About the Author Harry Zettel is a member of the Bizness Magazine Professional Network offering a free 15-minute consultation to all our readers. He can be contacted at 054-792-3618.

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BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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15

Real Estate Legal

Negotiating

a Fair Contract

How to Navigate the Pre-Contract Stage of Your Real Estate Transaction

By Nicole Levin

S

o you’re in the market for a new home. What do you do next? What are your obligations when you use a real estate agent?

Once you find what you’re looking for, how do you make an offer on the house? Is it possible to bind the seller to the deal at this stage? If you change your mind before the signing of the contract, can you extricate yourself from the deal? In short, how do you get the results you want?

Many potential buyers prefer to use the services of a real estate agent who is familiar with the area in which the property search is taking place.

Real estate agents will ask you to sign a form before they do business with you. This form is a legally-binding contract, which stipulates the terms and conditions of your business relationship and the fees you will owe the real estate agent. Make sure you understand the conditions written on the form, and that you have a copy to keep with you. It is very important to write down which properties the agent showed you, especially if you are viewing properties with other agents as well. If you see that an agent is taking you to view a property that you have already seen with another agent, notify him immediately and write it on the form.

When you find a property that you 16

• December 2012

want to purchase, the next step is to make an offer. You can do this through your real estate agent. Any offers are made verbally, and money does not change hands at this time.

In Israel, any document that you sign can be legally binding. Often, real estate agents will suggest that the potential parties sign a pre-contract “zichron devarim”. Be aware that this is a legally binding document. Most real estate lawyers advise against signing such a document, because at this stage you have not had an opportunity to really investigate the legal particulars of the deal.

A good real estate agent will help you negotiate the price and the date of possession. The payment schedule (which is usually not 10% on signing and 90% on completion, as it is in other countries) is negotiated by the lawyers when they negotiate the terms of the contract.

Bizness Magazine

Other questions that must be addressed and which may affect the terms of the contract include: Is the currency of the contract in shekels or dollars? Is the house in good condition? Is it built to code? Is the property registered in the seller’s name? Is the property encumbered by debts?

After the parties have come to an agreement about the terms of the transaction, you should ask to see the registration of the property. Your attorney will check to see if there are any problems regarding the registration which would preclude doing the deal or influence the deal in any way.

If all is well, the next step is to hire an engineer to check the property and answer some of the above questions.

If you are planning to make any structural or design changes to the property you may also want to consult with an architect.

After checking the property registration and receiving reports from your engineer or architect, the lawyers will begin contract negotiations.

Very often deals fall through after the purchaser has invested time and money in checking out the property.

This is obviously very upsetting and disappointing for the purchaser, but if the contract has not been signed there is very little that can be done.

In order to avoid this type of situa-

02 999 3939

tion, it is best to make sure that there is a real meeting of the minds between the parties before money is spent on engineers, architects and lawyers. It is important to say to the seller, “I am going to spend a lot of money checking this deal out. Are you completely on board? Have you settled any issues you might have? “ Recently, I worked on a deal that went to the lawyers before the sellers were ready. The sellers had major tax issues that they needed to settle, but the parties were rushed to move ahead. As a result, the purchaser hired an engineer to check the property and a lawyer who began working on the contract. In the end, the sellers pulled out due to their tax issues. The purchaser was very hurt, angry and disappointed, not to mention out of pocket.

The whole experience was so upsetting to him that he decided not to purchase any property in Israel at all.

Sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, such situations are unavoidable. Sometimes, expecting the unexpected is simply a helpful mindset to have. Before investing time and money on any real estate deal, make sure that the sellers are completely ready to move forward. When I say completely ready, I mean emotionally, legally, and economically. Very often people put their house up for sale to see how much they can get, but they are not yet ready to take the plunge.

A good real estate agent will help you assess the situation, and a good real estate lawyer will help you navigate what follows. 

because

you never know INSURING YOUR: Home | Health | Life | Auto | Business | Travel

Egert & Cohen. Always by your side. t XXX FHFSUDPIFO DP JM t FHFSU!FHFSUDPIFO DP JM

About the Author Nicole Levin is an American born, Israeli trained real estate attorney with 28 years of experience in the field. She has law offices in Bet Shemesh and in Modiin. Nicole Levin is the author of “Essential Things You Need to Know about Buying Real Estate in Israel�, which can be downloaded free from her website at www.levinlawoffices. co.il BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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17

Insurance

INSURANCE From EGERT AND COHEN CORNER - your neighborhood agents.

(As of writing this, all is hopefully quiet on our Southern front – please G-d it should stay like this!)

T

his week we’ll cover two aspects of common insurance situations: Hitchhiking – The Insurance Side.

Question: If I take a “tramp” and the car I am in is involved in an accident – what is my coverage?

Answer: Under the law of Bituach Chova (Compulsory Third Party insurance), any person who is injured in a motor accident is covered by the insurance of the car that he/she is in.

This is irrespective of who is responsible for the accident.

Question: If unbeknown to me, the driver with whom I take a “tramp” does not have a license – am I still covered?

Answer: If a driver does not have a valid license, the claims are transferred to a government agency called “Karnit”. The injured person is fully covered and the driver is sued by “Karnit”.

Question: Am I covered if involved in a hit-and-run- accident, where the driver is “unknown”? What if the driver is an Arab who has a Palestinian Bituach Chova?

Answer: Here too, the injured persons would be paid by “Karnit”. In the case of the Arab driver, the Palestinian Insurance Company is then billed for the costs.

cy, there is coverage for any accident caused by you or your property which results in death or injury (‫)חו”ח‬ to someone else or damage to his/her property. The amount of this cover varies from company to company and is usually between NIS 500,000 – 1,000,000.

A few examples: You open your umbrella in Safed and hurt someone – you are covered.

Your bath overflows and ruins the carpet of the neighbor below – you are covered.

The big question is – What is not covered? The following is a partial list: Damage caused willfully by you.

Damage caused by you in your professional capacity – e.g. a doctor, who by mistake injures a person he is treating at home, is not covered under this policy.

Guns – you are covered for damage

Insurance Tip Third Party – What does it mean?

In the standard homeowner’s poli18

• December 2012

Bizness Magazine

or injury, but not if you are using the weapon as part of your miluim or if you are a policeman or security guard. In other words, if carrying the weapon is part of your job – the standard policy does not cover you.

Damage caused by dogs, cats, etc.

– Domestic animals are covered on condition that they are tied up or muzzled as required.

“Shiputzim” – contractors’ work in your home is not covered and requires a special policy.

Members of your family who live in your home cannot claim against the policy as Third Party. However, if they do not live at home permanently, they are like any other Third Party.

Someone employed by you or working for you.

To sum up: Neighbors - Yes Patient - No Cat -Yes Unmuzzled Rotweiler -No Your live-in son -No Your visiting mother-in-law -Yes P.S. If you need a certain level of coverage which is not covered under the standard plan, you must contact your agent. There are separate Third Party policies to cover all eventualities.

Comments, queries, and requests: contact Shimon Cohen 0505-482192 or shimon@egertcohen.co.il

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Testimonials “She lost the weight and has kept off since. You have to see her to believe it. She is young, energetic, a real inspiration and really cares about you.” H.B. RBS A “Just when I thought weight loss was hopeless, Chani came into my life like a malach. Chani is not just about calories in vs. calories out, she teaches you how to give yourself the nutrition that your body needs, which is different for each person. With the right combination of healthy food the weight melts off and you don’t feel hungry or deprived. Most importantly, Chani stands by your side and helps you believe that you can do it!” A. K. RBS “It was a pleasure working with Chani. She not only helped me lose weight but taught me how to keep a healthy lifestyle for life. Definitely worth every penny.” Adina RBS A “I turned to Chani after trying several dieticians. I am going through an amazing process. Chani created for me a rich and varied menu. I’m losing an average of one kg a week and I’m feeling great. This is not just another starvation diet with veggies and fruits. I began in August weighing 72 and now I’m at 63.” A. A. Bet Shemesh Galit Roiffman – lost 26 lbs Roitel Barzilai – lost 31 lbs Moshe (Ashdod) – lost 33 lbs Ronit Sapir – lost 27 lbs Menachem Cohen – lost 59 lbs Yariv Gonene – lost 32 lbs Sharon Elimelech – lost 25 lbs

Naomi Raspar – lost 39 lbs and many more…

How many “diets” have you tried? … and

you gain your weight back again… t How would it feel to wake up tomorrow 20 pounds lighter? t How would it feel to look in the mirror and see a healthy, thin face? t How would it feel to wear everything that no longer fits? t How would it feel to have your friends say WOW when they look at you?

Complete body composition analysis with stateof-the-art medical equipment: there are no two people with the same body composition. You need your own professional eating plan.

Chani Illfeld is a professional dietician graduated with a BA in Natural Health from the Bernadean University of California. She specializes in weight reduction and healthy maintenance. Chani will take you by the hand and stay close to you until you look the way you want. She has helped many people lose weight in South Africa, America, and in Israel. Chani understands the process and the way you feel because she has been where you are.

…over 14 years experience BA in Natural Health Bernadean University of California

Jerusalem - Ramat Bet Shemesh – Azrieli Towers, Tel Aviv - Ramat Aviv Medical Center

Call now for an appointment 054 974 3701 Because you deserve the best!

All you need to know about

muscle cramps

By Eliezer Rosenblum What exactly are muscle cramps?

A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. When we use the muscles that can be controlled voluntarily, they alternately contract and relax as we move our limbs. A muscle that involuntarily contracts is in a “spasm.” If the spasm is forceful and sustained, it becomes a cramp.

Muscle cramps often cause a visible or palpable hardening of the involved muscle.

Muscle cramps can last anywhere from a few seconds to a quarter of an hour or, occasionally, longer. It is not uncommon for a cramp to recur multiple times until it finally resolves.

Some cramps involve the simultaneous contraction of muscles that ordinarily move body parts in opposite directions.

Muscle cramps are extremely common. Almost everyone experiences a cramp at some time in their life. Muscle cramps are common in adults and become increasingly frequent with aging. However, children can also experience muscle cramps.

Any of the muscles that are under our voluntary control (skeletal muscles) can cramp. Cramps of the extremities, especially the legs and feet, and most particularly the calf, are very common.

What are the types and causes of muscle cramps?

Skeletal muscle cramps can be categorized into major types. Cramps are categorized according to their different causes and the muscle groups they affect.

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• December 2012

True cramps True cramps involve part or all of a single muscle or a group of muscles that generally act together, such as the muscles that flex several adjacent fingers. They are overwhelmingly the most common type of skeletal muscle cramps. True cramps can occur in a variety of circumstances as follows.

Injury: Persistent muscle spasm may occur as a protective mechanism following an injury, such as a broken bone. In this instance, the spasm tends to minimize movement and stabilize the area of injury.

Injury of the muscle alone may cause the muscle to spasm.

Vigorous activity: True cramps are commonly associated with the vigorous use of muscles and muscle fatigue (in sports or with unaccustomed activities). Such cramps may come during the activity or later, sometimes many hours later. Likewise, muscle fatigue from sitting or lying for an extended period in an awkward position or any repetitive use can cause cramps.

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Rest cramps: Cramps at rest are very common, especially in older adults, but may be experienced at any age, including childhood. Rest cramps often occur during the night.

While not life threatening, night cramps can be painful, disruptive of sleep, and they can recur frequently.

The actual cause of night cramps is unknown. Sometimes, such cramps are initiated by making a movement that shortens the muscle.

Dehydration: Sports and other vigorous activities can cause excessive fluid loss from perspiration.

This kind of dehydration increases the likelihood of true cramps. These cramps are more likely to occur in warm weather and can be an early sign of heat stroke. Loss of sodium, the most abundant chemical constituent of body fluids outside the cell, is usually a function of dehydration.

Low blood calcium, magnesium: Low blood levels of either calcium or magnesium directly increase the excitability of both the nerve endings and the muscles they stimulate. This may be a predisposing factor for the spontaneous true cramps experienced by many older adults, as well as for those that are commonly noted during pregnancy.

Low potassium: Low potassium blood levels occasionally cause muscle cramps, although it is more common for low potassium to be associated with muscle weakness.

Several vitamin deficiency states may directly or indirectly lead to muscle cramps. These include deficiencies of thiamine (B1), pantoth-

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enic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6).

Poor circulation to the legs, which results in inadequate oxygen to the muscle tissue, can cause severe pain in the muscle that occurs with walking or exercise. This commonly occurs in the calf muscles. This pain may be due to accumulation of lactic acid and other chemicals in the muscle tissues. It’s important to see your doctor if you have pain like this.

What is the treatment of skeletal muscle cramps?

Most cramps can be stopped if the muscle can be stretched. For many cramps of the feet and legs, this stretching can often be accomplished by standing up and walking around.

Gently massaging the muscle will often help it to relax, as will applying warmth from a heating pad or hot soak. If the cramp is associated with fluid loss, as is often the case with vigorous physical activity, fluid and electrolyte (especially sodium and potassium) replacement is essential.

Medicines generally are not needed to treat an ordinary cramp that is active since most cramps subside spontaneously before enough medicine would be absorbed to even have an effect.

Muscle relaxant medications may be used but you need to consult with your doctor for dose and frequency.

How can muscle cramps be prevented?

Activity: Authorities recommend stretching before and after exercise or sports, along with an adequate warm-up and cool down, to prevent cramps that are caused by vigorous physical activity. Good hydration before, during, and after the activity is important, especially if the duration exceeds one hour, and replacement of lost electrolytes (especially sodium and potassium, which are major components of perspiration) can also be helpful. Excessive fatigue, especially in warm weather, should be avoided.

Another important aspect of prevention of night cramps is adequate intake of calcium and magnesium.

Blood levels may not be sensitive enough to accurately reflect what is happening at the tissue surfaces where the hyper excitability of the nerve occurs. Supplemental magnesium may be very beneficial for some, particularly if the person has magnesium deficiency. Vitamin E has also been said to help minimize cramp occurrence.

About the Author Dr. Eliezer Rosenblum, a Board Certified Chiropractor and

Physiotherapist, has offices in Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh. Also available are visits to offices and work sites to analyze and correct workplace ergonomics problems. Dr. Rosenblum trains your staff the proper, proven techniques to avoid injuries, reduce stress, increase productivity, and enhance the work place environment.

To schedule an appointment or to speak with Dr. Rosenblum call 052-662-4658.

BIZNESS MAGAZINE

•

21

Legal

EMPLOYMENT LAWS GOVERN

EVEN PART-TIME DOMESTIC WORKERS

By David Drutman, B.Com LLB MBA, Dip Trust Law, TEP

I

n Israel, part-time domestic workers, even if they only work a few hours per week, but on a fixed basis, are considered employees. Therefore, these workers are entitled by law to the same rights as a full-time employee. Furthermore, this applies to illegal, foreign workers who don’t even have an official work permit; the employer still has to pay social benefits.

Therefore, if you have anyone working for you, including part-time domestic help, you have to pay the benefits listed below. By the way, all employees fall under the same laws, but this article will focus on domestic workers (maids, cleaning ladies, nannies).

Minimum pay.

The following is the table of minimum pay effective from October 2012. An employer may not pay less than this but, obviously, may pay more.

• ILS 4300 per month • ILS 193.40 per day five days per week or ILS 172 per day working six days per week • ILS 23.12 per hour.

National insurance (Bituach Leumi) It is the employer’s legal duty to report the employment to the National Insurance within two weeks of commencement of employment. It is also in the employer’s best interest to do so, even if the employee asks not to be registered. There are two important reasons for this. Firstly, it almost invariably happens that after a number of years the employee decides that it is in his or her best interest to be registered, for example when they leave your employment or if they are fired. The employees may then wish to claim unemployment benefits.

If they report to the National Insurance, the employers would have to then explain why they didn’t report them at the beginning of the employment. Apart from any penalties (which usually are not claimed), the employer will have to pay all arrear payments.

Secondly, National Insurance covers work accidents (at least in part), as well as maternity leave and pension (at least in part).

You can register a domestic worker through the website of the National Insurance Institute. They will send a booklet with

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December 2012

vouchers to make the payments.

The amount payable is 7.25% of the pay (2% for a foreign worker). The law allows the employer to deduct 2% of salary paid to the worker in respect of amounts payable to the National Insurance but the obligation is on the employer to pay. Payment must be made at least twice a year, in January and July.

Annual leave The law lays down that in the first few years of employment an employee is entitled to 2 weeks leave. This entitlement increases over a number of years worked. The cases have stated that even a part-time employee who works only two days per month is entitled to a pro-rated benefit. For example, a maid who works five hours per week is entitled to 10 hours pay (2 weeks) if they do not actually take off two weeks’ leave.

In addition the worker is entitled to “Demei Havraa”, literally meaning convalescence pay, or a type of holiday pay. It works on a sliding scale depending on the number of years worked, and the amount is pro-rated (on a weighted average basis) for a part-time employee.

Pension Since 2008, every employer must have a pension arrangement for any employee. This starts at 5% of the salary of which at least half must be paid by the employer and half may be deducted from salary of the employee. It may be most convenient for a part-time worker to arrange her own pension fund to which the various employers can contribute. But at the very least, the employer should set aside the money; it is not a large amount. For example if the worker earns 25 shekels per hour and works two hours per week, her earnings are about 200 shekels per month. 5% of this is 10 shekels per month which the employer should set aside, but may recover five shekels per month from the employee.

Not only is the pension a legal requirement but is also necessary for the same two reasons stated under the National Insurance obligation above.

Travel An employee is entitled to reimbursement for transportation to work and return, up to a limit of 25.20 shekels a day (these are the 2012 figures. The amounts go up every year).

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Income Tax An employer is obligated to deduct income tax, but in most cases this is not necessary for domestic workers as they fall below the tax threshold where there is an obligation to pay income tax.

Sick Pay The law states that nothing is payable for the first day, for the second and third day the employer pays 37.5%, and from the fourth day onwards the employer pays 75% of the worker’s salary. It is not clear how this is divided between employers of workers who only work a few hours at many different employers, but the National Labor Court has issued a guideline that the above percentage should be divided amongst all the employers. The maid must produce a doctor’s certificate stating the period that she was unable to work.

Severance and notice pay If you dismiss, or are considering to dismiss the maid, (for instance, if the employer makes her working conditions worse such as by lowering her salary), she is entitled to severance pay in an amount equivalent to one month’s pay for every completed year she worked. For example if she worked once a week at 30 shekels per hour, the pay is 30 x 4.33 (the average number of weeks per month) = 130 shekels, per completed year. So for the first year the compensation would be 130 shekels, after the second year 260 shekels, and after three years 390 shekels, and so on.

If the worker leaves voluntarily she is not entitled to severance pay, unless she leaves under specified circumstances such as having to care for a child soon after birth or for medical problems. In addition, she would be entitled to notice of one day per month worked. Thus if she worked for a year, she would be entitled to 12 days’ notice. If you dismiss her without notice, you would have to pay her compensation in lieu of notice, in our example 12 x 30 = 360 shekels. However, if you fired her for gross breach of the employment contract (for example, if she stole from you and you have clear evidence) it entitles you to terminate the contract of employment immediately.

Employment of Women Law This provides for paid maternity leave, leave after a miscarriage and similar provisions.

This article is for general information only. Consult your lawyer for specific advice, and to assist you in setting up your business entity.  About the author David Drutman has been a lawyer for 36 years, including the last 13 years in Israel. He has sound experience in a broad spectrum of work in both professional and commercial environments. He is widely respected for creative, goal-orientated legal work. He specializes in transactions (property, estates, contracts, commercial matters etc), family law, and notarial work. He can be contacted at 02-995-1877 or drutlaw@gmail.com

DAVID DRUTMAN- ADVOCATE AND NOTARY ŠÂ&#x;£²¢Â&#x;ÂŞÂ&#x; Â?“Â&#x;ÂŹ -Š¨¢Â&#x;²Â? Â?Â&#x;Â?

30 years experience in protecting our clients

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BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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23

Car Garage

Tipsfor winter car health

By Ariel Levy

E

very year around this time, I get quite a few cars brought to me with odd issues that are winter-related. So, in advance, here are a few ways you can prevent your car from being the next victim of winter.

“Have it checked at the beginning of winter by a trained professional” First of all, try to avoid driving over puddles (or lakes, rivers, and roads that the iryah never fixed properly!)

Here’s why: water can severely damage, or even completely destroy, your car’s electrical system. The condition of your car’s tires is very important all year round but all the more so in the winter. Make sure your tires’ treads are in good shape. To test, try the “penny check: stick a penny upsidedown into the tread closest to the edge of the tire. If you see Abe Lincoln’s head it means it’s time to replace your tires. I you don’t have an American penny, call me and I’ll lend you mine.

Also, look for dryness and/or cracks on the walls of the tires. If you see any cracks, it’s time to have them checked by a professional.

Finally, check your battery fluid.

24

• December 2012

Ariel Levy performing wire surgery Batteries have less power in the cold.

And if you think you have one of those “no maintenance” batteries, think again. There is a very good chance you don’t, since most of the batteries sold in Israel are the kind that needs periodic attention.

And just to give you another good reason to be happy you live in Beit Shemesh or Jerusalem, here are the things you do NOT need to worry about: scraping ice-encrusted windows every time you get in your car, and dealing with the nuisance of a frozen motor.

Finally, just remember that in order for you to feel truly confident about the overall safety of your car, you should

Bizness Magazine

have it checked at the beginning of winter by a trained professional. You can take advantage of the fact that most garages offer free winter checkups.  About the author Ariel Levy’s new car garage is located in the Bet Shemesh industrial area on Rechov Hamasger (across from Yifrach building supplies and next to the Moadon Haklavim pet shop). Ariel is a member of the Bizness Magazine Professional Network offering a free 15-minute consultation to all our readers. He can be contacted at 054 205 0389.

02 999 3939

AJerusalem Tour toNeighborhoods

By Ben Levine, Regional Manager, ReMax Moriya, Jerusalem

R

eal estate in Israel includes a broad spectrum of possibilities, opportunities, and pit falls. The goal of this series is clarification and guidance. But first, let’s take a short tour of the major, central neighborhoods.

City Center Jerusalem’s center, founded in the 1880s, began its gentrification with the Machane Yehuda “shuk” in 1985. The main streets, King George and Jaffa, define an area of commerce and tourism, including the famous Ben Yehuda mall. There are five-star hotels and notable synagogues, as well as elegant houses and modern, high-rise apartment buildings. The area is within walking distance of Mea Shearim, the Old City, Rechavia, and Yemin Moshe.

Mamilla Mamilla, just west of the Old City, was established in 1890 by Muslim and Christian Arabs. Jews moved in during the 1920s, eventually establishing municipal buildings and commercial sites, as well as the first post office outside the Old City walls. Since 1990, Mamilla boasts prestigious residential projects, a spectacular mall, and the rebuilding of the famous Palace Hotel.

Old City The Jewish Quarter is located in the southeastern part of the Old City, facing the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.

This special neighborhood, the epicenter of the spiritual world, is divided into four quarters: Jewish, Armenian, Christian, and Muslim. Many of the unique, striking homes have high domed ceilings and thick walls, dating back 900 years. Residents are mainly religious and the Jewish Quarter has many ancient synagogues, including the famous Hurva, rebuilt after bombing.

Rechavia Rechavia is one of Jerusalem’s most interesting areas from

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December 2012

an architectural and historical perspective, located north of Talbieh and Kiryat Shmuel, adjacent to Shaarei Chesed. Originally a “classic garden neighborhood”, the early villas reflect economic and social status as well as personal style and creative design. In the 1960s, many of Rechavia’s structures became modernized. Nevertheless, the basic pastoral quality remained intact. There are shops, cafes, and every other amenity in this desirable, centrally located neighborhood.

Shaarei Chesed Shaarei Chesed, established in 1909, is a religious neighborhood at the north edge of Rechavia. The adjacent neighborhoods are Nachlat Tzaddok, Nachlaot, and Rechavia. The facades of the buildings are protected to maintain Shaarei Chesed’s unique charm. There are numerous synagogues of every religious variety, as well as excellent schools, stores, and restaurants. Talbieh’s new residents are mostly wealthy religious Jews from Western and European countries.

Talbieh Talbieh, established in 1923, is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Jerusalem. It is located at the edge of the city, between Rechavia to the north, the German Colony to the south, and Old Katamon to the west. Famous buildings include the President’s House, Jerusalem Theater, National Academy of Science, and Van Leer Institute. The residents are upper middle class, both secular and modern orthodox.

There is a rich variety of buildings, including many protected historical homes. The elegant neighborhood is within walking distance of the Old City and hosts most of the city’s finest hotels. Consequently, Talbieh is a prime choice for overseas buyers from North America and Europe.

About the Author Ben Levine is currently the Regional Manager of Remax Moriya (11 Shlomzion HaMalka, a few steps from the Mamilla Mall) and focuses on Jerusalem’s central neighborhoods and the Old City. Ben was born in Germany, grew up in the US, and holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration and Hotel Administration, an MBA in Finance, and a Commercial Pilots License. He first made Aliyah in 1986, and after a stint back in Atlanta and Monsey, came home for good in 2007. Since 1989 he has been involved in one facet or another in the world of real estate: residential and commercial mortgages, group acquisitions, hotels and tourism, commercial development, and residential sales. His expertise and love for what he does make the perfect combination for turning to him to sell your property or to buy a new one. He can be reached at benlevine10@gmail. com or at 054-587-9350.

Bizness Magazine

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Timber

Gifts • Home decor • Lifestyle items • Furniture Classic Design at Surprising Prices Industrial Zone Bet Shemesh (in front of Red Pirate)

Tel. 02-652 8982

Life Coaching

Be the Best Mother

You Can Be!

By Helen Abelesz

B

eing a mother is such an important job, some would argue it is the most important job anyone can have. But what if your own mother was not a good role model? Can you still be a good mother? Yes, I believe you can!

I have been so inspired by some of my clients who either didn’t have a mother while growing up or did not have a mother who could cope with being a parent. These women have been able to rise above their circumstances and become amazing mothers to their children.

Yet, many people think the opposite, that we are determined by our circumstances. People have told me, “I come from a dysfunctional family and therefore I can’t ...”

This could not be further from the truth, and my clients provide me with proof for this, time and time again.

I have seen firsthand with my clients how you don’t have to be a product of your circumstances or of your past. We have a choice in how we react to the situations we find ourselves in. I am not saying that it is an easy thing to do; in fact it is very challenging. But with a little coaching, mothers can learn to do it differently from their own parents and become great mothers!

Yocheved’s* parents divorced when she was little and they moved around a lot. She sometimes lived with her mother and brother and sometimes she lived with her father, stepmother and stepsiblings.

She didn’t get along with her stepsiblings and always felt her stepmother didn’t really like her. Her mother suffered from clinical depression and couldn’t cope with her kids so she kept sending them 28

• December 2012

back to live with their stepmother and father.

Yocheved moved to Israel at 18 mainly to get away and to make a new start.

She found a good husband and had 4 kids.

She was a young mother with no family around and a husband who worked long hours. She loved her children so much but found that nothing came naturally to her. Her parents had never sat down and played with her and they rarely took her to the park. Her children were suddenly making all these demands for her attention. She hated shouting at them, punishing them and putting them to bed early, and knew it was wrong. She saw her kids feeling the same way she did when she was a child and that hurt her. Yocheved wanted to give her children a different message but she didn’t know where to begin, so she gave me a call.

We worked very hard on what it means to be a mother and what kind of mother she wanted to be. Changing ingrained

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ways was not easy and sometimes Yocheved felt completely overwhelmed, but slowly and surely she began to react differently to their behavior and she developed a closer relationship with all her children. . She didn’t always get it right but her house was becoming a much happier home. Most importantly for her, she was able to forgive herself when she wasn’t the perfect mother and she was able to heal some of the pain of her childhood by giving to her children the love and attention she needed from her own mother. Yocheved’s children now have a great role model.

Parenting isn’t easy even if we did have the most amazing role models, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a great mother to your own children.

Give me a call to see how you can be the best mother you can be!  Call Helen Abelesz 0544 829 815.

* Not her real name and all identifying features have been changed.

02 999 3939

BiznessPro

I’m calling BiznessPro. Let’s get started right!

Consulting

30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BUILDING COMPANIES - LET’S BUILD YOURS NOW.

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Are you starting a business?

Want to know if your idea is good?

Do you need a smart plan?

Need to raise funds?

Want to increase your sales?

Need winning strategies?

Ariel has built 15 companies in 3 continents in the fields of Internet, High-Tech, Retail, Franchising, Food Manufacturing, Clothing Manufacturing, Direct Sales, Wholesale, Personal Development, Restaurant, Advertising and Publishing. In this process, Ariel has headhunted, hired, trained, managed and/or mentored over 20,000 individuals.

Contact Ariel Topf Tel. 0528 02 1903 ariel@BiznessPro.com

If someone who has built 15 businesses in 3 continents could help you build your business, would you pass up the opportunity?

Mortgage

The Bank of Israel’s

New

By Moshe Wilshinsky

O

What It Means To You

n October 29th, the Bank of Israel issued a new regulation which limits the size of a mortgage a bank can give a borrower (i.e. the amount of money a bank can lend). The regulation limits the loan to value ratios (LTV) that banks can use for different types of borrowers. The LTV is calculated by value of the property divided by the total amount of all the loans on the property. Below are the different mortgage categories: 1. A residential mortgage for someone who does not own a home can be up to 75% LTV. 2. A residential mortgage for the purchase of an investment property can be up to 50% LTV. 3. A residential mortgage that does not fit under either category above can be up to 70% LTV. It should be noted, that in a purchase transaction, the bank will use the lower of the appraisal or the purchase contract for the LTV calculation. One of the more striking ramifications of this regulation is that using Ezer Mortgage Insurance Company Ltd (EMI) for a purchase with a loan at an 80% or 85% LTV will no longer be possible.

Well, what this all means to you, really depends on which type of borrower you are. If you wanted to buy a home with a 20% down payment, this is not currently possible. If you are buying a second apartment, your mort-

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Mortgage Regulation

gage is classified as a “loan for investment” and category number two above applies. You will also fall in the second category above, if you are not a citizen of Israel even if you live in Israel (as of now). If you fall into category number two above you will need a larger down payment. If you currently own a home and are planning on buying a new home - then number three above applies and not much has changed for you. If you currently do not own a home and are planning on buying one with a 25% down payment (and you can qualify) then number one above applies and it is a change for the better.

It is important to note that maintaining the availability of housing finance and monitoring and balancing the banking industry’s residential portfolio risk are usually objectives shared by multiple government entities. With this latest regulation, the Bank of Israel had a balancing act; it had to focus on the industry’s portfolio risk and simul-

Bizness Magazine

taneously take measures to mitigate negative effects on housing. Some of the most significant implications of this latest regulation are that for the first time, investors, foreign borrowers, home owners, and buyers who do not own a property currently or first time buyers, will each have different lending parameters and that last group of home buyerswho do not currently own a home or first time buyersare favored.

Let’s take a step back and look at the previous Bank of Israel regulations and their aftermath. Until the second quarter of 2010, an Israeli citizen was able to take a mortgage under either fixed, or adjustable rate terms. Then, very similar to this past October 29, the Bank of Israel announced a new regulation which allowed only 32% of the loan amount to be in adjustable interest rates. The balance of the loan had to be in “fixed interest rate” terms. This created problems for a number of borrowers. For example, an investor who purchased a property on paper from a builder with the idea of selling it in 3 years once it was completed, had a problem in that fixed rate loans have a fee if you pay early called a “prepayment penalty” (this is due to a Bank of Israel regulation, which is in the process of change but that is an issue for another article). A similar problem was caused for homeowner’s with sufficient equity in their home. If they found a

02 999 3939

home to purchase before selling their old home, they would just get an adjustable rate loan to access the equity in their current home and then pay off the entire loan when it sold. Why am I going over this past regulation and these scenarios? Because within a few weeks of the last regulation being published, a clarification was made regarding Bridge Loans: Loans for a period of three years or less were allowed to be fully adjustable (i.e. with no prepayment penalty). The mortgage market in May 2010 was crazy mainly because the banks were not clear on all the ramifications of the new regulations.

It took close to two months from the date the regulations were announced for the Bank of Israel to make clarifications and the banks to understand how to work with the legislation.

While I do have some hunches, I won’t be so brazen to predict what will happen over the next few months. What we do know, quoting the famous management consultant Phil Crosby, is that “If anything is certain, it is that change is certain”.

Given the Bank of Israel made the announcement right after the last edition of Bizness Magazine went to print, I felt compelled to write about the new regulation (and there still is a lot more to write). In future articles I would like to explain the world of mortgages in Israel to you, to help you understand what is available as well as understanding the mortgage you already have. I would love to see the questions about the new regulations or about any mortgage issue that is puzzling you as well as issues that you want to understand better. Please email your questions or suggestions for topics to questions@ movillefinance.com.

Moshe Wilshinsky is the CEO of Moville Moville Mortgage & Finance LTD. Contact information: Dial 073 796 2226 and press the special 711 Bizness Magazine extension. US 201 377 3418 UK 208 596 4501. Website at www.movillefinance.com 

KEREN DAVID MOVERS Professional Movers Since 1979 Fully insured-Jewish workers only All types of moves– big and small Extra careful with your belongings Reasonable rates– No surprise charges

Yoni Hass

Phone: 057-316-0000 Fax: 02-999-3330 Email: yoni.kerendavid@gmail.com www.kerendavidmovers.com

BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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31

Property Inspector

There’s a new meaning to

“Doctor’s House Call”

By Meir Luzon

02-5901227

F

How medical technology has been adapted to home maintenance

info@luzon.co.il

ollowing last month’s article in Bizness Magazine, we were swamped with phone calls from clients in the Bet Shemesh area. We are elated to be able to work with a clientele comprised of quality people, who know how to appreciate professional and reliable work.

During many of the house calls we made in the past weeks we were asked a fair number of times about the cameras we use. In the following lines I will give a little background so that you can understand exactly what it is you are paying for when you hire Luzon Waterproofing Services. The equipment we work with stems originally from the world of medicine. You are probably familiar with concepts like x-ray, CT and catheterization. These developments, which were designed for medical use, have in the last few years been adapted to the world of construction and insulation. Their use in our industry can potentially save the consumers thousands of shekels.

The camera we discussed in last month’s article is called a thermal camera and is capable of detecting temperature differences inside the walls. When there is a leak from a specific spot, that area will be colder than the rest of the structure. Personally, through many years in the business, I am still amazed every time at how the camera pinpoints the problem’s source without having to resort to breaking and destroying the whole wall. Luzon Waterproofing Services is proud to be the first company in Israel to utilize this technology. You are welcome to read more about it at the producers’ website: http://www. flir.com/cs/emea/en/view/?id=41605 Now, I would like to introduce you to another camera we use: the telescopic tube camera. This is a miniscule camera attached to a tube which is inserted into the house’s plumbing system. This camera enables us to see the inside of the pipes without having to break the walls around them. But the ingenuity doesn’t stop there. When we detect a localized problem that doesn’t require changing the entire pipe, we use an inflatable seal that can be attached to the head of the pipe. In a process similar to a hospital catheterization, we can seal the weak spot without having to dismantle the whole plumbing system.

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December 2012

To continue with the medical images, my initial job can be likened to a sort of “x-ray technician” or “data processor”. Of course I also use my many years of experience to locate the problem, but the precision would be impossible without these advanced technological tools.

Our Monthly Tip A common problem I encounter is moisture above the panels at the meeting point of the floor and the walls. Homeowners familiar with this problem are ready to give up after repeated efforts to solve the issue. To understand the solution, we have to first understand the source of the problem. Panel moisture occurs mostly in ground- floor apartments, and is usually caused by one of the following scenarios.

One possibility is that at the time of construction, the foundation of the building was exposed to high winds and rain, and became soaked in water. Another possibility is that a pipe burst, saturating the sand beneath the tiles. In both cases the moisture “climbed up” to the walls. Therefore, the walls themselves are internally wet, rendering useless solutions such as lifting tiles and panels, performing outer insulation and exchanging the sand. The effective way to take care of this problem starts with an inspection to determine whether there is water penetration.

Afterwards, the water and moisture must be drained from the walls until they are completely dry. Only then can we paint over the surface, knowing that the water spots won’t return.

Story of the Month: The deal that almost fell through.

Two weeks ago we received a frantic phone call from a real estate agency in Ramat Bet Shemesh. The agent told us that water penetration signs were discovered in the bed room of a house about to be sold. Understandably, the potential buyers wanted to be sure this didn’t mean there was a major plumbing problem.

Even though we don’t generally schedule on-the-spot inspections, we took the buyers’ and sellers’ anxiety into account and made it happen. To everyone’s relief, the inspection revealed the problem to be merely an old burst pipe that was properly repaired but not sealed well enough. Solving the problem was a simple matter of localized sealing in two places. The whole repair amounted to less than 3000 NIS in costs! Of course, the cost of more complex problems isn’t always that low. Nonetheless, our ability to identify, repair and insulate with minimum disorder and maximum quality saves you, our clients, both money and unnecessary damage. But more important is the peace of mind that is attained, when you know that the work being done is as honest, professional and long-lasting as possible. 

Bizness Magazine

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LED light bulbs can

save you

hundreds of shekels

in energy bills.

By Tzvi Lefkowitz

R

ecessed lights or spotlights can create the perfect atmosphere and give off light that renders colors more accurately. And in this day and age, most of have made the switch from the incandescent spotlights to the more energy efficient halogen bulbs. However, here is an even more cost effective and energy efficient alternative to halogen that people are just starting to discover: Light Emitting Diode bulbs or LEDs for short.

LED bulbs have many benefits to consider. Firstly, LEDs come with a guaranteed 10,000 hours of lifetime, 10x more than halogen bulbs. This means that once you install them, they don’t have to be changed for years. The LED bulbs of today have the same light intensity as 50 watt halogen bulbs. However, a typical ’50 watt’ LED bulb uses only 3 watts of energy compared to a typical halogen bulb which uses 35-50 watts.

Granted, the cost of LED bulbs is higher than that of halogen bulbs, but their amazing energy efficiency and long life

makes them a wonderful money saving option in the long run.

So, whether you already have recessed lighting in your home or plan on installing it, retrofitting those lights with new LED bulbs will save you energy and money in the long run. You, your home, and your electric bill deserve it!  About the Author Handyman Tzvi has many years of extensive experience in general contracting and home construction and renovations. Tzvi made aliyah from New York where he built multi unit projects and custom homes. He gives a thorough explanation of the work to be done with honest and affordable prices. Tzvi is a licensed Chromagen water heater and solar panel installer. Tzvi is also an expert in all other home related services such as electric, plumbing, major appliances repair, air conditioning and general repairs. Tzvi has a large customer base in Jerusalem and Bet Shemesh. He can be contacted at 054-498-5298 or visited on his website www.HandymanTzvi.com

Tzvi is building his reputation on customer satisfaction.

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Bizness Magazine interviews Yaakov Nissan, owner of Nissan Building Supplies, one of the most trusted retailers in Bet Shemesh.

How did you get in the building supply business?

In 1985 my brother and I bought a business that was having financial problems. We both have a technical background and grew the business according to our customer’s demand.

Nowadays my brother is not in the business anymore. I have 4 daughters and some of them work with me now.

You have seen Bet Shemesh’s substantial growth in the last 40-50 years, what have been the best years for the business?

I would say that the last 15 years, especially since the establishment of Ramat Bet Shemesh and the boom in construction have been good years for the business. I have to add though that we know of three other businesses that went bankrupt at that time because they overextended the credit to some big developers who did not end up paying their debts.

How did the veteran Bet Shemesh people take this “avalanche” of new Anglo olim?

We loved it! I think that the Anglo population has brought a higher standard to the city of Bet Shemesh. They definitely gave Bet Shemesh a lift.

What type of products do you mainly sell?

Some of our products include: construction materials, plumbing, waterproofing materials, drywall supplies, paint, wood, all types of glue, garden equipment, ceramics, materials to build a pergola, doors, roof tiles, etc. Everything you can think of for building, renovating or fixing anything in the house.

You have been in this business for 27 years, probably through ups and downs; what do you attribute your long term success to?

I believe that customer service is the # 1 reason for our long-term success. We always look out for the customer’s needs first. Even in war time, like during the Gulf war, we did not raise our prices. We believe in not taking advantage of a person or situation when times are hard. We always put ourselves in the customer’s shoes.

You have serious competitors in town, why do people come to you?

They come to us for various reasons. Our customer service

is second to none. For starters, our staff speaks English. We are experts in providing solutions for our customer’s needs.

We even hire the engineers of our suppliers to provide the best training possible to our team.

We do things that most other places don’t. We take products off our customers’ shopping lists if they really do not need them, we often take back products that customers have bought and then don’t need and we have always happily replaced any defective product, even before the new law for returns came to effect. This is the type of service and attitude that people come here for.

In addition, we carry the highest quality products from well-known companies such as Bosch, Hitachi, Plasson, Tamboor, etc. We sell them for fair market prices and sometimes even below that. Most important of all, people know that we are straight and trustworthy. That’s the formula for long term success.

What hobbies do you have?

I love horses and have a place where people can go for leisure horse back riding as well as for therapy. I also enjoy jeeping, diving and doing extreme sports. I love seeing animals in the wilderness. There is nothing like Hashem’s creations!

What advice can you give to Olim who want to succeed in business in Israel?

People have to look for something that they believe in and stick to it. You always have to have a positive attitude and be dan le kav schut to others. Do not look for the quick and fast buck; a business takes time to build. Think of your long term goals and plan accordingly. Always smile because if you smile you will get a smile back. A business has to be good for both the owner and the client. Do not be afraid and be persistent.

What did your parents do differently to raise hardworking, successful and united children?

My parents led us by personal example. They never differentiate between their children. Each of us felt like we were their favorite child. We always got together for smachot and chagim and we go by the motto of: all for one and one for all. Our house was full of love, chessed and was always open to everyone. They taught us that we must always put our best effort, but ultimately everything comes from Hashem.

What plans do you have for the future?

Baruch Hashem I am happy with what I have; if everything continues the way it has been, I will be satisfied. I plan to continue with the business with my family around me.  BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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35

Exclusive Interview with

Dr. Michael E. Portman,

author of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Across the Lifespan: An Integrative Approach Where are you originally from and when did you make aliyah?

I am originally from Columbus, Ohio, but prior to aliyah, we lived in Cleveland for several years. I made aliyah with my family 18 months ago.

What made you become a psychologist?

My mother jokes that I was born a psychologist! In all seriousness, however, I find the human condition quite fascinating and I’ve always wanted to play a part in easing the suffering of those struggling with mental health challenges. Being a psychologist has made it possible for me to help others in a meaningful and enduring way. In addition, psychology, as a field, is both a science and an art and something that appeals to the creative and analytic sides of my personality.

How long and where have you been practicing?

I have been in the mental health field for close to two decades. I have worked in an inpatient hospital setting, community mental health, with veterans at the Cleveland VA, in group practice and now in my own private clinic.

What is your therapeutic approach?

I consider myself primarily a cognitive-behavioral therapist (CBT). The foundation of CBT rests on the concept that it is not events and things that cause human suffering but our perceptions that influence how these factors will affect us. It is a pragmatic, collaborative and empirically (scientifically) based approach to treating a broad range of psychological maladies. CBT is structured, generally not long-term and highly effective. I am also trained in other treatment modalities (psychodynamic, integrative, and interpersonal) but find CBT to be the most tried and tested approach.

How did you develop a passion for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

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December 2012

My passion for GAD started when I was in graduate school and asked to do a paper on any mental health topic.

My fellow students seemed interested in the so called “better known” disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. In researching this paper on GAD, I began to sense that individuals with chronic anxiety and worry were not getting the attention and treatment they needed. GAD seemed enigmatic and neglected and I’ve always liked fighting for the underdog.

What type of research have you done on GAD? My research has been somewhat atypical, given that I am primarily a clinician and been able to do independent research without the pressures of an academic position.

My doctoral dissertation was on GAD and this was followed by a solo text on GAD, a guest editorship for a prestigious psychiatric journal (where I wrote two articles) and other various publications. I’ve also been fortunate that my work has had a positive influence on the direction that GAD will take in the upcoming DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Some of my current research interest has been aimed at studying and applying cognitive-behavioral therapy, not just in the private sector but in the larger business arena as well.

How did you become an international authority in this field?

I think that as a result of my publications, communications with colleagues in the anxiety field and consultations on difficult cases of those suffering from GAD, my reputation as being one of the leading authorities on the disorder just naturally grew. In addition, I feel that my passion for GAD and advocacy for these patients has been highly influential in establishing my reputation on the subject.

What are the symptoms of GAD?

Bizness Magazine

The core symptoms of GAD are persistent anxiety

02 999 3939

and/or chronic worry lasting for at least six months.

Other symptoms include: feeling restless/keyed up, disturbed sleep, irritability, muscle tension, poor concentration and being easily fatigued. There are other associated symptoms as well, but the ones listed are primary. It is important to keep in mind that GAD is a heterogeneous disorder (meaning that it presents differently depending on the person) and often co-occurs with depression.

Is it a genetic condition?

This is an ongoing debate in the literature. However nature does play a role and it is estimated that the influence of genetics is about 30% as to whether someone will develop GAD. Everyone has anxiety. At what point should people look for professional help?

Anxiety and worry are quite common given the stressors of daily living. However, when anxiety and worry causes impairment in the ability to function and contributes to decreased quality of life, professional attention is indicated. It is not the mere presence of anxiety and worry that warrants professional attention, it is the amount of time spent being preoccupied by worry and anxiety.

People tend to think that I am more famous than I really am! In reality, it has provided me with the opportunity to collaborate with other outstanding clinicians and researchers in the anxiety disorders field and it has given me heightened visibility and credibility. In the end, a good clinician still has to prove him or herself with the actual people he or she takes care of everyday.

How would you advise young people thinking about pursuing a mental health related career?

I would tell them that it’s not like talking to a friend and just giving good advice. A seasoned mental health professional has to have a strong conceptual base (mine happens to be cognitive-behavioral in nature), technical competence and excellent interpersonal skills. A good therapist also needs to be able to be compassionate without getting too drawn in to the patient’s suffering. This is obviously a tall order, and I probably spend more time discouraging people from going into the field than actually encouraging it.

You have become increasingly interested in the corporate sector. Please give us some details.

There are various recorded protocols that outline a specific treatment length for GAD. Unfortunately, these protocols often tend not to factor in individual differences and are often based on research subjects, not actual patients seen in clinics.

Some people may need shorter or longer term therapy depending on the severity of their symptoms, persistence of the disorder and the presence of other psychological conditions (i.e. depression, social anxiety disorder, chemical dependency and even medical problems).

Over the years I have treated many executives, managers and others in the business world and found that their stress, anxiety and worry are often at extremely high levels. I feel that my clinical skills translate well into helping people to cope more adaptively while optimizing their potential in the workplace. I believe strongly in helping others “work smarter, not harder.” GAD is highly prevalent in the workplace and on average, individuals with this disorder are absent from their jobs 6.3 days per month. This loss of productivity at the individual and corporate level exacts a huge toll emotionally and financially. Finally, those who are battling anxiety and worry in the workplace, perform at a much lower level than they would otherwise.

What age groups do you treat?

What are your professional plans for the future?

I’ve been trained to work with individuals across the lifespan - that is from childhood to older adults. Yet my practice primarily consists of adolescents and adults.

I would like to continue with the rewarding work of helping others in my clinical practice and to pursue further research/publishing on GAD. Additionally, I would like to supervise and train others in the effective use of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Finally, I want to apply my talents as a clinician/consultant in the corporate sector and enhance the well-being of those in the business community.

Is there such a thing as average treatment length?

Tell us some of the most common mental health areas you deal with?

In addition to treating GAD, I have a general mental health practice. In other words, I conduct therapy with individuals suffering from other anxiety disorders, depression, personality challenges and more severe mental disorders (i.e. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). I am also adept in treating couples and families.

How has life changed for you since your book was published?

Where do you practice and how can people reach you?

I have a private practice in Rechavia (a suburb of Jerusalem) and I can be reached through my website (www.drmichaelportman.com) or by phone at (052) 269-4030.  BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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37

Orthodontics

Smiling from

Bet Shemesh to Jerusalem

with Smile Talk Braces; Not Just for Beauty

By Dr Lavi and Dr Gherman

O

ne of the biggest misconceptions about orthodontic treatment is that straight teeth are a luxury for the wealthy and vain, like a custom shaitel or a fancy car. This is far from the truth. In fact, braces were invented before dental fillings!

In the beginning, mankind would extract every tooth that hurt. Later, smart dentists realized that they could minimize cavities and gum disease if they could just straighten the teeth and make them easier to clean. This is because the teeth are naturally designed, by their shape and constitution, to ward off gum disease and decay. The shiny, smooth surfaces of the teeth and the pinpoint contacts between each tooth prevent food and microorganisms from sticking to the teeth and gums and causing them to break down. The easiest way to host these germs and allow them to colonize and destroy the gums and teeth is to have crooked teeth with pits and crevices between them, which provide a perfect place for the bad bugs to set up shop.

When the teeth are

crooked, there is almost no amount of cleaning that can prevent gum disease and decay. I unfortunately see this every day in my practice. It is also important to note that a healthy mouth can also impact your overall health.

Think about it; there is only one opening in your body that you constantly shove things into all day. You want the “mouth” of that opening to be super clean so that you don’t contaminate everything that you ingest. Some research has even demonstrated a direct correlation between periodontal disease and heart disease. Again, the logic is that accumulated germs from your mouth travel into the rest of your body, including vital organs.

So, if your teeth are straight, or if you are undergoing orthodontic treatment in the hands of a competent, caring orthodontist, you have one more big reason to smile .

Maybe it’s time to set up your free consultation.

Dr Gherman is located at 15 Ibn Gevirol Street in Rechavia. The numbers are 02 5619770 and 02 5619780 and our hours are Sunday to Thursday 8-3, Wednesday 8-7 and Friday 8-12 Dr. Edo Lavi’s office is on Nachal Tamar 1, Ramat Bet Shemesh, Tel. 02 992 3363. 

Tooth decay and gum disease are much more likely to occur where the teeth are crowded.

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December 2012

Bizness Magazine

Drs Gherman and Lavi would like to wish all of our readers a Happy Hanukkah, and in the spirit of Hanukkah give you a gift of 10% off for new patients during the month of December, when you bring in this Bizness Magazine issue.

02 999 3939

Super Shekel Store Interview with Vered Karni

From artist to

photographer

How long have you been in the industry?

It’s a long story. I came to photography after experiences in various art fields, from fashion design studies, to polymer clay jewelry design, scrap booking (album design) and more.

How did you fall in love with photography?

My connection to photography happened when I was in the scrap booking domain. The combination of design and images made me feel the significance of preserving those special moments properly. So I decided to study photography professionally for three years. Since I love photography in general, I’ve been in almost all areas of photography possible.

What’s capture in your photos?

Through the lens I see the children’s laughter; I enter the world of their imagination and I capture the magical moments of childhood. I savor every moment of the pure magic of a newborn and create a testimony to the family’s existence, unity, harmony, and love.

What’s your actual product?

I take pictures that capture your precious moments and life stage events creating lasting memories for generations to come. I also specialize in business portraits, advertising, and food photography.

You are invited to contact Vered to schedule an appointment. veredkarni@gmail.com Tel. 0526208472.

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39

Dvar Torah

Chanuka:

Dreidels & Cards

T

he dreidel is, of course, the foursided top that has become almost synonymous with Chanuka. It is widely believed that playing dreidel began in response to the evil Greek decree that completely banned all Torah study.

When the Greek soldiers were seen approaching the schools and other centers of Torah study to carry out their inspections, the students would quickly hide their books and take out their dreidels in order to fool the soldiers into believing that only games were taking place.1 The rules of the dreidel game require each player to contribute a number of coins to a central fund, the proceeds of which are used to pay out the winners.

On each of the four sides of the dreidel appears one of the following letters: nun, gimmel, hey, and shin. The letters of the dreidel are said to represent the first letter of a different Yiddish word. The nun stands for the word “nisht”, nothing, gimmel for “gantz”, all, hey for “halb”, half, and shin for “shtel”, pay. After the dreidel ceases to spin and lands on one of its sides, the letters inform the player how to proceed. For example, if the dreidel lands on the letter “hey” the player wins half the money that is currently in the pot, and so on.

Although the dreidel game is essentially a form of gambling, it is considered to be a permissible form of gambling due to its simplicity and the insignificant amounts of money that are commonly used. Nevertheless, there have been a number of authorities in the past who opposed playing dreidel, along with anything else that even resembled gambling for that matter.2 In addition to the gaming use for the 40

• December 2012

letters of the dreidel, there are a number of other interpretations to the meaning of these letters, as well. The letters are widely believed to be an acronym for the words “nes gadol haya sham”, meaning “a great miracle happened there.”3 Another explanation offered is that the four letters of the dreidel represent the four spiritual elements that are found in every person: body, soul, intellect, and what is referred to as “supreme encompassing strength” in Chassidic literature. It is also noted that the gematria of the four letters equal that of “mashiach”.4 Some sources claim that the original custom was to specifically use wood or silver dreidels.

Closely related to the custom of playing dreidel on Chanuka is that of playing cards. Playing cards on Chanuka likely become popular due to an ancient and lesser-known rabbinic decree which forbade playing cards.

There was one exception, however.

Playing cards was permitted on days on which tachanun was not recited.

Since Chanuka offered an extended break from tachanun many individuals took the opportunity to spend much of their free time on Chanuka playing cards.5 It is also suggested that playing cards on Chanuka was popularized in an effort to ensure that the children would be kept busy and thereby remain awake until the family gathered to light the menora which often took place well into the night.6 In some communities playing with cards was an activity that was restricted to Chanuka and Purim.7 Many authorities in the past opposed card games and tried to eliminate the practice entirely.8 According to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, playing-

Bizness Magazine

cards are imbued with a spirit of impurity that must be vigorously avoided. It is also noted that the gematria of “cards” is “Satan”.9 Even a number of contemporary authorities maintain that the custom of playing cards on Chanuka should be abandoned as it is can lead to gambling, theft, and other possible prohibitions.10 Another reason for the opposition to playing cards on Chanuka was because the card games were often played by the light of the Chanuka candles. This is in violation of the well-known halacha that it is forbidden to engage in any activity by the light of the Chanuka candles or to benefit from them in any way.

Nevertheless, although at one time card playing may have indeed been excessive, and possibly impacted negatively on people’s personal and professional lives, this is no longer the case today.

As such, one who feels the need to play cards on an occasional basis, rather than engage in other unproductive pursuits, is permitted to do so.11 However, one who is able to engage in Torah study and other praiseworthy activities should certainly do so instead.12  Footnotes can be requested at footnotes@biznessmag.com About the Author Rabbi Ari N. Enkin, a resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh, is a researcher and writer of contemporary Halachic issues and the author of the “Dalet Amot Halacha Series” (5 Vol.). He is also associate manager at the Ramat Beit Shemesh “Gelt Center” and night-seder Rebbe at Yeshivat Lev Hatorah. For more information or to order his sefarim: rabbiari@hotmail.com

02 999 3939

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Come renew your Hanukkiyah with A big selection of Hanukkiyot for children and adults

Park Center, 3rd floor, Tel/Fax 02- 9919374 smiley.dolev@gmail.com Hours: Sun - Thus 9:00- 20:00 Fri 9:00- 13:00

BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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41

PEACE

By Sue Lachman

W

OF MIND

e all know what it means to be physically healthy, to make healthy choices with our food and to exercise so we keep in shape and physically fit. Whether we take heed or not is another matter. But, do we even know or bother about our emotional health and understand that peace of mind, mental well-being, happiness, and joy is available to each and every one of us?

Have you ever considered how one person who experienced something similar to you reacted in one way and you reacted differently? Have you wondered why you react to your son who is in a mood by shouting at him today, whereas yesterday when the same thing happened, it didn’t bother you?

Or why today it bothers you that your husband has thrown his socks on the floor when yesterday you just picked them up without it being an issue? Yesterday your children brought you near to tears, and yet today the same or similar behaviour did not bother you. What was it that changed?

Before man realised that the world was round, everyone believed it was flat and anyone who believed it to be different was deemed crazy. It took quite some time for people to take this new idea on board. Just consider the potential in learning new languages, exposure to different cultures, and possibilities of trading that were missed as a result of the lack of knowledge. And even when the knowledge was imparted, the lack of trust and a need to hold on to initial beliefs hold us back. It took

42

• December 2012

an inordinate amount of time for people to believe that germs in hospitals were carried from person to person, and so started the war against germs. People simply didn’t believe the truth and kept holding on to their old beliefs, such as the belief that our outside circumstances can affect our well being and peace of mind.

In the same way that gravity works whether we believe and understand it or not, life works through the principles of Mind, Thought, and Consciousness.

The 3 principles or Innate Health is merely a description of how life works.

The fascinating thing is that when people start to understand how their minds function, they have access to more creativity, better productivity, infinite amounts of potential, a calm state of mind, love, gratitude, and gratefulness for everything we have, and with a humbleness and humanness to it.

We all have the wisdom within us to navigate life’s ups and downs. There is psychological freedom and a resilience that we all possess, but that many of us do not realize. It is firmly inside all of us, given to us by Hashem as a

Bizness Magazine

gift before we are born. It is not something new; in fact, many people that hear about ‘Innate Health’ have a feeling that they are coming ‘home.’ It just awakens something that was dormant inside. We all have unlimited potential for creativity and an ability to live life in a more peaceful state of mind.

The most powerful way of understanding this is to experience it. It is easy for people to say that they don’t believe before having heard it properly and comment that it is similar to this or to that. It is also true to say that just hearing this once may not bring you the instant gratification you seek. Innate Health guides people to having their own realization from listening and it touching them, which shifts their perspective. When people get a glimpse, they often want to hear more. Allow yourself to feel the quality of every moment and not live in the past or the future.

I first heard about the 3 principles from Rebbetzin Feigi Twerski. Her husband Rabbi Michel Twerski has given 2 shiurim on this subject and says there is a “necessity for actively seeking this understanding, how it can boost and bolster our observance of Torah and Mitzvos, and the importance of “choosing life” - living full, enriching, calm lives.”

I would love to hear from you and help guide you towards understanding your innate resiliency and how life works.  Call me: Sue Lachman 0527390670 or email suelachman@gmail.com

02 999 3939

                  

The Fourth Commandment:

Thou Shall

Build a Strong Team

By Nachum Kligman

A

44

ndrew Carnegie said, “Take away my people but leave my factories, and soon grass

• December 2012

will grow on the factory floors. Take away my factories but leave my people, and soon we will have a new and

Bizness Magazine

better factory.”

Once you have your idea hammered out and, perhaps, have raised some initial funds, your team becomes the next key to success. Whether they are co-founders, executives, employees, vendors, investors, or your advisory board, each person becomes an integral extension of your idea. Each one is an important link in becoming a successful company.

To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. A main secret of success is to hire or partner with those who are smarter than you, those who have skill sets that you don’t possess, or have experience that you believe will be beneficial to your company.

Not having all the skills needed is not a weakness. Thinking you have all the skills needed is a weakness.

As the founder of the company, you also need to develop top delegating skills and learn to trust your instinct.

Especially early on, when the foundation of the business is based on your vision, you need to be able to make decisions and stick to them.

At ViewBix, one of the most exciting companies I founded, I was blessed with an absolutely amazing team, and they are the true reason for its success so far. They are simply phenomenal. Most of the core team has been working together for six years, and the company runs like a well oiled machine.

When building your team, you need to think of each one as becoming a member of your family and you need to treat them as such. That doesn’t mean there is no room for

02 999 3939

disagreements, but as the founder, you are the Daddy and you need to give unconditional love and truly care about your team.

Below we will take a look at some of the team members you will need, and also discuss some of their pros and cons.

Building a Team When putting a team together, I would give potential team players the presentation and pump them up about the vision. Then I would ask, “What do you think of the idea?”

I want to hear their response. I don’t want to hear that they are good executives, that they know how to run a business, or even that they know how to run a company. I want to know that they like the idea and that they can become passionate about it. It is vital to be excited about the company and to feel as if you are a member of the team. Remember that you need your partners and vendors to be passionate about the vision and not just about the job.

A few of the members you will need to choose carefully to work with are: • Co-Founders • Executive team members • Programmers • Investors • Your bank • Your lawyers • Advisers • Your web designers and other graphic designers • Your accountant • Outside marketing and public relations people Pretty much anyone who will be helping you reach your goal.

Taking in Co-Founders When you start your company, there are two ways to go. One way is to try and do it on your own, and the second way is to find one or two other people who will also be passionate about the idea and do what it takes to make it a success.

Pros: 1. Two heads are better than one.

The more people in your company, the more ideas will come out, and the more you will be able to accomplish.

2. You share the risk. You could put the entire initial investment in yourself - say $30,000 - or you could put in $15,000 and your partner will put in $15,000.

3. You enlarge your network. Each person has his/her own network of friends, family, businesses, people he/she went to school with or went

to camp with, etc. Happily, the more people you have known, the more people you can have in your network, and the bigger reach you will have. Also, you’ll get more done. You won’t have everything fall on your shoulders, as you will share the responsibilities.

Cons: 1. Sharing equity. From day one, you are giving up some ownership of your idea. The company being formed will have many owners,

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not just you. Just as you are sharing risk, you are also sharing the rewards.

2. Decisions. You won’t be the only decision maker. That means everything - from which logo to use to what to order for lunch - is not solely your decision to make. I suggest that if you are the visionary, you need to have it in writing that when it comes to direction and vision of the company, you have the final say. This should not be too much of an issue in the beginning stages, since you are the one putting the company together. But make sure you have this understanding in writing.----In addition, you want to make sure that the responsibility of each of the co-founders is spelled out in writing. There cannot be any misunderstanding later on. Of course, when starting a company, every co-founder wears every hat, but someone needs to take the final responsibility.

3. Possible fallouts. If you get into an argument or fight with your co-founders, which does tend to happen, it can blur yours and the company’s focus and cause tremendous harm. Also, if there are three co-founders, two can outvote your vision, and you will feel that you have lost control of the business. That is why above I suggested writing down that you have certain decisionmaking rights.

In one of my previous start-ups, I saw that we needed to go in a different direction. At the time, we had tens of thousands of global users of our software, and I saw that

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•

December 2012

going into Social Networking was the path to take.

This was before Facebook had even launched and MySpace was just getting started.

I brought a plan to my partners, outlining the costs and why I believed this would be the perfect and obvious direction in which to go.

Unfortunately, the reply from one of my partners was that if we allowed our users to gather together online, they could talk badly about us. I answered that if they wanted to do so, they could talk badly about us somewhere else. He replied that we should not give our customers the platform for bad-mouthing us. Sadly, I was outvoted even though I was the visionary. Based on this conversation, I left the company.

How do you know whether you need co-founders and how many you need? Below is a list of some of the important roles that must be filled. If these are not absorbed by you, you will need a co-founder. Otherwise, later on you will need to hire an executive to fill these roles.

The Organizer – I can’t begin to tell you how important this role is, especially if you are not good with numbers. You will need someone to do all the accounting and banking, as well as working with the lawyers and investors. This role is involved with hiring, contracts, payroll, taxes and more.

This is usually the role of the COO (Chief Operations Officer). If you want to be successful, you will need to get the right person for this job. I have found that most entrepreneurs are not very detail-oriented, but if you ever hope to sell your company or go public, you must be able to account for every penny spent and earned and make sure all the paperwork is in order and organized.

The Nerd – This is an especially important individual if you are a hi-tech company. You need the person who is going to be writing all the millions of lines of code and get you to beta launch your company. This is someone who is not afraid of 20-hour work days and loves to eat microwave dinners. It is best to get someone with start-up experience, so he knows what to expect. Having the right lead developer from day one will help you get to where you want to go more quickly.

The Sales Guy – When it comes to speaking to investors about your start-up, there is no one better than you because your passion will show. However, speaking passionately about your business won’t close sales opportunities.

You need the right person who has a huge Rolodex file of names and a large network. This needs to be someone who is overly confident and knows how to present himself well. This is the one you want closing sales, doing business development and speaking at conferences. The person for this job is someone who can help raise money and drive revenue.

Again, keep in mind that it may be better to go as far

Bizness Magazine

02 999 3939

as you can and raise as much money as you can and then find the right executives to add to your team. This will give you more shares in the company and more control, but the down side is that they might not be as motivated as if they were co-founders.

Vendors/Outsourcing When we were just getting started with one of my companies, we decided to hire an outsourcing team from India for programming our software. We spent a lot of money for a team that was not very good, and we ended up wasting a lot of time and money. Thank G-d, we were able to change course before it got too bad. The lesson is: you have to be really careful about whom you pick and with whom you want to work, as well as that you get what you pay for. Outsourcing to India is very tempting, but rarely is it ever really worth it. They are best for small specific tasks, but I would no longer hand over full projects to them.

Get references and double check them. Then call again.

Make sure that you are 100% comfortable with your outsourcing team and that they are 100% competent in what you want to accomplish. Also, it is vital that they, too, are passionate about your idea.

Also keep in mind that outsourcing should not be your long-term goal. They are great for getting started and getting your proof of concept out there, but for long-term success you want to build a team that you can work with day in and day out in the same office.

Advisory Board Pick your advisors wisely. Make sure they fully understand the topic when you ask them for advice. This information will be crucial, whether it’s about raising money or marketing. Make sure they have accomplished great things in their field or industry and that they have enough time to give you what you feel you need.

Don’t just look for a nice name. If they are not helping you, don’t put them on your advisory board. Having respected names is not enough; you need people who actually can help you. You will give them some shares in the company to compensate them for their time and networking, but make sure they fit your vision.

Next month we will discuss the 5th Commandment – Thou Shall Worship the Purple Cow. I’m passionate about start-ups and bringing ideas to life. I just re-launched my website, which I welcome you to check out at www.IdeaGo.com.  About the Author Nachum Kligman is a serial entrepreneur, consultant, and speaker. He is the founder of Ideago.com and ViewBix Inc, and the co-founder of SportsFan.me, PeerBid.com, TeesAtRisk.com, and BabyAndMeGifts.com, amongst many other Internet startups. He is also a partner in Cellar 18, a boutique wine store located in Ramat Bet Shemesh.

The quintessential

Potato

Pancakes (LATKES)

6 ...............potatoes 1 ...............small onion, chopped 3 ...............eggs 2 ...............teaspoons salt ¼ - ½ ........teaspoon black pepper DDGrate potatoes very finely. Plunge into ice water. Drain.

DDPlace in large bowl and add rest of ingredients.

Mix well.

DDFry by large spoonfuls in lots of oil on both sides until brown.

DDDrain on paper towels.

DDServe with sour cream or apple sauce (recipe below).

Note: latkes can be frozen. Place on cookie sheet side by side. Layer, with waxed paper between each layer. To reheat, place on several cookie sheets side by side, one layer each, and reheat straight from freezer in oven preheated to 400ºF (200ºC) 1015 minutes, until latkes are sizzling.

HONEYED APPLE SAUCE 1½ kilograms (3 lbs.) cooking apples (Granny Smith) ¼ teaspoon salt About ¼ cup honey ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional) Cut apples into thick wedges.

Place in suitable pot. Fill with enough water to cover ¾ of the apples. Add salt and cook 20 minutes.

Strain in food mill, using as much liquid as necessary to achieve proper consistency.

Add honey & cinnamon and mix.

Let cook and refrigerate.

Note: use remaining liquid as apple juice. Sweeten to taste.

Mindy Ginsberg Author: Easy & elegant (Gefen Publishers, Jerusalem) e-mail: mindyg@bezeqint.net BIZNESS MAGAZINE

•

47

Home alarm system:

Esh Magor

D

To have one or not to have one?

ue to the recent events in Bet Shemesh, we decided to interview Shmulik Harel from Esh Magor.

Shmulik, how many years have you

been in the alarm business?

service?

I have been in the alarm business for 27 years. In that time, I’ve seen almost every type of system and situation.

Which parts of the country do you

We service Jerusalem, Bet Shemesh, Modiin and the Yehuda and Shomron areas.

What’s going on in Bet Shemesh with the daily break-ins?

I think that break-ins occur due to the heavy construction in the area and the type of workers used by kablanim. I also see that the thieves have found a relatively easy market as many home owners are not aware of how to secure their homes, therefore making them an easy target.

What are the chances of a break-in in a house with a good alarm system?

There are certainly no guarantees in life. Anything can happen; even banks are robbed once in a while! In general, though, a house with an alarm is difficult to break into as the idea of setting off sirens tends to discourage the potential thieves. They generally prefer easy targets. In 27 years, I have not yet encountered one single break-in in a house where I have installed an alarm system.

What advice can you give to people?

I would advise people to invest in a proper alarm system and have it installed by a trustworthy professional. People should not rely just on window bars. It’s certainly better than not having them as they are also a proven deterrent, but we see bars that are breached on a daily basis.

Testimonial: “After receiving glowing recommendations, Shmulik from Esh Magor put in our system over 12 years ago, and has modified and expanded it over the years. Shmulik is reliable and dependable and always a pleasure to deal with.” - Yissachar Fried.

How can people contact you?

I can be reached at 0526822553.

I welcome all calls. People can call for a free estimate without any commitment.

No hard sales and no pressure at all! 

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• December 2012

Bizness Magazine

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Making it in Israel Interview with Baruch Labinsky, author of A Financial Guide to Aliyah and Life in Israel

1. I remember the old saying that the way to make a small fortune in Israel is by bringing a big one. Does this still apply?

In my opinion – absolutely not! As a licensed Israeli investment portfolio manager and a financial planner living and working in Israel, I believe very strongly that in order to meet long-term financial requirements and to reduce long-term risk, expatriates who are residing in Israel need to work within the Israeli financial system. Not only does investing locally stimulate our economy and benefit us in the process, but I genuinely believe that Israel offers excellent investment opportunities that need to be considered by all Israelis (and not just the multinationals who invest billions in our economy). In addition, investing part of your money in the local currency also reduces your long-term currency exposure and matches future expenses with future revenues to reduce long-term financial risk.

2. What is the most crucial financial element that most people neglect?

The answer is undoubtedly a personal financial plan which helps you to evaluate all elements of your life. Via your plan you assess your financial strengths and weaknesses, you can identify which areas need work immediately, and which areas are in good shape. Having a relevant personal financial plan is your first step to financial responsibility and stability.

3. Who is your typical client?

Labinsky Financial offers two very different, although often connected services.

The first is our financial planning service, which offers our client a personalized, out-of-the-box, independent analysis of their finances, with recommendations 50

• December 2012

for how to improve their situation. This financial coaching covers all elements in achieving financial health. Our second service is investment portfolio management, where we manage investment portfolios for our clients. Assets can be purchased from anywhere in the world while they are held locally in your bank or brokerage account so you get the security of knowing that you are the only one with direct access to your money.

Our broad view of the investment issues facing the international citizen in Israel, gives unique added value from an unaffiliated, independent perspective.

4. What are the main financial errors that people make on a daily basis?

Unfortunately many people live beyond their means, and the ability in Israel to pay for almost everything in installments enables and encourages what can ultimately be a destructive trend. The indisputable bottom line is if you spend more than you earn, or spend exactly what you

Bizness Magazine

earn but are not managing to save anything, you need to rethink your strategy.

5. How about long-term errors?

The longer a person lives beyond their means the greater the debt that they will accumulate. That’s where your personal financial plan proves its worth. Living your life without this plan is like setting out on a trip without a map, not knowing where you want to go.

6. What are people’s main financial fears?

Ironically people are most scared of not having enough money to deal with life’s special events and challenges, including retirement. And it is ironic because with a financial plan they would be addressing and minimizing their fear.

7. How is financial planning here different than abroad?

Here in Israel there is far less room for error. You need much clearer priorities and the ability to focus on your goals. Also, due to the different nature of the financial system, big mistakes can unknowingly be made very often. For example, taking out a mortgage that doesn’t suit your needs, could cost thousands of shekels extra for many years. People think that things work here like they did in their home country, but they need to see that the reality here is different.

8. At what age do you find people start realizing they may have not planned sufficiently for retirement?

The ‘asimon’ drops when people are in their 50s, and they start to see their retirement years right in front of them, but with little if anything saved. They are then immediately forced to put a plan in place to make up the shortfall. Often they need to work longer, save more now, cut

02 999 3939

their current and possibly future standard of living, invest more aggressively, and sometimes even work part-time in retirement to make up for the shortfall.

9. Do people feel “I don’t make enough money so what type of planning can I do anyway”? Are they right?

Unfortunately, often they do think that, and they are not right at all. Life is full of events, one prays for only good ones, which need to be paid for. That’s why it’s so important for everyone to have a personal financial plan, which is based on their income and current and longterm expenditure. Someone who avoids financial planning is just sticking his head in the sand and putting off the inevitable. Sometimes things do work out even when people act this way, but that happens in very few instances, unless one wants to have to rely on tzedaka or handouts from others.

10. Can people make their own financial plan, or do they need a professional to help them?

If someone is organized, disciplined and willing to do their homework, they can definitely start the process. But working with a professional who has many years of experience will expedite the process and avoid costly mistakes.

The average person simply does not have the knowledge or tools to create a proper plan, however, people also use professionals to guide them because then they ‘are forcing’ themselves to deal with the issue. Left to their own devices, most people procrastinate, and put off the financial planning process. Starting the process gets you organized and can provide a great incentive to make meaningful changes in your financial life.

11. Tell us about your new book A Financial Guide to Aliyah and Life in Israel. Who should buy it? What difference will make in their lives?

People contemplating Aliyah, those already in the throes of organizing their move, and even veteran olim who want to improve and strengthen their knowledge about the Israeli financial system, will find useful information and pointers on crucial major financial topics. The book

walks people through the Israeli banking, insurance, investment and tax systems among other general financial planning topics like living on an Israeli budget and retirement planning in Israel.

Israel has a unique financial system which is vastly different from the financial situation in my readers’ countries of origin. If anyone has financial issues prior to Aliyah, there is no doubt that they will become more complicated post-Aliyah. So whatever the Aliyah stage people are at, the issues must be

addressed to ensure a financially stable life in Israel. One of my goals in writing the book was to help my reader achieve greater financial clarity and save time and money navigating the Israeli system. Judging from the feedback to date, and the fact that the book is presently in its second printing, I am grateful that I seem to be achieving that goal.

About the Author Baruch Labinsky can be contacted at 02 991 0029, 052 762 6830 or baruch@ labinsky.com www.labinsky.com. 

BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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51

Preventing Home Burglaries

By Yair Bruck

I

Mission Impossible?

n addition to the obvious monetary loss inflicted, home burglaries cause tremendous aggravation and stress on the unfortunate victims of these crimes. Unfortunately, burglaries in Bet Shemesh have become an epidemic that has negatively affected many residents’ lives and their peace of mind.

Luckily, a large percentage of home burglaries can be prevented. Since most robberies are the product of random selection, the would-be thieves can be dissuaded by any unexpected challenges that arise in the course of the crime. Therefore, even simple “common sense” measures on the part of the homeowner can scare off the potential trespasser.

A common misconception is that burglaries typically occur at night. The truth is most occur during broad daylight when the home’s occupants are away at work. That said, nighttime thefts also still exist.

Here are some suggestions that every responsible homeowner should follow: Never leave a ladder outside your home. An easily accessible ladder can be used by a potential robber and makes burglarizing your home seem as easy as taking candy from a baby.

Never leave windows and doors open when you are not home.

Spare keys should never be kept in obvious hiding spots such as under the doormat, next to the plant, on top of the door, etc. These are the first places a thief will check.

Many people make the mistake of keeping valuables in a safe in their home. In Israel, however, it has been statistically proven that these safes are counterproductive. A plumber, electrician or cleaning lady may see the safe and, knowingly or unknowingly, pass that information on. In time, that potentially dangerous information may reach the ears of some greedy crook. Once that happens, it is only a matter of time before a home invasion may be attempted. Such a home has now become more difficult to protect.

The criminals who are intent on getting into that specific house can patiently and judiciously scheme their plan of attack by staking out the home and getting to know the occupants comings and goings.

Safety experts advise homeowners instead to hide their valuables in less conspicuous hiding places.

What is a good hiding place-? Here, resourceful people tend to get creative. Some place their precious possessions in the freezer between the thigh and wing of their frozen chicken. Others maintain a well-stocked wad of cash in their folded socks or between chapters 11 and 12 of their favorite John Grisham novel. I know of one crafty South African gentleman in RBS who keeps his Rands (the local currency in South Africa) in a hollowed-out biochemistry treatise. Apparently, the thieves are not all that interested in the metabolism of living cells.

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December 2012

However, even the most creative and ingenious hiding places are not 100% foolproof. Experienced thieves know where to look.

A serious criminal will probably read this article, and thereby invalidate all of the otherwise clever ideas mentioned above. The bottom line is, you want to come up with the most unusual and atypical hiding places in your home. Enlist your children for this important task. After all, at least once a year, they engage in Afikomen espionage.

Another misconception is that we should arm ourselves with weapons to scare off any would-be intruders. However, what most people don’t realize is that thieves are typically cowards, who will run at first sight when caught. Moreover, the legal consequences of actually using deadly force in the event of a burglary can far outweigh the legal consequences faced by the thief. This is because in our modern, glorious legal system, burglary is often classified as a minor offense. Using such force can also be counterproductive, as it could cause the burglar to resort to violence as well. Finally, and most importantly, there is always the risk when keeping a weapon in a house with children. Countless tragedies have occurred as a result of young children having access to their unsuspecting parents’ weapons.

Having mentioned the “thou shalt not’s,” here are some affirmative measures I can suggest: Close your window shades (trisim) at night and during the day when you are not home. When you are going away, even if it’s for just a few hours, leave a small light visible to passers-by.

If you will be away for more than one day, make sure someone you trust collects your mail. The same goes for the morning newspaper. A dark home with an overflowing mailbox is akin to freshly baked cookies for the big bad wolf.

Installing a burglar-alarm and metal window/door bars is strongly recommended. If you are installing an alarm, it is advised that you purchase a feature which sends text messages to your phone in the event your home is breached. This nifty feature can even notify you as to which specific window/door has been compromised.

Recently, there was a home invasion on our street in RBS which caused many of the neighbors to be concerned about safety. After numerous block meetings, we all decided to install security cameras and lighting both in front and back of all the homes. Clearly, strong lighting can act as a deterrent to cowardly thieves, and the video footage can serve as an invaluable aid to law enforcement.

Most burglars act in teams. While one thief works inside the home, another is stationed outside the home acting as a lookout. Therefore, it is important for community members to be alert to their surroundings, and to notify the authorities immediately of any suspicious-looking persons.

Bizness Magazine

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Many people believe that a dog could deter home burglaries.

While this may be true, many people are unwilling to tend to all of the responsibilities that come along with pet ownership. Furthermore, many dogs constantly bark - regardless of whether there is any danger or not. This may cause people to just ignore the dog when a real burglary is taking place.

Last year, the RBS enclave of Ramat Shilo suffered a rash of home break-ins. The residents decided to take measures into their own hands and to join the Israeli national civilian patrol known as “Mishmar Ha’ezrachi.” The residents who joined underwent basic training in firearm use and other areas. Receiving this training is essential to avoid getting into trouble with the law, as participants learn what type and degree of force is permissible under the law in various situations. Members of the patrol are given a weapon at the start of their shift, but must return it at the end of it, thereby avoiding the above-stated potential for tragic accidents.

Mishmar Ha’ezrachi acts in conjunction with local police.

There are many private security companies that respond when an alarm is triggered. Without mentioning any specific names, many Bet Shemesh residents that have been interviewed for this article expressed their dissatisfaction with the service provided; the patrolmen often came only an hour after the alarm went off. When they finally did arrive, rather than inspecting the entire perimeter of the home, these patrolmen were observed simply placing a sticker on the front door with a time-stamp and leaving.

They were obviously more concerned with proving to their superiors that they made the home visit than with stopping a burglary in progress.

I decided to investigate the matter further and tracked down one such patrolman for this article. When confronted with these accounts, he confessed and told me “I get paid 25 shekel an hour.

I have a wife and two children. I will not risk myself for someone else by engaging in any activity which could be perceived as hostile to a home intruder.” He even admitted to placing pre-made time stickers on doors and, quite disturbingly, indicated that his employer could not care less.

Many people assume the burglaries in Bet Shemesh are perpetrated by Arab workers in the area. They view every Arab as a potential thief. This is far from the truth. While spending a day at the local courthouse here in Bet Shemesh, I witnessed four trial proceedings against home intruders. Not one of them was an Arab; they were local Bet Shemesh junkies. This is not to say that Arabs do not break into homes.

But the web of conspirators and criminals is wider than we think.

Finally, above all, it is crucial to maintain a comprehensive insurance policy which covers all contents in your home. Because no matter how many precautions, tactics, gadgets and other measures we take, home burglaries will sometimes occur.

And when they do, you need the peace of mind that comes along with knowing that your losses will be kept to a minimum. 

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53

Helps You Find The Right Talent

I

t has been over a year since we interviewed Miriam Schwartz, when she and Mia Weiss launched RYB Tech - a recruitment company that specializes in placing software developers and web designers.

Miriam, tell us about what has happened your first year in business.

The last year has shown tremendous growth for RYB Tech, and interestingly enough, we have moved in a slightly different direction. During our first year, we made some full time placements and several connections for small website work.

For the past 10 months or so we have actually been focusing on more placements for full time developers. Since our last interview with Bizness, several English speaking companies based here in Israel have come to us to help them find developers. We have been fortunate to work with many of them on more than one placement.

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How is reality different from what you expected in this past year?

That, Ariel, is a great question. We are in the business of making shidduchim between companies and people looking for work. RYB Tech is, thank G-d, growing. Unfortunately, our eyes have been opened to the plight of many olim who struggle to find work here in Israel. We try as much as possible to speak with new olim and help them network, even if their fields are not our area of expertise. Resources for English speakers in this country exist, but are limited. We would love to see more resources and support available to olim.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

We are slowly learning to network with other English speaking companies. This is not so easy. We are also trying to forge connections with companies in the US, and that is a market that we would slowly like to expand into.

What has become your strength?

Our strength is making placements. Because we spend significant time with each client, we are usually able to pinpoint what specific qualifications each open position requires. As a result, our clients are B”H happy with their new employees.

Thanks to our high success rate, many companies come back to us more than once for placements.

To what do you attribute your success so far?

We work hard and pay attention to detail and the needs of our clients. But Mia and I both strongly feel that our good fortune is all thanks to haKadosh Baruch Hu. What advice would you give to others who are starting a small business?

Dr. Ari Stern 02-999-6046 54

•

December 2012

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

drstern@neto.net.il

They should carefully research the market that they are entering, make meaningful connections with people who could help them, and they must be willing to put in the time and effort to establish themselves.

RYB Tech is an English speaking recruitment company for the hi-tech sector. We place English speakers both with companies in Israel and with companies in the US who wish to outsource their software development needs.

Miriam Schwartz can be reached at miriam@rybtech.com Mia Weiss can be reached at mia@rybtech.com 

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BIZNESS MAGAZINE • 39

What career

should I choose?

Mrs. Chana Ratner is the director of Machon Tzomet, the Orthodox Institute for Employment Counseling.

Mrs. Ratner, tell us about Tzomet.

Machon Tzomet is a center for career counseling for the Orthodox population. We counsel on finding a job and in choosing the right educational pathway, based on personality, job market considerations, and salary levels, in addition to other relevant factors.

Who are the clients of Machon Tzomet?

Tzomet caters to a variety of religious clients of all ages, both men and women. An example of a Tzomet client is a young woman who does not know her options in the educational and career development pathways. Tzomet provides her with information and guidance in choosing a suitable educational pathway.

Relevant factors include the difficulty of the course of studies, pre requisites such as the psychometric exam, the cost of the program, financial aid opportunities, its location, the amount of time needed to complete the course and the value on the job market of the degree that she will receive.

Please describe the services that Tzomet provides.

There are many educational programs on the market, Machon Tzomet helps each client to make an informed deci56

• December 2012

sion based on an objective analysis of each individual’s personal situation. For example, a young woman may want to become a speech therapist. She needs to know that she has three options in charedi educational institutions, namely Mivchar, Michlala Charedit and Kiryat Ono Academic College. Each program has its advantages and disadvantages.

We can help her to make the right decision for her.

What evaluation methods does Tzomet use?

We evaluate personality types using MBTI, based on the work of Karl Jung, in order to help clients identify a career in which they can excel and find satisfaction in addition to earning a living for their families. We use a holistic approach, based on a personal interview considering personality type, family background, skills and abilities, fields of interest, previous job experience, age of the client, available time and resources to invest in career training, as well as other factors which have previously held them back.

How does Machon Tzomet help its clients to find a job?

Companies turn to Tzomet with various employment opportunities; we tailor the jobs to fit our clients’ skill sets.

In addition, we teach clients how to

Bizness Magazine

conduct an effective search for a job in a chosen field, how to write a professional CV, and how to conduct an effective job interview, emphasizing their personal strengths.

What else does Machon Tzomet do?

The Machon develops educational programs with various partners from industries who are looking to develop qualified charedi candidates to fill positions in their companies.

Do you have set “package” that you offer?

Yes. The cost of the Machon’s evaluation and guidance services is 350 NIS, which includes a personal interview, evaluation of the career options and available funding pathways, and subsequent follow up throughout the decision making process.

How can people contact you?

People can call us at 052 713 4917, chanaratner@gmail.com. We are located in Jerusalem, Givat Shaul on Kanfei Nesharim 24b Office #136. 

02 999 3939

The Home for Moms’ Health and Comfort What made you start Maximom?

One of the things we came to realize in the five years we had been selling vitamins was how especially crucial pre- and post-natal vitamins are for women. This realization gave us the idea to open a store that would sell quality products for mothers. You could find such stores in the USA in religious communities like Lakewood and Monsey.

What’s Maximom’s main goal?

The main idea is to give new (and not so new!) mothers the opportunity to feel really special and pampered. We know all about the pains and inconveniences of pregnancy, delivery and post-partum. But we want to show that the re is an alternate side; a way to enjoy every second of the most incredible experience a woman is blessed to be a part of.

For example, some women dread leaving home when there is a chance the baby will get hungry while they are out because they may not have comfortable and modest wear to allow nursing anywhere at any time. Well, at Maximom, we have some amazing options for breastfeeding mothers on the go!

What type of products do you offer?

We offer a complete line of products for moms. For example, we carry a nightgown that is also a house robe and comes in a variety of beautiful colors and patterns. We have a complete line of special accessories for breastfeeding such as disposable and non-disposable pads, microwave-safe milk storage bags, manual and electric pumps, inner garments and aprons. To nourish the inner- mom, we offer amazing quality vitamins and nutritional supplements, and for the outer layer, creams and lotions for all types of skin conditions.

What are your criteria for selecting your products?

The products we import must be of the best quality and provide functionality, comfort, durability and value.

Tell us about your prices.

We truly understand what it means to raise a family on a tight budget. Because every shekel counts, we make a special effort to offer the lowest possible prices.

How can people contact you?

To order call 0527606014. Rechov Yehoshua 3/6 RBS Bet. Tel. 02-5816380 Hours: 20:30 - 22:00 Deliveries to Yerushalayim. 

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BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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57

TCS Telecom a boutique telephone company Small enough to care about each customer, big enough to deliver superior call quality

T

CS Telecom has been bringing unlimited long distance phone service to Israel Since 2002. TCS Telecom was founded over ten years ago with the goal of bringing quality service to Israeli olim. The company is currently expanding its range of products to better respond to the shifting Israeli phone market and the needs of their clients. When it comes to customer service, TCS aims to provide excellent, comprehensive and accessible assistance. This client-centered business ethic focuses on offering excellent support in English or Hebrew, guaranteeing swift responses to concerns or queries.

TCS started out as a reseller of basic discount long distance services, but as the client base grew, so too did the need for more advanced telecom solutions. TCS introduced TCS Connect, a revolutionary long-distance service offering unlimited calls from Israel to the United States, Canada and the UK. In order to ensure that clients receive the best quality long distance calling, TCS works with Israel’s largest long distance provider and offers superior customer support and call quality assurance. It is this focus on customer service that has made TCS synonymous with reliability and call quality. In 2005, TCS Connect became the first Israeli provider of US, UK and Canadian incoming local numbers that ring directly on the client’s home or office Bezeq line.

“When I made aliya I maintained all of my US credit cards and bank accounts and they needed a local number to reach me. After trying a US based

VOIP company for over six months I ported my number to TCS and have had excellent service ever since.” Says David a TCS client for over five years.

“When I call the US from my house the bank assumes that I am local based on my US caller ID.” USA SIM CARDs With the proliferation of smartphones and the demand for mobile data packages, TCS has found the ideal way to address the needs of clients travelling to the US. By simply switching the SIM card in the client’s own device, TCS USA SIM provides travelers to the US with unlimited service for the duration of their trip. This all-in-one package includes unlimited calls in the US, unlimited calls to Israel and even a local Israeli number so family and friends can call the traveler on a local number even though they are overseas.

“The beauty of the TCS SIM is that all you need to do is open the SIM tray in your cell phone, swap your Israeli SIM with the TCS USA SIM and you have full DATA and unlimited calls.”

Says Shlomo a frequent commuter from Israel to the US: “I forwarded my calls from my Israeli cell to the number I got from TCS and when I was in the US I

Bizness Magazine

got all my Israeli calls. This was very important to me during my last business trip because my son was called up for urgent army service and I needed to be in touch at all times.”

Following current market trends, TCS is planning on offering an allinclusive communications solution for new clients.

“The phone market for olim and Expats in Israel has changed: the quality of local Israeli VOB companies has improved and needs of our clients have shifted. We are in the process of finalizing a new breakthrough product that will offer a complete suite for home communications. TCS Digital Voice lines will be equipped with both an Israeli and a foreign number, which clients will be able to choose from the US, Canada the UK or 30 other countries,” says Yechiya, the VP of product development at TCS. “Our clients have been asking for both local Israeli unlimited calls and unlimited calling to their countries of origin. We intend to give it to them…

TCS Digital Voice will be launched in the near future.”

For more information about TCS plans and services call Toll Free 1-80022-55-82 or 02-655-0332. 

02 999 3939

TIMBER Welcome to Bet Shemesh T

imber’ was founded in 1996 on Gaza St. 22 in Rechavia, Jerusalem, a maddeningly small shop. Three years later it moved to a larger location on Agrippa Rd., Jerusa-

lem. The shop was approximately 100 square meters, with the living room sets, eating areas, and buffets stacked up one upon the other, and the rest of the merchandise squeezed in between.

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Bizness Magazine

Timber: The English word shouted by loggers to warn passersby of a falling tree.

Owner and manager: Sharon Cohen Our store was the first in the Machane Yehuda shuk, and many coffee shops and art stores opened because of it. It brought a lot of color into the neighborhood. Unfortunately, for family reasons, I was forced to close the shop.

I took a break from the business and traveled to the US, where I worked in the diamond industry. But all the while, what I really wanted was to reopen my ‘baby’, Timber, where I work with what I’m best at. All we needed was a better place. My dream was eventually realized: we opened a bigger and more interesting shop where we now sell beautiful merchandise, some of it rare, and at great prices. This is what’s most important to me: bringing my customers the best possible price. In order to achieve this, I run the business on my own so customers aren’t paying more for an additional salary. It’s also the reason that I’m so particular about the store’s appearance; it has to justify the rent which the customers effectively pay for. We now serve you from a beautiful 200 meter store, providing merchandise you won’t find anywhere else – especially not at our prices.

I’d like to mention that I was pleasantly surprised by the Bet Shemesh and surrounding communities, who continue coming and sending new customers to patronize the store. Thanks to them, the store is continually growing and renewing its supply.

My plan for the future is to continue improving this business, and hopefully to soon open another branch.

A professional tip: If you want to succeed, you have to be on-hand at all times to respond to customers’ requests and ideas. Excellence and assiduousness are the names of the game.

Timber is located in the Industrial Zone in Bet Shemesh in front of the Red Pirate. 

02 999 3939

HUMOR Heard from Presidents and Celebrities I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up. They have no holidays.

I mean, part of the beauty of me is that I’m very rich.

Predictions are difficult.

Especially about the future.

The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing.

And now the sequence of events in no particular order…

I went to a restaurant that serves “breakfast at any time”. So I ordered French toast during the Renaissance.

When they asked George Washington for his ID, he just took out a quarter.

You can observe a lot by just watching.

Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?

The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.

It is generally agreed that “Hello” is an appropriate greeting because if you entered a room and said “Goodbye,” it could confuse a lot of people.

I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.

BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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61

I have opinions of my own --strong opinions-- but I don’t always agree with them.

Half this game is ninety percent mental.

That’s just the tip of the ice cube.

A bachelor’s life is no life for a single man.

Put the ‘off’ button on.

Facts are nonsense things.

So Carol, you’re a housewife and mother. And have you got any children?

I don’t diet. I just don’t eat as much as I’d like to.

Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

They misunderestimated me.

We’ve got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?

He’s a guy who gets up at six o’clock in the morning regardless of what time it is If only faces could talk.

We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees.

There is certainly more in the future now than back in 1964.

Traditionally, most of Australia’s imports come from overseas.

Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

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• December 2012

Bizness Magazine

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Kidz Biz Section

By Michael Topf

Hanukkah Fun

Hanukkah Search Word

N E Z C N H V P J T L B C M A

P P L G J X O N O K Y U Z F D

Z R Q N M C Z Y N P W Q Y Q O

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C H T T G N C M M C S L N F F

G A I H A D N C J E E U D P O

Y K S G Z L G Y A I N R L Z P

K K F I I E D V X B Z O G T H

I U E L N S Y A U A I H R P C

S N B J E G D N S B B M A A R

L A D Z K D E O I V U T C U H

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BIZNESS MAGAZINE

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63

1

2

3

4

Life Coach

Business – Finance

Real Estate Law

Lawyer

Helen Abelesz Background: Helen is a life coach who specializes in working with women who are feeling overwhelmed, lack self-confidence, dealing with stress or not achieving their potential. Helen will help you pinpoint your insecurities, set goals for you to achieve and empower you to take control of your life.

She works in both Hebrew and English. Call her today.

02 992 0263, 054 482 9815.

Harry Zettel Background: Harry Zettel has raised capital for start ups and mature companies. The range of each of his raises has been between $25,000 and $2,000,000. Harry is an MBA graduate from York University and a licensed Chartered Accountant. Harry has cofounded a number of startups in Israel. He can be contacted at 054-792-3618.

Nicole Levin Background: Nicole Levin is an American born, Israeli trained real estate attorney with 28 years of experience in the field. She is a Mediator and Notary as well. She has offices in Beit Shemesh and in Modiin. Nicole Levin can be contacted at 029915687 and her offices are on the 2nd floor of the BIG Shopping Center office because building. Website www. levinlawoffices.co.il

David Drutman Background: David Drutman has been a lawyer for 36 years, including the last 13 years in Israel. He has sound experience in a broad spectrum of work in both professional and commercial environments. He is widely respected for creative, goal orientated legal work.

He specializes in transactions (property, estates, contracts, commercial matters etc), family law and notarial work. He can be contacted at 02-995-1877 or drutlaw@gmail.com

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Moshe Wilshinsky Background: A 27-year veteran in the mortgage industry, Moshe is the CEO of Moville Mortgage and Finance LTD. To contact Moshe, call their main line at 073 796 2226 and press their special 711 Bizness extension. For US callers dial 201 377 3418 and UK 208 596 4501.

Email him at questions@ movillefinance.com or visit their website at www. movillefinance.com

Egert-Cohen Insurance Background: Egert-Cohen is a Jerusalem-based brokerage that specializes in helping English-speaking Olim with personal family insurance solutions. They are also experts in travel insurance and incoming tourism. Contact Shimon Cohen at 050-5482192 or Yona Egert at 050-5363897 or visit their website at www.egertcohen.co.il

Background: Both Drs Gherman and Lavi are American trained orthodontists, and are active members in the American Association of Orthodontists. Dr Gherman attended NYU Dental on full scholarship, and Montefiore Medical Center for his orthodontic residency. Dr Lavi graduated from UMDNJ, was chief resident of general dentistry and received his orthodontic degree from NYU College of Dentistry. Dr Gherman’s clinic is in Rechavia, 02561-9770 Dr. Lavi’s clinic is in RBShemesh, 02992- 3363

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Background: Ben Levine is the Regional Manager of Remax Moriya, 11 Shlomzion HaMalka Street, a few steps from the Mamilla Mall. He focuses on Jerusalem’s central neighborhoods and the Old City. Ben grew up in the US and speaks Hebrew, English and Yiddish. Contact Ben at 054-587-9350 or at benlevine10@gmail.com

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Home Inspection

Car Mechanics

Meir Luzon Background: Meir Luzon is a professional in the field of property inspection for over 25 years, specializing in water leakage and moisture detection. He was the first to import advanced U.S. standard detection technology, to precisely locate insulation weak points. Contact Meir Luzon at 02-590 1227 or info@luzon.co.il

Ariel Levy Background: Ariel Levy is a car mechanic with over 13 years of experience. Ariel own Ariel Car Services, a full service car garage in the Industrial area in Bet Shemesh. They service all makes and models and specialize in French and Japanese cars. The garage is located on Rechov Hamasger.

Ariel can be reached for any consultations at 054 205 0389.

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DECEMBER 2012

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