Today is the last day of work in my old job. I am moving on to what I hope are bigger and brighter things.
It is weird leaving the place of work I have dedicated most of the last seven years of my life to. Should I be sad, happy, or frustrated that no one really seems to be all that sad that I am leaving...
Oh well - to new beginnings.
PS I wish people would stop telling me that I will hate the commute to Tel Aviv everyday.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
National Insurance headaches
The way National Insurance (Bituah Leumi) works in Israel, for freelancers. Is you give an estimate of how much you think you will earn each month, they do some little stupid calculation and decide how much money you need to pay them each month (a migdamah). Then for some inexplicable reason, every 2 months you pay them the money you owe them for the previous 2 months of work based on the amount you earned.
Let's say for arguments sake that my migdamah is set at 10%, and it is calculated on an estimated income of 10,000 shekels a month, then theoretically I need to pay 2,000 shekels to National Insurance.
Now what happens if I suddenly start earning 20,000 shekel a month (I wish). You would think that I would need to only pay 4,000 shekels to National Insurance for a 2 month period. Well NO! What happens is, at the end of the year you are required by law to file a tax return. Once the tax department have finished calculating whether or not you have paid enough tax your file is handed over to the National Insurance department. They look at the whole year and work out whether the calculated migdamah was correct or not, depending what you earned for the whole year. If the migdamah was too low then they recalculate the amount you should have paid each bi-month and come up with a figure of how much you owe for that year.
This is what happened to me - I just found out that I need to pay National Insurance 5,247 shekels for a miscalculation in 2003. The problem I have is that I no longer earn the type of salary that I was earning when I was freelance. In an ideal world, I would have put aside the money I would need to cover this debt, but it's not an ideal world and I always spend more than I have saved.
So my accountant tells me it would be worthwhile to try to pay back what I owe for 2003 before the end of 2004, in that way I can get a tax break on the money I am paying now, when I do my 2004 tax return. As it is I have not been working as a freelancer since June this year so I expect to get a nice tax return and some money back from National Insurance once my 2004 tax return is finished.
However, when I went today to the National Insurance office, I was told that as long as I start the payments for 2003 in this year I can get the full amount as a tax deductible for 2004. Unfortunately, the only way you can do this according to the NI office is to pay the amount in full up front (I wish) or to put it on a credit card in payments...
All I can tell you is that I am glad that I am no longer freelance - it's all too much of a headache...
Let's say for arguments sake that my migdamah is set at 10%, and it is calculated on an estimated income of 10,000 shekels a month, then theoretically I need to pay 2,000 shekels to National Insurance.
Now what happens if I suddenly start earning 20,000 shekel a month (I wish). You would think that I would need to only pay 4,000 shekels to National Insurance for a 2 month period. Well NO! What happens is, at the end of the year you are required by law to file a tax return. Once the tax department have finished calculating whether or not you have paid enough tax your file is handed over to the National Insurance department. They look at the whole year and work out whether the calculated migdamah was correct or not, depending what you earned for the whole year. If the migdamah was too low then they recalculate the amount you should have paid each bi-month and come up with a figure of how much you owe for that year.
This is what happened to me - I just found out that I need to pay National Insurance 5,247 shekels for a miscalculation in 2003. The problem I have is that I no longer earn the type of salary that I was earning when I was freelance. In an ideal world, I would have put aside the money I would need to cover this debt, but it's not an ideal world and I always spend more than I have saved.
So my accountant tells me it would be worthwhile to try to pay back what I owe for 2003 before the end of 2004, in that way I can get a tax break on the money I am paying now, when I do my 2004 tax return. As it is I have not been working as a freelancer since June this year so I expect to get a nice tax return and some money back from National Insurance once my 2004 tax return is finished.
However, when I went today to the National Insurance office, I was told that as long as I start the payments for 2003 in this year I can get the full amount as a tax deductible for 2004. Unfortunately, the only way you can do this according to the NI office is to pay the amount in full up front (I wish) or to put it on a credit card in payments...
All I can tell you is that I am glad that I am no longer freelance - it's all too much of a headache...
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
It could have been me
Look At Me!
Last night we went to see the acclaimed French movie "Look at Me". I could not help feeling an affiliation with the leading character in this movie "Lollita". Watching her interactions with her family and friends made me feel like I was watching a snapshot of my life.
Truely brilliant and captivating, this is the second excellent French movie I have seen recently. I suggest you go see it.
It all seems so senseless
At least 29 die in Baghdad blast
By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ Insurgents lured police to a house in west Baghdad with an anonymous tip about a rebel hideout, then set off explosives, killing at least 29 people and wounding 18, police said Wednesday. Seven policemen were among the dead.
70,000 + people dying in Asia from anatural disaster makes the above all seem so senseless, and I feel so helpless.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Of Hobbits and Rings
I am reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy for the second time in one year. (married life really is fun - trust me).
What prompted me to do it was a recent discussion with a visiting friend, about the relevance of Tom Bombadil to the story (don't bother reading on if you aren't a Lord's fan - you may get a headache from it).
This friend of mine mentioned that she thought Tom Bombadil was probably way more important to the story than most people credit him. She likened him to a God. I couldn't remember much about the Tom Bombadil part of the story except the fact that my Husband and I had great difficulty interpreting it.
Second time lucky: I have concluded that Tom Bombadil is essential to the story. Whether he is a God or not, I cannot comment, that is up to each and every reader. One thing that astounds me personally is the vast amount of content dedicated to this topic (do a google search).
Even more astounding, I actually read a very lengthy discussion on this topic here, and not only did I enjoy reading it but sometimes, particularly more recently, I find myself pondering the ifsandsandbuts and whatwouldhavebeens if chas veshalom Frodo hadn't managed to destroy the ring?
It is a rare and wonderful book that allows its' reader such an insight into the imagination of the author. So much so, that people are talking about, questioning, and pondering the story years and years after his/her death. No matter what their interpretation may be!
Thank you JRRT
What prompted me to do it was a recent discussion with a visiting friend, about the relevance of Tom Bombadil to the story (don't bother reading on if you aren't a Lord's fan - you may get a headache from it).
This friend of mine mentioned that she thought Tom Bombadil was probably way more important to the story than most people credit him. She likened him to a God. I couldn't remember much about the Tom Bombadil part of the story except the fact that my Husband and I had great difficulty interpreting it.
Second time lucky: I have concluded that Tom Bombadil is essential to the story. Whether he is a God or not, I cannot comment, that is up to each and every reader. One thing that astounds me personally is the vast amount of content dedicated to this topic (do a google search).
Even more astounding, I actually read a very lengthy discussion on this topic here, and not only did I enjoy reading it but sometimes, particularly more recently, I find myself pondering the ifsandsandbuts and whatwouldhavebeens if chas veshalom Frodo hadn't managed to destroy the ring?
It is a rare and wonderful book that allows its' reader such an insight into the imagination of the author. So much so, that people are talking about, questioning, and pondering the story years and years after his/her death. No matter what their interpretation may be!
Thank you JRRT
shameless plug of a plug
32 and Then Some author - LG, has blogged me. Thanks
While I am in a thanking mood. Gilly deserves a thanks for the compliment he made to me earlier. Thank you, shame about the football team you support though - Gunners RULE!
So many people I know blog - but I don't know if they know that I know that it's them - and I doubt they know who I am - isn't this fun...
While I am in a thanking mood. Gilly deserves a thanks for the compliment he made to me earlier. Thank you, shame about the football team you support though - Gunners RULE!
So many people I know blog - but I don't know if they know that I know that it's them - and I doubt they know who I am - isn't this fun...
Monday, December 27, 2004
Cultural enlightenment
Before I met my husband two years ago I happily went to see many musicals again and again. I was the proud owner of a vast collection of single and double CD musical collections. I had never attended a live symphony concert voluntarily. Classical music was for "old" people and nerds. It was something my father listened to in the back yard on a Sunday afternoon, while conducting an invisible orchestra with his fly swatter, intermittently swatting at a passing fly in his never ending quest to rid the world (and Australia) of these pests.
I have now been attending regular Jerusalem Symphony concerts for 2 years. I am starting to make a list of music that I love, I even listen to classical music all day at work.
Last week was our first wedding anniversary and my husband bought me my first ever Classical CD. The Berliner Philharmonic playing Albinoni:Adagio, Pachelbel:Canon - WOW I love it!
What's next?
I have now been attending regular Jerusalem Symphony concerts for 2 years. I am starting to make a list of music that I love, I even listen to classical music all day at work.
Last week was our first wedding anniversary and my husband bought me my first ever Classical CD. The Berliner Philharmonic playing Albinoni:Adagio, Pachelbel:Canon - WOW I love it!
What's next?
Janglo shmanglo
Janglo - for those who do not know is a Yahoo Group for English speaking Jerusalemites. It exists so people can post questions, sell/buy items or generally pass information to the masses of English speaking Jerusalem.
I seriously think some people should be banned from using the service for being too lazy or too stupid to use it.
Like the person who asked the question "Does anyone know if there is a listing for Shai Movers in the yellow pages?" LOOK IT UP!!!
Or the person who wrote a page an a half explanation about a piece of plastic that broke off the hangy bit in her closet and then proceeded to ask "Do you know if I can get a replacement for this at Ace.? CALL ACE AND ASK OR GO THERE!!!
Then there are stupid people who should be banned from replying to another person's posting. When I had a problem with the very large glass doors in our lounge I put a post asking for recommendations of someone to come and replace the rollers on the doors. I got back so many responses that said "have you tried WD40" ARE THEY SERIOUS???
And of course the people who don't know how to phrase an intelligent sentence. "How do you put a CD burner in a Pentium 4?I have a bit of technical background.?" I WOULD GUESS THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD PUT ONE INTO A PENTIUM 3!!!
But anyway - Kol Hakavod to the moderators for all their hard work. For those of us who know how to use Janglo and appreciate it - we thank you!
I seriously think some people should be banned from using the service for being too lazy or too stupid to use it.
Like the person who asked the question "Does anyone know if there is a listing for Shai Movers in the yellow pages?" LOOK IT UP!!!
Or the person who wrote a page an a half explanation about a piece of plastic that broke off the hangy bit in her closet and then proceeded to ask "Do you know if I can get a replacement for this at Ace.? CALL ACE AND ASK OR GO THERE!!!
Then there are stupid people who should be banned from replying to another person's posting. When I had a problem with the very large glass doors in our lounge I put a post asking for recommendations of someone to come and replace the rollers on the doors. I got back so many responses that said "have you tried WD40" ARE THEY SERIOUS???
And of course the people who don't know how to phrase an intelligent sentence. "How do you put a CD burner in a Pentium 4?I have a bit of technical background.?" I WOULD GUESS THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD PUT ONE INTO A PENTIUM 3!!!
But anyway - Kol Hakavod to the moderators for all their hard work. For those of us who know how to use Janglo and appreciate it - we thank you!
Sunday, December 26, 2004
A Very Jewish Villain?
Is the Merchant of Venice anti semitic, it's an old debate that has been revived with the release of a new movie of Shakespeare's famous play, directed by Michal Radford. The Guardian has an excellent article.
The debate is so old it should have its own place in the Shakespearean canon. Is Shylock, the Jewish moneylender who demands a "pound of flesh" from a debtor, a villain or a victim? Every time The Merchant of Venice is staged, the debate is restaged along with it. Does Shakespeare's play merely depict anti-semitism, or does it reek of it? Is the Bard describing, even condemning, the prevalent anti-Jewish attitudes of his time - or gleefully giving them an outlet? The papers of a million A-level students are marked forever with such questions.
Yet now they have a new force. Because the Merchant is playing in a new medium, making its debut as a full-length, big-budget feature film - complete with a top-drawer Hollywood star, Al Pacino, in the de facto lead. The film declares its own intentions early. The pre-credit sequence, complete with Star Wars-style scrolling text, seeks to contextualise. The opening image is of a crucifix, rapidly juxtaposed with the sight of Hebrew texts put to the flame. The words on the screen tell us that "intolerance of the Jews was a fact of 16th-century life". To prove it we see a mini-pogrom, with a Jew hurled from the Rialto Bridge
Brought to you by the Spectator
'I’ll eat a bucket of worms if we can turn it off.’
I love reality shows - my husband does not!
Spectator
Caroline Glick does not a spokesperson make...
Caroline Glick in this week's Column One makes two stupid mistakes. One she "justifies" the settlers' right to wear orange stars, even though it offends the sensibilities of most Jews around the world, with the following paragraph;
Caroline Glick - this is NOT a metaphor - it is an offensive statement. Jews were not just "forced" out of their homes in the holocaust. They were not given financial compensation to set up their homes elsewhere. They were systematically and brutally murdered by Jew hating Nazis. This is not something I would wish on even some of the most radical settlers!
Your second mistake dear Caroline, is to call the removal of settlers from Gaza "ethnic cleansing". Metaphor or not - I think you need to re-evaluate what the terms holocaust and ethnic cleansing mean. There would be nothing to discuss if the Janjaweed in Sudan had afforded the masses the same courtesies that Sharon is offering the settlers in the disengagement plan.
ethnic cleansing
n : the mass expulsion and killing of one ethic or religious group in an area by another ethnic or religious group in that area
Gaza residents caused a public outcry when they taped orange Stars of David to their clothes this week. The hue and cry of the politicians on the Right and on the Left said that in using symbols from the Holocaust they were besmirching the memory of the victims of Europe's genocide of its Jews. It would seem that those who decried the residents' symbol have forgotten what a metaphor is. The point was not that Sharon is Adolf Hitler or that Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz is Adolf Eichmann. The point of the protest was that Israel is the first Western state to call for the forced removal of Jews from their homes, simply because they are Jews, since the Holocaust and that there is something morally atrocious about the notion that for peace to come –- to Israel and to those bombing Israel –- it is necessary for entire regions to be rendered Judenrein. And again, as leaders in Israel and throughout the world have stated, the expulsion from Gaza and northern Samaria is simply a preview of coming attractions for what awaits those who live in Judea and the rest of Samaria.
Caroline Glick - this is NOT a metaphor - it is an offensive statement. Jews were not just "forced" out of their homes in the holocaust. They were not given financial compensation to set up their homes elsewhere. They were systematically and brutally murdered by Jew hating Nazis. This is not something I would wish on even some of the most radical settlers!
Your second mistake dear Caroline, is to call the removal of settlers from Gaza "ethnic cleansing". Metaphor or not - I think you need to re-evaluate what the terms holocaust and ethnic cleansing mean. There would be nothing to discuss if the Janjaweed in Sudan had afforded the masses the same courtesies that Sharon is offering the settlers in the disengagement plan.
The moral dimension of the proposed destruction of Israeli communities in Gaza and northern Samaria is one that has received scant attention over the past year since Sharon adopted the Labor Party's plan of retreat and expulsion as his own. Indeed, although it was one of the implicit assumptions of the 1993 Oslo process, the fact that a precondition for a final peace accord with the PLO was that all Jewish residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza would be ethnically cleansed has rarely been mentioned. As for Sharon's withdrawal plan for Gaza and northern Samaria, everyone from US National Security Council Middle East Adviser Elliott Abrams to Labor Party leader Shimon Peres to Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak to British Prime Minister Tony Blair have all noted that the plan, if enacted, will provide a precedent for the destruction of all or most of the remaining Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria with their population of some 250,000 Israelis.
n : the mass expulsion and killing of one ethic or religious group in an area by another ethnic or religious group in that area
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Gaza settlers have lost all sense of reality
I awoke this morning to headlines in The Jerusalem Post, that "Settlers rally around orange star".
I think the Settlers have lost all sense of reality. To even suggest that their cause is in any way equal to the tragedy of the holocaust is unthinkable. Six million Jews lost their lives and it was little compensation that we got a homeland out of it.
If evacuating the settlements can bring an agreement whereby Israelis and Palestinians can live together, side by side, in harmony then the mere act of disengagement is saving lives. Wasn't it the lesson that Schindler learnt - Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.
A friend of mine, who is a father of four kids, was recently posted for his 1 month army duty to an outpost somewhere in the territories. His job was to guard five families who CHOSE to live on a hilltop in the middle of nowhere. I ask you, why should he be forced to risk his life to protect the lives of these five meshugenah (crazy) families? Why should you or I (the taxpayers) be forced to pay such high taxes year in, year out to fund a military capable of supporting these insane people?
The settlements are draining our country's finance, military resources, and (most importantly) dignity.
The opponents of the disengagement plan sharpened battle lines Tuesday when dozens of settlers donned orange Star of David badges, comparing the evacuation of settlements to the Holocaust.
While the move sparked widespread condemnation throughout the country and abroad, the Council of Rabbis of Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip supported the settlers' opposition by calling for civil disobedience against security forces participating in dismantling Jewish communities in Gaza or the West Bank.
I think the Settlers have lost all sense of reality. To even suggest that their cause is in any way equal to the tragedy of the holocaust is unthinkable. Six million Jews lost their lives and it was little compensation that we got a homeland out of it.
If evacuating the settlements can bring an agreement whereby Israelis and Palestinians can live together, side by side, in harmony then the mere act of disengagement is saving lives. Wasn't it the lesson that Schindler learnt - Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.
A friend of mine, who is a father of four kids, was recently posted for his 1 month army duty to an outpost somewhere in the territories. His job was to guard five families who CHOSE to live on a hilltop in the middle of nowhere. I ask you, why should he be forced to risk his life to protect the lives of these five meshugenah (crazy) families? Why should you or I (the taxpayers) be forced to pay such high taxes year in, year out to fund a military capable of supporting these insane people?
The settlements are draining our country's finance, military resources, and (most importantly) dignity.
Disengagement is a first step - let's give it a try.
Here comes the Sun...
Forget Karaoke, according to The Sun (I love that paper, it's so rubbish) Pornaoke is the new craze...
I won't put the link here - it may offend some people!
By DAVE MASTERS
IF you thought karaoke made a racket down at your local boozer then you ain't seen nothing yet. Starring in a blue movie may be a fantasy too far for most couples too shy to strip off for the cameras. But a new craze called Pornaoke - where punters provide the saucy soundtrack to saucy clips - is proving a massive hit.
I won't put the link here - it may offend some people!
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
5 movie recommendations
5 movies I have seen in the last 6 months that you MUST see!
Ushpizin - Israeli movie, funny, clever, captivating and beautifully directed and acted (Over the last few years I have seen some amazing Israeli movies including, Salah Shabbati, Avanti Popolo, Kazablan, Yana's Friends... we do get some things right)
Open Water - not for the faint of heart
Les Choristes - French movie about a boys correctional school, one of the best movies I have ever seen
Being Julia - Anette Benning is fabulous in this movie, she deserves an award
Shrek 2 (BUY IT)
Don't bother seeing
Collateral
What would you recommend?
Ushpizin - Israeli movie, funny, clever, captivating and beautifully directed and acted (Over the last few years I have seen some amazing Israeli movies including, Salah Shabbati, Avanti Popolo, Kazablan, Yana's Friends... we do get some things right)
Open Water - not for the faint of heart
Les Choristes - French movie about a boys correctional school, one of the best movies I have ever seen
Being Julia - Anette Benning is fabulous in this movie, she deserves an award
Shrek 2 (BUY IT)
Don't bother seeing
Collateral
What would you recommend?
Oh Puhleese!
In today's JP Silvan Shalom claims that an unreturned phone call between Sharon and Mubarak caused months of bad relations with Egypt.
Thanks goodness they decided to give each other the silent treatment and not something more serious.
It was late in the evening, and the Egyptians asked for the call to take place the following morning. That morning, however, there was a misunderstanding. Israel believed the Egyptians were no longer interested in a phone call, and would suffice with a fax, whereas the Egyptian understood - and were annoyed - that Israel didn't want a phone call, and requested a fax instead.
Whatever, the end result was a perturbed Egyptian side and a break of contact at the highest level over what Shalom said was "complete and utter nonsense."
Thanks goodness they decided to give each other the silent treatment and not something more serious.
Monday, December 20, 2004
The dumbing down of things #1
I was watching an educational program on Israel's channel 1 one day and they were showing a program where some people were singing songs from all over the world. (With the words showing up on the screen, with a little bouncing ball, you know what I mean)
As I reached for the control to change the channel they started to sing a song dear to my heart. As an Australian, I grew up with the song Waltzing Matilda. Even though the words are a bit nonsensey, I still managed (in school I think, I don't actually remember) to work out what they represented and enjoyed singing/hearing this legendary Australian folk song. But what happened on this educational program is that they took the words and changed them:
Take for example, Harry Potter, the much loved British magician. Did you know that there are 2 versions of each book in the Harry Potter series? The original, and the American version in which they change common english spellings and words to make it more readable to... well... Americans.
And what of my husband, while attending a conference of translators here in Israel, was priviledged enough to hear a lecture by the woman who translated Harry P. from English to Hebrew. In which she admitted that she had changed certain things in the book to make them more understandable to Israeli culture and children. For example she changed Dumbledore's love of "lemon sherberts" to his love of "crembo" (for those that do not know - a Crembo is a marshmallow covered chocolate thing, which you would have to pay me to eat!).
I liken these changes to the travesty of taking Shakespeare and changing it to modern English so that people can better understand it. I learnt Shakespeare just the way it was written and I think it would not hurt non-British kids to learn about England, just as it is. Tell them what a lemon sherbert is, explain why it's called football in England and not soccer. For goodness sake they have never heard the word Quidditch before and they have no problem grasping its meaning, when explained properly.
As I reached for the control to change the channel they started to sing a song dear to my heart. As an Australian, I grew up with the song Waltzing Matilda. Even though the words are a bit nonsensey, I still managed (in school I think, I don't actually remember) to work out what they represented and enjoyed singing/hearing this legendary Australian folk song. But what happened on this educational program is that they took the words and changed them:
ORIGINAL:
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
under the shade of a coolabah tree,
as he sang and he watched and waited for the billy-to-boil,
who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me?Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me?
as he sang and he watched and he waited for the billy-to-boil,
who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me?
THEIR VERSION:
Once a happy farmer camped by the river,
under the shade of a big old tree,
and he sang as he watched and waited for the kettle-to-boil,
who will come and dance with Matilda and me?Dancing Matilda, dancing Matilda,
will you come and dance with Matilda and me?
as he sang and he watched and he waited for the kettle-to-boil,
who will come and dance with Matilda and me?
Take for example, Harry Potter, the much loved British magician. Did you know that there are 2 versions of each book in the Harry Potter series? The original, and the American version in which they change common english spellings and words to make it more readable to... well... Americans.
And what of my husband, while attending a conference of translators here in Israel, was priviledged enough to hear a lecture by the woman who translated Harry P. from English to Hebrew. In which she admitted that she had changed certain things in the book to make them more understandable to Israeli culture and children. For example she changed Dumbledore's love of "lemon sherberts" to his love of "crembo" (for those that do not know - a Crembo is a marshmallow covered chocolate thing, which you would have to pay me to eat!).
I liken these changes to the travesty of taking Shakespeare and changing it to modern English so that people can better understand it. I learnt Shakespeare just the way it was written and I think it would not hurt non-British kids to learn about England, just as it is. Tell them what a lemon sherbert is, explain why it's called football in England and not soccer. For goodness sake they have never heard the word Quidditch before and they have no problem grasping its meaning, when explained properly.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
100 visitors in 10 days!
I just got my first 100th unique visitor to my new bloggy - YAY!
But where are the comments? Come on guys - speak up!
But where are the comments? Come on guys - speak up!
Reverse Anti-Semitism - An Israeli Injustice
I promised a few posts back to write about a good friend of mine who has had trouble getting the most basic of services as a non-Jew living in Israel.
Worse than that she was born here so is, at least in my opinion, more Israeli than I am.
My friend, lets call her Kay, is Armenian. She has grown up her whole life in Jerusalem's Old City Armenian quarter. For the last 7 years she has been working in my building as a network assistant/systems operator. She is 25 years old and to my knowledge poses no threat to Israel or its' citizens.
About 1 year ago Kay decided she was old enough to move out of home. I went apartment hunting with her and was very glad when she decided to move into an area not far from where I live.
I had just got married and so wanted to go to Misrad Hapnim (the interior ministry) to register my new married name on my identity card and passport. Kay decided to come with me because she wanted to change her address on her card and to move her file from the East Jerusalem branch of Misrad Hapnim to the West Jerusalem branch. Besides the inconvenience of going to the East Jerusalem branch now that she lived in West Jerusalem, Kay was scared of the journey into and out of East Jerusalem, also she was sick and tired of the reams and reams of bureaucratic red-tape that seemed to come with any request that had to be made through the East Jerusalem office.
When we got there we both had to take numbers. Kay's number was called and she went forward with all her relevant information. Now I have changed my address, I am shocked to inform you, 8 times since making Aliyah. In order to change my address I never had to do more than turn up at Misrad Hapnim with my id card and fill out a form to change my address. The whole changing address process never took me more than 20 min to complete, even when there were lines and lines of people at Misrad Hapnim. Kay returned after 10 min, she was obviously very upset. They had informed her that she would need to live at her new address for a minimum of 6 months. Afterwhich she would need to bring proof of residence, including copies of bills in her name sent to her new address, plus a letter from her landlord. At this point they would review her status and decide whether or not to move her file to West Jerusalem and change her address on her id card. The owner of the apartment where she was renting had all the bills listed in his name (I have rented many times where the phone, electricity and land tax (arnona) bills remained in the name of the owner of the apartment and all I had to do was pay them each month when they arrived).
I was enraged! My number was called and 15 min later I had a new name on my id card, my passport and I had changed my address.
Kay and I went across the road afterwards - I offered to buy her breakfast because I could see how distressed she was. She told me over breakfast that she is unable to get an Israeli passport, even though she was born here. She has a travel document that needs to be approved everytime she wants to leave the country. A process that can takes weeks, sometimes even months. Then once she has a renewed travel document, she has to apply for a Visa to visit the country she wants to travel to (she has a sister living in America, and other family in Australia) this process too can take weeks to months. Hell even I don't plan my travel that far in advance. The worst is that sometimes, inevitably, the travel document has expired by the time she gets the Visa to travel.
What happens is that Kay and her family employ the services, at great expense to themselves, of a lawyer who deals with processing documents like this. This week I asked Kay about her status vis-a-vis her application for citizenship and the change to her id card, she told me it is now with their family lawyer. Like I said it has been almost a year since she moved, and it may still take her months before she sees any result from this, if at all.
--------
There is one more story I would like to share. A Christian Arab man I have worked with for the last 7 years had a sister who was gravely ill in Australia. This man had been trying to get a Visa and travel documents together to go to Australia and visit his sister. He came to me and asked if I would be willing to write him a recommendation letter (I hold Australian citizenship, he thought this may help).
I was at the time the manager of the department where this man worked. I did not hesitate to write a glowing letter stating that I had personally known and worked with this man for 7 years. In all the time I have known him he has been an exemplary worker etc... I wrote that as an Australian citizen I see no reason why this man should be delayed from receiving entry Visas and travel documents to Australia and that I would be willing to stand up and testify to his good character if called upon. I wrote my letter at the beginning of this year. In June 2004, while I was away on Honeymoon I heard that he had finally received permission to visit his sister. While he was on his way to Australia, his sister died. He never did get to see her - but at least he made it for the funeral. Perhaps there was more I should have done?
I am ashamed!!
Worse than that she was born here so is, at least in my opinion, more Israeli than I am.
My friend, lets call her Kay, is Armenian. She has grown up her whole life in Jerusalem's Old City Armenian quarter. For the last 7 years she has been working in my building as a network assistant/systems operator. She is 25 years old and to my knowledge poses no threat to Israel or its' citizens.
About 1 year ago Kay decided she was old enough to move out of home. I went apartment hunting with her and was very glad when she decided to move into an area not far from where I live.
I had just got married and so wanted to go to Misrad Hapnim (the interior ministry) to register my new married name on my identity card and passport. Kay decided to come with me because she wanted to change her address on her card and to move her file from the East Jerusalem branch of Misrad Hapnim to the West Jerusalem branch. Besides the inconvenience of going to the East Jerusalem branch now that she lived in West Jerusalem, Kay was scared of the journey into and out of East Jerusalem, also she was sick and tired of the reams and reams of bureaucratic red-tape that seemed to come with any request that had to be made through the East Jerusalem office.
When we got there we both had to take numbers. Kay's number was called and she went forward with all her relevant information. Now I have changed my address, I am shocked to inform you, 8 times since making Aliyah. In order to change my address I never had to do more than turn up at Misrad Hapnim with my id card and fill out a form to change my address. The whole changing address process never took me more than 20 min to complete, even when there were lines and lines of people at Misrad Hapnim. Kay returned after 10 min, she was obviously very upset. They had informed her that she would need to live at her new address for a minimum of 6 months. Afterwhich she would need to bring proof of residence, including copies of bills in her name sent to her new address, plus a letter from her landlord. At this point they would review her status and decide whether or not to move her file to West Jerusalem and change her address on her id card. The owner of the apartment where she was renting had all the bills listed in his name (I have rented many times where the phone, electricity and land tax (arnona) bills remained in the name of the owner of the apartment and all I had to do was pay them each month when they arrived).
I was enraged! My number was called and 15 min later I had a new name on my id card, my passport and I had changed my address.
Kay and I went across the road afterwards - I offered to buy her breakfast because I could see how distressed she was. She told me over breakfast that she is unable to get an Israeli passport, even though she was born here. She has a travel document that needs to be approved everytime she wants to leave the country. A process that can takes weeks, sometimes even months. Then once she has a renewed travel document, she has to apply for a Visa to visit the country she wants to travel to (she has a sister living in America, and other family in Australia) this process too can take weeks to months. Hell even I don't plan my travel that far in advance. The worst is that sometimes, inevitably, the travel document has expired by the time she gets the Visa to travel.
What happens is that Kay and her family employ the services, at great expense to themselves, of a lawyer who deals with processing documents like this. This week I asked Kay about her status vis-a-vis her application for citizenship and the change to her id card, she told me it is now with their family lawyer. Like I said it has been almost a year since she moved, and it may still take her months before she sees any result from this, if at all.
--------
There is one more story I would like to share. A Christian Arab man I have worked with for the last 7 years had a sister who was gravely ill in Australia. This man had been trying to get a Visa and travel documents together to go to Australia and visit his sister. He came to me and asked if I would be willing to write him a recommendation letter (I hold Australian citizenship, he thought this may help).
I was at the time the manager of the department where this man worked. I did not hesitate to write a glowing letter stating that I had personally known and worked with this man for 7 years. In all the time I have known him he has been an exemplary worker etc... I wrote that as an Australian citizen I see no reason why this man should be delayed from receiving entry Visas and travel documents to Australia and that I would be willing to stand up and testify to his good character if called upon. I wrote my letter at the beginning of this year. In June 2004, while I was away on Honeymoon I heard that he had finally received permission to visit his sister. While he was on his way to Australia, his sister died. He never did get to see her - but at least he made it for the funeral. Perhaps there was more I should have done?
I am ashamed!!
A grey area
In today's JP there is an article about the pending deportation of John Demjanjuk from the US. I have never understood why Israel acquitted him in 1993, even if it was proved that he was not Ivan the Terrible, surely it was obvious that he was involved in the holocaust and at least guilty of being an SS officer. If not, on what grounds would the US deport him?
A quick search on the internet for information leads to several links about the injustice heaped on Demjanjuk... One thing I cannot fail to notice with more than half the links to information on Demjanjuk is how often these pages link to other information about holocaust denial.
One such article is actually listed on David Irving's website, the AR report. For those that do not know, David Irving is one of the most well-known Holocaust deniers. He has a reputation for suing people who question his credentials and who publicly criticize his denial. This article, is written by Alfred de Zayas, who is reported to be a visiting professor of international law at DePaul University School of Law in Chicago. A graduate of Harvard Law School and a member of the New York bar, he also holds a doctorate in history. Surely if I was the author of such an article questioning the mistreatment of Demjanjuk's civil liberty rights and my article started appearing on sites linked to known holocaust deniers I would be kicking up a huge fuss. This man claims a doctorate in history, but it cannot possibly be the same history we are talking about.
Another such site puts the man who saved Demjanjuk in the same "revisionist" category as David Irving. This site claims to "Celebrate the new era of truth in history!"
I cannot understand how we let this man go! You are the friends you keep and this man's friends seem to all be deniers of the holocaust...
BTW - David Irving has been denied entry into many countries. I remember many years ago standing outside an old nightclub waiting to find out where the David Irving movie about the lies of the holocaust would be shown. I was not personally interested in seeing this movie, rather a whole group of people from different youth movements and Jewish organizations had decided to attend the movie and hold a silent protest outside.
A quick search on the internet for information leads to several links about the injustice heaped on Demjanjuk... One thing I cannot fail to notice with more than half the links to information on Demjanjuk is how often these pages link to other information about holocaust denial.
One such article is actually listed on David Irving's website, the AR report. For those that do not know, David Irving is one of the most well-known Holocaust deniers. He has a reputation for suing people who question his credentials and who publicly criticize his denial. This article, is written by Alfred de Zayas, who is reported to be a visiting professor of international law at DePaul University School of Law in Chicago. A graduate of Harvard Law School and a member of the New York bar, he also holds a doctorate in history. Surely if I was the author of such an article questioning the mistreatment of Demjanjuk's civil liberty rights and my article started appearing on sites linked to known holocaust deniers I would be kicking up a huge fuss. This man claims a doctorate in history, but it cannot possibly be the same history we are talking about.
Another such site puts the man who saved Demjanjuk in the same "revisionist" category as David Irving. This site claims to "Celebrate the new era of truth in history!"
I cannot understand how we let this man go! You are the friends you keep and this man's friends seem to all be deniers of the holocaust...
BTW - David Irving has been denied entry into many countries. I remember many years ago standing outside an old nightclub waiting to find out where the David Irving movie about the lies of the holocaust would be shown. I was not personally interested in seeing this movie, rather a whole group of people from different youth movements and Jewish organizations had decided to attend the movie and hold a silent protest outside.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Parsha of the week with Rabbi Wilschanski
Every week my husband and I read the Parsha of the Week from Rabbi Chaim Wilschanski's book "For the Shabbat Table".
What I love about this parsha is that it never fails to make us smile. I know the objective of a dvar torah is not to smile, but Rabbi W. has his own special style of telling stories (anecdotes as he calls them).
Rabbi W. was the rabbi of a small shule in Hampstead Garden Suburb, England, called the Shteibel. Every week he would give a dvar torah and his anecdotes are well remembered and loved, most of all by my husband.
I would like to share with you each week his stories and jokes - hopefully they will make you smile too!
He starts this week with
Some examples of this were:
1) Joseph told tales to his father that some of his brothers were calling the other brothers, those whose brothers were originally maid servants, "slaves" - Joseph was sold into slavery.
2) Yaacov did not fulfill the mitzva of honoring his father and mother for 22 years when he was away at Laban's house - Joseph was lost to him when he was 22.
3) Yaacov cheated his father by covering his arms in goat skin - His sons in turn cheated him by dipping Joseph's coat in goat's blood. These are lessons, so says Rabbi W., of mida keneged mida.
more next week....
P.S. Speaking of not clean - On Friday my husband was helping me get ready for shabbat by doing some of the washing up in the kitchen. I was amused and humbled when he brought a pot he had been scrubbing and said to me, "is this washed up enough for you?"
What I love about this parsha is that it never fails to make us smile. I know the objective of a dvar torah is not to smile, but Rabbi W. has his own special style of telling stories (anecdotes as he calls them).
Rabbi W. was the rabbi of a small shule in Hampstead Garden Suburb, England, called the Shteibel. Every week he would give a dvar torah and his anecdotes are well remembered and loved, most of all by my husband.
I would like to share with you each week his stories and jokes - hopefully they will make you smile too!
He starts this week with
He goes on this week to discuss the acts of mida keneged mida (measure for measure)."A housewife once rebuked her maid in front of a visitor: "The house is not clean and dusted properly." However, the visitor who noticed that everything was perfect, turned to the lady and said "Madam, I think the dust you see is on your own glasses"...
Some examples of this were:
1) Joseph told tales to his father that some of his brothers were calling the other brothers, those whose brothers were originally maid servants, "slaves" - Joseph was sold into slavery.
2) Yaacov did not fulfill the mitzva of honoring his father and mother for 22 years when he was away at Laban's house - Joseph was lost to him when he was 22.
3) Yaacov cheated his father by covering his arms in goat skin - His sons in turn cheated him by dipping Joseph's coat in goat's blood. These are lessons, so says Rabbi W., of mida keneged mida.
more next week....
P.S. Speaking of not clean - On Friday my husband was helping me get ready for shabbat by doing some of the washing up in the kitchen. I was amused and humbled when he brought a pot he had been scrubbing and said to me, "is this washed up enough for you?"
The new Frumpster
Announcing the new Frumpster!
A site where people with no dress sense can sign up to meet their perfect match. Here you don't need to worry that you 'fit' in. Everyone fits in on "Frumpster"!
Brought to you by Markz and the Ima lunchtime comedy team
A site where people with no dress sense can sign up to meet their perfect match. Here you don't need to worry that you 'fit' in. Everyone fits in on "Frumpster"!
Brought to you by Markz and the Ima lunchtime comedy team
Just can' t get Shabbes right!
Every Shabbes something little, some would say insignificant, goes wrong and leaves me wondering if this is really what God had in mind!
2 weeks ago we forgot to put the urn on - no hot drinks.
This shabbat I accidently put the Cholent into the ONLY plug in the kitchen wall that goes off with the lights when the shabbat clock goes off - thankfully we had a shabbat platter going.
I also forgot to turn the light off inside the fridge. My husband didn't put the lights to come on during the day till 4pm. Oh and just in case that wasn't enough - today is the coldest day we have had so far this winter and it was freezing - we should have left the heating on all of shabbat.
On the 7th day you shall rest in discomfort!
Shavuah Tov
2 weeks ago we forgot to put the urn on - no hot drinks.
This shabbat I accidently put the Cholent into the ONLY plug in the kitchen wall that goes off with the lights when the shabbat clock goes off - thankfully we had a shabbat platter going.
I also forgot to turn the light off inside the fridge. My husband didn't put the lights to come on during the day till 4pm. Oh and just in case that wasn't enough - today is the coldest day we have had so far this winter and it was freezing - we should have left the heating on all of shabbat.
On the 7th day you shall rest in discomfort!
Shavuah Tov
Friday, December 17, 2004
How does it make me feel?
Our friend Tone (Tony Blair) is coming to Israel next week - or so my husband tells me - how does that make me feel?
Annoyed! Not because I don't like him or want him to visit. I am just imagining the traffic jams that will result from his visit. Last time a big dignitary came it was Jaque Chirac. They closed the road from Jerusalem to the airport and most of the roads inside Jerusalem for 5 hours before he had even landed. I can't imagine anyone in the Arab speaking world is interested in blowing up Chirac, although I can think of a few people around Katamon who may volunteer! So you can imagine how tight the security will be for Tone's visit.
Tone if you are reading this - can you please bring us some Crunchies and a bottle of Diet Ribena - thanks mate!
Annoyed! Not because I don't like him or want him to visit. I am just imagining the traffic jams that will result from his visit. Last time a big dignitary came it was Jaque Chirac. They closed the road from Jerusalem to the airport and most of the roads inside Jerusalem for 5 hours before he had even landed. I can't imagine anyone in the Arab speaking world is interested in blowing up Chirac, although I can think of a few people around Katamon who may volunteer! So you can imagine how tight the security will be for Tone's visit.
Tone if you are reading this - can you please bring us some Crunchies and a bottle of Diet Ribena - thanks mate!
Thursday, December 16, 2004
What is it worth?
I am addicted to shows like Antiques Road Show, Flog It, Bargain hunt etc... All are obsessed with the value of old things. Nothing I really own is valuable, okay perhaps my sister would disagree because I inherited my grandmother's 3 karat diamond ring when I got married. But that value is, at least to me, irrelevant. I could never sell my diamond ring.
Where is this all heading? Well back in 1997 I was working for a printing company here in Jerusalem. At the time they were printing a series of commemorative postcards for KKL (Keren Kayemeth L'Yisrael) for the upcoming Israel 50th Anniversary celebrations. I thought the postcards were amazing and beautiful so I went down to the press and took 2 sheets of uncut postcards off the press. One was given to my ex-boyfriend, which he eventually got framed and put on the wall, and I have the other.
I have often wondered if they will be worth something one day, and to whom? Where would I go to find out. I mean, as far as I know we have the only 2 non-cut versions of these postcards. Ebay just doesn't seem like the appropriate place...
Where is this all heading? Well back in 1997 I was working for a printing company here in Jerusalem. At the time they were printing a series of commemorative postcards for KKL (Keren Kayemeth L'Yisrael) for the upcoming Israel 50th Anniversary celebrations. I thought the postcards were amazing and beautiful so I went down to the press and took 2 sheets of uncut postcards off the press. One was given to my ex-boyfriend, which he eventually got framed and put on the wall, and I have the other.
I have often wondered if they will be worth something one day, and to whom? Where would I go to find out. I mean, as far as I know we have the only 2 non-cut versions of these postcards. Ebay just doesn't seem like the appropriate place...
Camels and Rubber Duckies
There is a great article called Camels and Rubber Duckies at the JoelonSoftware website. It teaches you a bit about the business world and selling your product for the most amount of profit. I like the way it is written, in particular the following paragraph - how true it is...
In the world of software, you can just make a version of your product called "Professional" and another version called "Home" with some inconsequential differences, and hope that the corporate purchasers (again, the people who are not spending their own money) will be too embarrassed at the thought of using "Windows XP Home Edition" at work and they'll buy the Pro edition. Home Edition at work? Somehow that feels like coming to work in your pyjamas! Ick!
Finger Lick'n Good
I LOVE this... while searching for a copycat recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken I found this...
For this Kentucky fried chicken recipe, you can use lard, crisco (shortening), or one of the vegetable oils. You can also add butter, if you choose, skimming off any foam that rises to the top while heating the oil. Toss in chunks of ham or bacon to add flavor....
INGREDIENTS:
1 good chicken (Kosher or 'natural' chickens are usually best), cut into serving pieces, or use 8 to 10 leg pieces (drumsticks and thighs), trimmed of excess fat.
Would you use it?
Here's a picture of a public toilet in Switzerland that's made entirely
out of one-way glass. Nobody can see you from outside, but from inside
it looks like you're sitting in a clear glass box.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
A different cause
For years my sister has been writing to a guy on Death Row.
I asked her why and she responded;
I asked her why and she responded;
"I started to write to someone on death row because I got tired of being against something and not doing anything about it. And now I write to him because he is my friend and I am his friend and I care about him and in my own small way I make his life just a tiny bit better"I have never stopped to consider people who are in jail, let alone death row, although for years I have been secretly proud of my sister for her initiative. I guess, somewhat naively, I thought they must be guilty of something so they deserve to be there. I recently came across a website for The Aleph Institute, a non-profit in America, through whom you can now write to a Jewish penpal serving time in Jail. I think I will sign up - will you?
My little sis can teach me alot about being humble - thanks
A different point of view
Not Another Israel Blog talks this week about the 5 Bedhouin soldiers killed near Rafah this week.
Ha'aretz have an interesting, if not thought-provoking, editorial today about the maltreatment of Israel's non-Jewish soldiers.
No soldiers' life is more precious than another's, especially not because of religious or cultural differences. But the treatment of these volunteer soldiers does seem to me, until someone can prove otherwise, a trifle unfair.
I do think it is about time we stopped treating our Israeli citizens, whether Jewish, Christian, Armenian, Bedhouin or Arab with disrespect. Reverse anti-semitism is rife in this country and it is unfair. (I intend to write, as soon as I have her permission, about the battle an Armenian friend of mine had changing her address and getting her Teudat Zehut transferred to the West Jerusalem branch of the interior Ministry - stay tuned)
While I don't profess to hold an educated opinion on the legitimacy of targeting soldiers instead of civilians etc... Perhaps these soldiers should be considered "victims" for different reasons."Myself and my government would like to move forward toward peace, but it depends on one thing, that it should be quiet and I'm really sorry to say that by now we don't see any changes," he added.
But it's not really clear whether Sharon was talking about the Gaza bombing. I wouldn't be surprised if he was, because Israel tends to label all Palestinian attacks as terror. But don't soldiers deserve a bit more credit? Calling the attack an act of terror turns them into victims. As someone who served in the army here and does reserve duty, I understand I'm a legitimate target when I'm wearing my uniform. Armies use force to impose a particular policy, and sometimes those who disagree with the policy fight back.
Ha'aretz have an interesting, if not thought-provoking, editorial today about the maltreatment of Israel's non-Jewish soldiers.
The Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, for example, which is mostly comprised of Bedouin, has spent the last four years in the line of fire in Rafah, while other soldiers serving on the front lines are in rotation, not permanently positioned there. The Desert Reconnaissance Battalion accepts into its ranks Bedouin, Arabs and Muslims who are not obliged to enlist. Service in the unit is a way for young people to escape the economic crisis in which they live at home. Sometimes it is the only way they can get a steady job. The need to risk their lives just to earn a livelihood is also discomforting, especially considering just how much the Bedouin suffer from discrimination against them in budgets and infrastructure for their communities.
Israeli society's ability to only remember the Bedouin when one of them is killed during IDF service is regrettable. The basic civil rights of a citizen in his state should not have to depend on anything other than the fact of his citizenship. Various organizations have warned over the years about the crisis in Bedouin society, and just recently there was a detailed report from Physicians for Human Rights on the shameful state of the health of Bedouin in the unrecognized villages. But even though this is all well-known, no Israeli government has ever made time to conduct the revolution needed in the state's attitude toward the Bedouin.
No soldiers' life is more precious than another's, especially not because of religious or cultural differences. But the treatment of these volunteer soldiers does seem to me, until someone can prove otherwise, a trifle unfair.
I do think it is about time we stopped treating our Israeli citizens, whether Jewish, Christian, Armenian, Bedhouin or Arab with disrespect. Reverse anti-semitism is rife in this country and it is unfair. (I intend to write, as soon as I have her permission, about the battle an Armenian friend of mine had changing her address and getting her Teudat Zehut transferred to the West Jerusalem branch of the interior Ministry - stay tuned)
A Marvelous Place
I have often wondered how a nation such as ours will ever achieve peace. When you hear Israeli's talking about politics it is almost impossible to believe that we will ever be able to reach an agreement on Peace with the Palestinians, when we ourselves cannot agree with each other over the most simple issues.
Interestingly, and somewhat connected at least in my head, last night I went to my first ever Va'ad Bayit meeting. A Va'ad Bayit is the elected organization that runs the affairs of your building, from paying bills to ordering gas for the heating etc...
Our building, built in 1972, has 9 apartments. Originally it only had 8 but the woman downstairs on the bottom right split her apartment in two and expanded into the basement to create another apartment on the bottom floor, where her son now lives.
What amazed me about this meeting, is that these people (mostly over the age of 50), who have been living together for the last 15+ years, meet every couple of years or so for a massive screaming match. Inevitably at this meeting one or another will accuse the other of stealing this or that, the argument comes back to the same issues that have been haunting the building since 1972. No money in the kupah, the heating is not on long enough, the heating is on too long, the cleaning lady is useless, the cleaning lady needs a pay rise... you get the point. After 2 hours of sitting quietly by, just listening to the accusations flowing back and forth, the most amazing thing happened.
People who 5 min before had been yelling and screaming threats at each other, stopped so that the lady of the house could serve drinks and sufganiot, we stopped to light candles together and sing happy birthday to one of the neighbors daughters who turned 12. She went around the room and gave everyone a kiss. People who until this meeting had walked past each other in the halls with their heads bowed down, not a greeting to be heard, we seen wishing each other chag sameach and passing drinks and food!
After we had eaten, we sat down and one person suggested we forget the past 15 years. Actually he suggested they forget all the arguments up to and including 2003. He did a quick cheshbon of bills and outstanding payments due for 2004/2005 and split it up into sensible payments for each apartment owner. It was decided that the apartments on the right of the building with 4 rooms would pay one amount. The apartments on the left of the building with 3 rooms would pay a lesser amount. The cleaning lady would get a 130 shekel monthly increase. The one person in the building who could not afford to pay any money would be covered by everyone in the building. The number on the door outside our building would be replaced so people could read it (my personal gripe). The heating would be put on from 6:30-8:30am to warm the apartment for the day because many of the residents were elderly and didn't leave their apartments to go to work, and again from 4:30-10:00pm each night.
It was decided that 2 new people, a French man who is 4 months new to the building, and a French woman who has rented for 15 years, (they wanted me to do it but I think my husband would have killed me) would open a new bank account and manage the Va'ad from that point forward. The latter part of the meeting (after food) taking a total of 30 min to work out.
All said farewell and chag sameach, smiles and handshakes all around...
But I am assured it will all be repeated at the next meeting. Ain't Israel a marvelous place!
Interestingly, and somewhat connected at least in my head, last night I went to my first ever Va'ad Bayit meeting. A Va'ad Bayit is the elected organization that runs the affairs of your building, from paying bills to ordering gas for the heating etc...
Our building, built in 1972, has 9 apartments. Originally it only had 8 but the woman downstairs on the bottom right split her apartment in two and expanded into the basement to create another apartment on the bottom floor, where her son now lives.
What amazed me about this meeting, is that these people (mostly over the age of 50), who have been living together for the last 15+ years, meet every couple of years or so for a massive screaming match. Inevitably at this meeting one or another will accuse the other of stealing this or that, the argument comes back to the same issues that have been haunting the building since 1972. No money in the kupah, the heating is not on long enough, the heating is on too long, the cleaning lady is useless, the cleaning lady needs a pay rise... you get the point. After 2 hours of sitting quietly by, just listening to the accusations flowing back and forth, the most amazing thing happened.
People who 5 min before had been yelling and screaming threats at each other, stopped so that the lady of the house could serve drinks and sufganiot, we stopped to light candles together and sing happy birthday to one of the neighbors daughters who turned 12. She went around the room and gave everyone a kiss. People who until this meeting had walked past each other in the halls with their heads bowed down, not a greeting to be heard, we seen wishing each other chag sameach and passing drinks and food!
After we had eaten, we sat down and one person suggested we forget the past 15 years. Actually he suggested they forget all the arguments up to and including 2003. He did a quick cheshbon of bills and outstanding payments due for 2004/2005 and split it up into sensible payments for each apartment owner. It was decided that the apartments on the right of the building with 4 rooms would pay one amount. The apartments on the left of the building with 3 rooms would pay a lesser amount. The cleaning lady would get a 130 shekel monthly increase. The one person in the building who could not afford to pay any money would be covered by everyone in the building. The number on the door outside our building would be replaced so people could read it (my personal gripe). The heating would be put on from 6:30-8:30am to warm the apartment for the day because many of the residents were elderly and didn't leave their apartments to go to work, and again from 4:30-10:00pm each night.
It was decided that 2 new people, a French man who is 4 months new to the building, and a French woman who has rented for 15 years, (they wanted me to do it but I think my husband would have killed me) would open a new bank account and manage the Va'ad from that point forward. The latter part of the meeting (after food) taking a total of 30 min to work out.
All said farewell and chag sameach, smiles and handshakes all around...
But I am assured it will all be repeated at the next meeting. Ain't Israel a marvelous place!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
More on driving
WOW! This is interesting
Terror attacks in Israel produce an alarming though temporary rise in the number of people killed in road accidents, a study conducted by Hebrew University and Princeton University researchers has found.
In an analysis of road death statistics, the researchers, Dr. Guy Stecklov of the HU Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Dr. Joshua Goldstein of Princeton University, found that there is a 35% rise in the traffic accident fatality rate three days after a terror attack, compared to an average day. There is even a more dramatic 69% jump in the fatality rate after particularly deadly terror attacks, in which 10 or more people are killed. The fatality rate is a measure of the number of road fatalities in a particular period, divided by the number of cars on the road at that time.
more
Driving me mad....!
A few weeks ago we went out for dinner in Jerusalem and heard the couple at the next table talking about a "fake" policeman on the road from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. The next day on my way to Tel Aviv I was telling my father that there was supposedly a "fake" policeman on the road somewhere. He said to me "don't know about that but you better slow down there's a policeman up ahead" (FTR - I don't usually speed, only when we are running very late, inevitably not my fault, and we have to get to Ashkelon which is 40 minutes away and shabbat is coming in 27 minutes). Anyway back to my story.
So I slowed down a bit, only realizing once I had passed, that what I was seeing was the "fake" policeman. A week later the policeman had been removed. Apparently he caused so many accidents from drivers either slowing down to look at him or slamming on their brakes, not realizing that he wasn't real, that the end result didn't justify the means.
Now it has been a long standing gripe of mine that Israel does not do enough to protect people on the roads. Many people make light of the dangerous roads/drivers here in Israel.
But I honestly believe that Israel needs to have a lot more police on its' roads. If more police were on the roads handing out tickets to traffic offenders it would be the biggest incentive for drivers to abide by the laws, right now there is not enough to lose from speeding.
1) The money that would be made from handing out hefty fines for breaking the traffic laws would hopefully be enough to finance the cost of keeping more police on the roads.
2) Israelis need to learn not to tailgate the car in front. I can't stand it when the car behind drives on my tuches, I slow down when that happens.
3) What of the idiots who pass through a traffic intersection when there is no room on the other side?
4) Or the morons who don't stop for pedestrians at a crossing... it's endless!
I think I will walk home tonight!
Incidentally Danny Bermant has lots to say about Israeli drivers.
So I slowed down a bit, only realizing once I had passed, that what I was seeing was the "fake" policeman. A week later the policeman had been removed. Apparently he caused so many accidents from drivers either slowing down to look at him or slamming on their brakes, not realizing that he wasn't real, that the end result didn't justify the means.
Now it has been a long standing gripe of mine that Israel does not do enough to protect people on the roads. Many people make light of the dangerous roads/drivers here in Israel.
But I honestly believe that Israel needs to have a lot more police on its' roads. If more police were on the roads handing out tickets to traffic offenders it would be the biggest incentive for drivers to abide by the laws, right now there is not enough to lose from speeding.
1) The money that would be made from handing out hefty fines for breaking the traffic laws would hopefully be enough to finance the cost of keeping more police on the roads.
2) Israelis need to learn not to tailgate the car in front. I can't stand it when the car behind drives on my tuches, I slow down when that happens.
3) What of the idiots who pass through a traffic intersection when there is no room on the other side?
4) Or the morons who don't stop for pedestrians at a crossing... it's endless!
I think I will walk home tonight!
Incidentally Danny Bermant has lots to say about Israeli drivers.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Dead or Alive...? In or Out...?
Arafat was dead, no he was alive, no he was in critical condition, no he was getting better, no he has had a hemorrhage, no he is in an induced coma, wait a minute he is dead, not yet he is still alive...
Does this bring back some memories for you...
Marwan Barghouti is running for PA elections, no he is not, yes he is, no he is not, yes he is, no he is not etc... see here
There must be something to be said against up-to-the-minute news. I for one wouldn't mind waiting till there is something to be said before it is said! I mean seriously, the guy is in JAIL how likely will it be that he will run in the end!
Does this bring back some memories for you...
Marwan Barghouti is running for PA elections, no he is not, yes he is, no he is not, yes he is, no he is not etc... see here
and previously...
Barghouti may bolt race, againByline: KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2004Publication: Daily Page: 03Section: NewsCredit: Nasser Nasser/APIllustration: PhotoCaption: PA CABINET minister Kadoura Fares and Fadwa Barghouti, wife of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, speak at a November 27 press conference in Ramallah where it was originally announced that Barghouti would not run in the election for PA chairman. Barghouti then changed his mind, and may change it again.
There must be something to be said against up-to-the-minute news. I for one wouldn't mind waiting till there is something to be said before it is said! I mean seriously, the guy is in JAIL how likely will it be that he will run in the end!
Family research
My whole life I have been brought up with the knowledge that my mother's maiden name was "stolen" from a dead man in order to allow my great great grandfather to escape Poland.
I find out today that this is not true and there is evidence. It turns out my mother's maiden name is her true one and the one we thought was the true one was the stolen one. My great grandfather changed the name back to the original when he arrived in South Africa.
A quick search on the new Yad Vashem Names site here brought up and list of other people with the same name (which we never bothered to research before, thinking it was a stolen one), slightly different spelling, from the same area as my great great grandparents.
I am sooo excited about this. Does anyone else have experience with tracing family histories. What do you do when you think you have reached a dead end. What are your resources, besides JewishGen?
I would be very very interested in building a family tree and finding lost family around the world.
I find out today that this is not true and there is evidence. It turns out my mother's maiden name is her true one and the one we thought was the true one was the stolen one. My great grandfather changed the name back to the original when he arrived in South Africa.
A quick search on the new Yad Vashem Names site here brought up and list of other people with the same name (which we never bothered to research before, thinking it was a stolen one), slightly different spelling, from the same area as my great great grandparents.
I am sooo excited about this. Does anyone else have experience with tracing family histories. What do you do when you think you have reached a dead end. What are your resources, besides JewishGen?
I would be very very interested in building a family tree and finding lost family around the world.
Football fiasco on HOT
Can you believe what is going on with English Football in Israel. Is anyone else very pissed off about it?
First you had to sign up to get the special sport channel 5+. This came in a package called "Gevarim" and cost and extra....
Then BANG! Without warning this year they change all English football games to "pay-per-view". 19.90 shekels for 3 games. So we started to book the games. HOT claimed we would in the future be able to book single games at 11 shekels/game which made more sense, being Arsenal fans and all that, why would we want to watch a Man U. game, or even pay for it? But we weren't always successful getting the games booked properly.
Several weeks later and several calls to customer support. They (HOT) happily inform us that they now have a "new" tochnit and we can pay NIS 229/month and receive unlimited access to English football games - YAY no more pay-per-view - and as a bonus they will throw in all the movie channels for free.
So let's summarize. We used to pay around 139/month for our cable TV and get all the football games. Then we started having to pay an extra 19.90/week to receive 3 games, two of which we didn't want to watch. Now we are paying 229/month to receive all the games plus 4 movie channels we barely have time to watch... AND NOW THE CLINCHER!
Channel 1 (a free channel) has started showing English football matches...
Did I mention that the company that just bought the Jerusalem Post also owns the English Football channel rights... lord help us.
First you had to sign up to get the special sport channel 5+. This came in a package called "Gevarim" and cost and extra....
Then BANG! Without warning this year they change all English football games to "pay-per-view". 19.90 shekels for 3 games. So we started to book the games. HOT claimed we would in the future be able to book single games at 11 shekels/game which made more sense, being Arsenal fans and all that, why would we want to watch a Man U. game, or even pay for it? But we weren't always successful getting the games booked properly.
Several weeks later and several calls to customer support. They (HOT) happily inform us that they now have a "new" tochnit and we can pay NIS 229/month and receive unlimited access to English football games - YAY no more pay-per-view - and as a bonus they will throw in all the movie channels for free.
So let's summarize. We used to pay around 139/month for our cable TV and get all the football games. Then we started having to pay an extra 19.90/week to receive 3 games, two of which we didn't want to watch. Now we are paying 229/month to receive all the games plus 4 movie channels we barely have time to watch... AND NOW THE CLINCHER!
Channel 1 (a free channel) has started showing English football matches...
Did I mention that the company that just bought the Jerusalem Post also owns the English Football channel rights... lord help us.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Hasbara's biggest embarrassment!
Wherever I go in the English speaking world of Israel, I hear people praising Caroline Glick's column in the Jerusalem Post. But where are all those people who find her embarrassing.
Surely we are not the only two people on earth who feel ashamed of Caroline's column each and every week. Last week she excused the murder, by an American soldier, of a man who was doing nothing but kneeling in prayer.
It is hard to begin to imagine how hard it must be to go into war and face potential enemy. But surely there MUST be some guidelines. Is it enough to just generalize all acts as "defense" without thought for the innocent people that may be killed? What of the reporter she attacks in her column, is he wrong to tell the world what he saw?
Caroline always seems to border on the hysterical. As much as it is not nice, suffice to say embarrassing, to hear about some of the behaviour of our own Israeli soldiers out in the fields. It IS important to know about it, because we are all human and war is attrocious and unfortuantely necessary. But that does not mean everything is excusable.
Surely we are not the only two people on earth who feel ashamed of Caroline's column each and every week. Last week she excused the murder, by an American soldier, of a man who was doing nothing but kneeling in prayer.
Freelance journalist Kevin Sites was just another guy trying to make his way in the business until the battle of Fallujah. While accompanying US marines into a mosque, Sites filmed a marine shooting a prostrate terrorist lying in the mosque, then crassly pronouncing him dead. As the pictures made their way around the world, millions of anti-US voices rang up angrily denouncing the Marines for committing "war crimes." Overnight, Sites became an international star. Everyone wanted to read the Left's dazzling Johnny-on-the-Spot and all "right-thinking"
people pronounced him a professional upholding the highest standards of journalism. Heady stuff for a reporter on the make and a powerful message for all aspiring players of the trade.In Israel, our TV news broadcast Sites's footage over and over as wizened anchors shook their heads with revulsion over the inhumanity of US armed forces in Iraq. The newspapers played up coverage of the event to make certain that all of us knew just how awful American forces
really are. No one bothered to make mention of the fact that marines and soldiers fighting in Fallujah had been repeatedly attacked by terrorists playing possum. No one bothered to make mention of the numerous instances of terrorists raising the white flag of surrender only to fire at forces coming to take them into custody. What does the context of the battle matter when a case can be made for vilifying US marines as war criminals on the basis of Sites's isolated,deconstructionist footage rather than praising them as battle-trained warriors?
It is hard to begin to imagine how hard it must be to go into war and face potential enemy. But surely there MUST be some guidelines. Is it enough to just generalize all acts as "defense" without thought for the innocent people that may be killed? What of the reporter she attacks in her column, is he wrong to tell the world what he saw?
Caroline always seems to border on the hysterical. As much as it is not nice, suffice to say embarrassing, to hear about some of the behaviour of our own Israeli soldiers out in the fields. It IS important to know about it, because we are all human and war is attrocious and unfortuantely necessary. But that does not mean everything is excusable.
But Seriously...
I have been riding the Blogosphere for only a few months, but one thing that is apparent is that people need to "lighten up".
Dov Bear takes issue with the way Haredim dress in today's world. An issue I happen to agree with even if I think it could have been presented in a slightly less offensive way, click here
There are way too many people out there who get rude when posting comments about other people's blogs. We all say/think silly things, our blogs are the place to vent them. So move on if you have nothing intelligent to say.
That's my 2 cents worth for today. (POC - can one have a 2 cents worth if they live in Israel?)
Dov Bear takes issue with the way Haredim dress in today's world. An issue I happen to agree with even if I think it could have been presented in a slightly less offensive way, click here
There are way too many people out there who get rude when posting comments about other people's blogs. We all say/think silly things, our blogs are the place to vent them. So move on if you have nothing intelligent to say.
That's my 2 cents worth for today. (POC - can one have a 2 cents worth if they live in Israel?)
Thursday, December 09, 2004
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