Members of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) in session (Image credit: Unsplash)
The 120 members of the Knesset, as per the results of the March 2015, 20th Israeli Parliamentary Elections have been sworn in. An up-to-date list of Knesset Members (December 2015) reflects new members who replaced MKs that resigned after the elections and during 2015, as follows:-
Get the most from your Shekel and save on special Kasher LePesach food and grocery items
Before Pesach the leading supermarkets in Israel display a wide selection of special offer items in the 10 shekel price range and in this way, tempt us to pile extra items in our trolleys. Over the years Anglo-List has done many price checks this year too, we’re on the lookout for best deals. An online shopping comparison gave us the answers. We did not compare special Hechsher items – just the regular Rabbinate Hechsher – with and without Kitniot.
Again, Mega is the most expensive but in the last year they’ve improved their online shopping site and it’s easier to navigate. Shufersal gets 10/10 for their selection. Rami Levy promotes their house-brand more than other leading brands but their stock levels seems to fluctuate with many items unavailable. None of these websites have English options however but its worth learning how to use them. You need the patience of a saint to brave the queues at the supermarkets prior to Pesach, so online shopping, is a convenient stress-free option.
Don’t forget to check out your local dollar shop for certain items. They are often cheaper and also keep an excellent selection of top quality disposable tableware.
Item
Mega
Shufersal
Rami Levy
Household Cleaning
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
2018
Sano oven cleaner
13.80
11.90
9.90
10.00
10.70
9.90
Sano Javel
16.80
10.90
12.90
11.90
14.90
12.90
Anti Kalk
16.90
12.90
10.00
12.90
4.90
12.90
Nikol floor rag x 2
23.90
16.90
14.90
16.90
–
14.90
Ritzpaz disposable floor rags
11.90
12.90
10.90
10.90
9.90
10.00
Magic sponge
11.90
10.90
10.00
7.90
7.70
6.90
Palmolive dishwashing liquid
12.90-750ml
12.90
10.00 -1L
9.90
9.70 -1L
12.70
Fairy – 650 ml
10.90
10.90
10.90
10.90
7.50
7.50
Spark dish washer salt -2kg
12.90
11.90
10.00
10.00
8.70
9.70
Food Items
Shachar chocolate spread 400g
10.90
10.00
10.00
11.50
8.80
11.20
Carmel Tirosh grape juice
15.90
20.90
15.90
14.90
9.80
12.90
Haroset
10.00
11.00
11.70
9.90
11.90
–
Telma mayonnaise – 500 g
9.80
9.90
9.90
10.00
7.90
6.90
Hellman’s light mayonnaise 430g
10.90
10.90
9.20
10.00
8.90
9.50
Pickled cucumbers in vinegar
10.00 (2)
5.90
9.50 (2)
6.30
4.90 (1)
5.00
Sugar x 1kg
3.90
4.50
4.40
4.50
3.90
6.30
Eitz Hazayit canola oil
9.90 -750ml
12.90
10.90 – 1L
10.90
9.90 – 1L
10.00
Frozen baby carrots
15.90
18.90
13.90
10.00
8.90
7.80
Fresh chicken wings/kg
9.90
12.90
11.90
11.90
9.90
7.90
Hummous Achla – 1kg
–
15.90
–
13.90
–
–
Matzah 2.5kg
31.90
28.90
23.90
22.90
–
–
Gefilte Fish – 6
10.00
10.90
10.90
10.90
9.90
12.90
Lipton’s Tea – 100 bags
16.90
12.90
10.00
11.90
8.90
7.90
Sweets & Chocolates
Elite parev chocolate slabs
10.00/4
19.90/5
19.60/4
24.90/6
12.90/3
3.70/1
Disposables
Nikol tin foil x 2 narrow width
19.90
13.80
10.00
10.90
7.70
9.00
50 small white disposable plates
21.90
7.90
6.50
9.90
17.90
5.90
Nikol paper napkins
7.50 (100)
6.90/150
9.52(180)
7.90/50
9.90 (170)
–
Nikol Kitchen Towel x 6
10.90
11.90
10.00
10.90
8.80
5.90
Nikol Cling wrap x 2
10.90
12.90
10.00
11.90
7.70
7.50
Nikol Scourers (Japani) x 4
10.90
12.90
10.00
10.90/6
8.00
9.00
Roasting Pans
9.50 (4)
12.90/3
7.92 (5)
8.90/3
8.90 (3)
6.90/5
Disposable drinking cups
5.90 (100)
3.90/100
5.52 (150)
4.90/100
3.90 (100)
1.50/100
Shopping Tips
Never shop on an empty stomach or you will be tempted to buy more
Check out special offers, 1+1, buy 2 get one free; if you are not going to use the item within 2 -3 months, you are better off buying a single item at the regular price.
Traditional kosher recipes for the Festival of Passover
Traditional kosher recipes for the Festival of Passover
The eight-day festival of Passover or Pesach, is celebrated in the spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. By following the rituals of Passover, we have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom that our ancestors gained.
Pesach is challenging for everyone of us who has to prepare the week’s meals. Kosher for Pesach food is expensive. And after we have finished the Pesach cleaning there is generally limited time for cooking. We are sharing some recipes that are easy to prepare, not too time consuming, use ingredients that are readily available and are frankly delicious.
Polling stations for disabled voters for Israel elections.
Hebrew: קלפיות מותאמות למוגבלים בניידות
Provision has been made for disabled voters in the upcoming Israel elections – voters will be able to exercise their right to vote at a polling station that has access for the disabled.
According to Israeli law it is required that:
In each district, there be at least one polling station with easy access for the disabled.
In a district that has more than 20 polling stations, at least 2 of them must have easy access for the disabled.
How do I know if my polling station is disabled friendly?
In the last few weeks, you should have received a pink voter’s information slip in the mail. In addition to your personal information and the address of your polling station, the slip should indicate if the station is disabled friendly.
If you are disabled you are entitled to vote at any polling station in your district that is disabled friendly. If the disabled polling station nearest you, does not suit you, you can then cast your vote at any station which is suitable.
Mix yeast with sugar until melted, add water and enough flour to make a paste.
Cover and leave to rise until bubbly.
10 oz (about 250-300g) unsalted butter, melted
2 whole eggs + 5 yolks 1 cup sugar 1 heaped tsp salt 1 cup milk About 6 cups flour (I sometimes need up to 8 ) Beat eggs and sugar until thick and white. Slowly add butter, salt and milk. Add yeast mixture. Change to dough hook. Add flour 1 cup at a time kneading with the dough hook until dough is sticky when you touch it, but not so much that it goes all over your hand. Usually a thin, sticky film will stick to your hand. Turn onto a well floured board and knead a bit until smooth. Place in lightly oiled bowl, I put a piece of baking paper loosely on top, then cling wrap, then a tea towel, then a blanket. Allow to rise until doubled in size, then make shapes, then let shapes rise until they feel a bit spongey when you touch them gently, then brush with beaten egg and bake at 180deg until golden brown
Did you know that the word Adloyadah is the term used to refer to a Purim parade. The word is derived from the Hebrew phrase – Ad-lo-yo-day-ah – “until one no longer knows”. The name is derived from the rabbinic saying in the Talmud that one should revel on Purim by drinking “until one no longer knows” (ad de-lo yaday-ah).
These are just some of the Purim parades regularly held across the country:
Holon Adloyadah Purim Parade
The Holon Adloyadah Purim parade is one of the most impressive Purim parades that take place. It’s a massive carnival held in the city of Holon, south of Tel Aviv. The event is great fun for kids and adults alike.
The parade starts on Sokolov Street and ends at the corner of Weizmann and Golomb Streets. The Holon Adloyadah includes exhibits, dancers, bands, orchestras, drummers, street performers, acrobats and more.
Beer Sheva Old City Carnival
A street party in Beer Sheva – details not yet available
Tel Aviv Purim Street Party
The annual Tel Aviv Purim Street Party is usually held on Sderot Rotschild.
The central Purim festival is a huge party that takes place in Safra Square, Jerusalem. With kids in mind, there will be special activities and performances
Purim at Israel’s Many Museums
Many of the museums around the country hold special events for Purim. Lots of fun and hands-on activities for the kids. Treat your kids to an outing at the Bloomfield Children’s museum
Modiin Adloyadah
There are many Purim celebrations in Modiin this year and include a party for youth, a youth movement event, workshops, a girls only party and Megilah readings across town. See the Modiin Municipality’s ModiinApp for more details.
Herzliyah Adloyadah
An annual Adloyada is held in Herzliya in the town center.
Raanana
The Raanana Adloyada has activities for children of all ages and often includes a Capoeira performance
Purim in Haifa
Lots of Purim activities in Haifa every year. The main event are activities and a street market in the Hadar neighborhood on Herzl St. on Friday.
Does it pay to buy the supermarket’s house brand? A price comparison.
The Shufersal chain has a large house brand selection.
Over the past few months we’ve been researching and reporting on the shopping habits of the English speaking community in Israel and conducting price comparisons as well; fruit and vegetables, a family holiday, school supplies etc.
Now, we compared the prices of 26 different supermarket items; the house brand and the leading brand. What is the best value for money? How much can you save a month? We visited Shufersal in Kiryat Eliezer in Haifa, and these are the price differences we found on selected items:
It is clear that there is a lot of money to be saved by buying the house brand. We saved over 100 shekels on just 26 items. If you bought the house brand every time over the leading brand, you could save at least 400 shekels a month. 400 shekels a month is 4,800 shekels a year. 4,800 shekels a year is more than Israel’s minimum wage. With 4,800 shekels you can get 4 or 5 nights accommodation in a luxury zimmer or a few nights accommodation at an economy hotel in Eilat. Makes you think, hey!
We did not compare the flavor or nutritional value of the food items which may affect your final purchase decision.
Shufersal had no influence in this article whatsoever.
Post Aliyah: Doing things differently can lead to something exceptional
By: Our Facebook group members
Flag of Israel
If you could make Aliyah a second time around what would you do differently? We asked members of our Facebook community for their input because we knew that the responses we would get, would give new and potential olim insight into some of the issues and problems related to Aliyah. Our insight and view of things after Aliyah is very valuable and so is the shared experiences of ‘vatikim’ – seasoned olim. We are not trying to put you off, we are only giving you this information so that you can fully understand, embrace and prepare yourself for some of the issues related to Aliyah.
We all know mistakes cost money and we cannot foresee everything but here are a few points to ponder (in no specific order). Remember that these are just public opinions and not necessarily the opinion of the website.
1. Choosing your Aliyah Community
“If I knew how cold it was in the Galilee in the winter, I would have gone straight to Eilat!”
“I would have done more research into the area I chose to live in.”
“Go straight to a Merkaz Klitah (Absorption Center)” – secure accommodation, no bills to worry about for a while and concentrate on learning Hebrew.”
2. Make Aliyah at an early age
“I should have made Aliyah as soon as I finished high school.”
“I should have come earlier so that I could have served in the IDF (Israel Defense Force) – this would have helped me integrate more.”
“Come without children.”
3 – Learn Hebrew
“Speaking the language well makes all of the difference.”
Be more conscientious about learning Hebrew, going to Ulpan and improving your Hebrew skills”
“Don’t rely on English”
“Integrate with Hebrew speakers or better still go live in a non-Anglo area.”
“If you don’t improve your Hebrew skills it puts you at a disadvantage in the job market. Any negotiations, large purchases, mortgages and dealings with public offices are best done in Hebrew”
“I would have made buying an apartment a priority. I have been paying rent for 20 years.” Buy whatever you can – you don’t have to live there, you can always rent out and live somewhere else. Get a foothold into the Israeli property market – it is one of the best investments you’ll ever make.
5. Bringing Appliances & Household Items in your Aliyah Lift
“Be qualified in something. Have some type of certification, diploma or degree behind you.” Don’t rely on experience alone. It’s harder to find work when you don’t have something concrete. “I can type, I can answer phones, I can do books, I can do and learn anything” and so can hundreds of others but the one who has the qualification to prove it will have more chance of getting the job.
“Speak up. Be assertive. Say what is on your mind.”
“It does not help to be shy or too polite”
9. Should I make Aliyah?
“Be 100 percent sure that making aliyah is what you want to do – your partner too.” Only if you are completely sure you can be completely committed to the process.
“Go with the flow! Try not to take things so seriously.” In Israel do as the Israelis do.
“Be prepared to compromise.”
12. Research Aliyah
“Do as much research as you can before you come.”
“Make a pilot trip if possible.”
13. Israeli Driver’s License
“Make sure you change over to an Israeli driver’s license.” Once your licensed has lapsed you have to take lessons all over again and then redo the test – a huge expense.
“Push yourself to do and achieve things – don’t just say it will all be okay.”
15. Making new friends in Israel
“We tend to create a social network made up of other Anglos or English speakers in Israel. Your friends might leave after a few years and that can be hard. Try to mix with Israelis and make Israeli friends.”
