Hebrew is a colorful and poetic language. Learning local Hebrew slang and jargon is an important part of your integration. If you want to speak like an Israeli it’s useful to know common abbreviations and acronyms as well. Sometimes Hebrew acronyms form new words. For example the Hebrew words for yellow cheese are “gvinah tzehuba” – the acronym in Hebrew is גבנ”צ and these letters then form a new word “GAVNATZ”.
Here are some of out all-time favorite Hebrew acronyms and abbreviations:
Full phrase
Acronym
Transliteration
Meaning
חברי כנסת
ח”כים
CHAKIM
Havrei Knesset: Members of the Knesset
סכין, כף ומזלג
סכו”ם
SAKUM
Cutlery: knife, spoon and fork (in that specific order)
חמישי, שישי, שבת
חמשו”ש
HAMSHUSH
Army slang: Thursday, Friday, Saturday weekend leave
חרדי לאומי
חַרְדָּ”ל
CHARDAL
Charedi Leumi. This is funny as the word for mustard in Hebrew is “Chardal”
שק שינה
סָקָ”שׁ
SAKASH
Sak Sheinah: Sleeping bag
חבל על הזמן
חַבְלָ”ז
HAVLAZ
Chaval al hazman: wow, stunning or awful and also a waste of time
שֵׁירוּת ביטחון כללי
שַׁבָּ”כּ
SHABAK
Israel Security Forces also known as the Shin Bet
חס וחלילה
חו”ח
CHUCH
Chas Ve Chalilah: Heaven forbid
סוף סוף
סו”ס
SUS
Sof Sof: Finally. This is funny as the word for horse is Hebrew is “Sus”
זו בעיה שלכם
זַבַּ”שְכֵּם
ZABSHECHEM
Zu B’aya shelachem: That’s your problem
גמר חתימה טובה
גמח”ט
GAMACHT
Gmar Hatima Tova! – Yom Kippur greeting – may you be inscribed
שינת צוהרים
שנ״צ
SHNATZ
Sheinat Tzohorayim – afternoon sleep
לילה טוב
לל”ט
LALAT
Leilah Tov – good night
דרישת שלום
ד”ש
DUSH
Drishat shalom – greetings and regards (some might spell it DASH)
To illustrate, here is a conversation between two teenage friends; Talia and Hedva
H: “Hi Talia!”
T: “So nice to hear from you Hedva, it’s been ages – Shanah Tova and GAMACHT”
H: “Thanks and you too. I’ve just woken up from my SHNATZ, I was exhausted. I was out buying presents today for the family. I bought so many nice things and a new set of SAKUM for my parents. The ones we use now are so old fashioned.”
T: “I also did some shopping today and bought a stunning red dress – CHAVLAZ! I can’t wait to wear it next week.”
H: “Have you heard Adina has a boyfriend SUS, can you believe it he is a CHARDAL. I was so amazed to hear it, her family are just very traditional.”
T: “I wasn’t so friendly with her at school but everyone used to say that her father was in the SHABAK. I wonder if that is actually true.”
H: “So have you heard, I’m in TZAHAL now. I’m posted in Beer Sheva. It’s so far, I asked for KALAB but they refused me and so I have to be happy with my CHAMSHUSHIM (plural for CHAMSHUSH). Well we are having elections again soon, I hope the new CHAKIM will do something to improve our conditions. I wish we had an air-conditioner. It’s so cold on our base that I have to sleep in my SAKASH all the time.”
T: “I’d love to see you and catch up, how is your LUZ? Let’s get together on MOTZASH, how does that suit you?”
H: “That sounds great, I’ll pick you up at 21:00”
T: “Can’t wait! It’s getting late now, I am going to bed. Give DUSH to your family please. LALAT.”
H: “LALAT and DUSH to yours as well.”
Thanks to all the members of our Facebook group that contributed to this article
Make sure you are registered to vote in the upcoming elections. You can verify by fax or telephone:
If your name appears on the voter’s roll
Your registered address and closest polling station
If your polling station is handicapped friendly
A list of polling stations that are handicapped friendly
Call:1-800-800-508
The automated phone line will be operational 24 hours a day except for Shabbat
Information will be provided in the following languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, English and Amharic
Speak to a representative on Sunday – Thursday from 08:30 a.m to 22:00 or on Friday from 08:30 – 12:30
Send an SMS to 052-9995522. Please note that your SMS must include your 9 digit identity number as it appears in your Teudat Zehut – Identity Document.
You can also send a fax to tel. no. 1-800-800-608
Note:
You can also to access the voter’s roll online at www.gov.il
If you do not want your details publicly visible on the online voter’s role, and you wish to be removed from the list, you need to send a request by fax to 09-7909135 or an email to shlomitgo@piba.gov.il
Vous pensez vous installer en Israël? Faire son Aliyah est une décision très importante et il vous faudra faire face à de nombreux défis. Netanya est une destination prisée par la communauté francophone. Netanya se situe dans la partie nord de District Central en Israël, dans la plaine de Sharon. Netanya signifie « cadeau de Dieu » en hébreu. Facile d’accès en train et avec un réseau de bus extensif, Netanya est un choix idéal, à une demi-heure de Tel Aviv au sud, et une distance équivalente d’Haïfa au nord.
Front de mer de netanya (Guy Suckerman)
Population
Netanya abrite 200 000 résidents. Netanya est très populaire parmi les immigrants de France, de l’ancienne Union Soviétique, d’Éthiopie, d’Iran, des pays anglophones et d’Amérique Latine. En fait, 1/3 de la population de Netanya est composée d’immigrants.
Économie, industrie et emploi
L’industrie, à Netanya, est largement divisée en quatre secteurs d’activité – les technologies de pointe et le tourisme occupent un rôle majeur dans l’économie de Netanya et offrent de nombreuses possibilités d’emploi. Il y a aussi de nombreuses opportunités au sein d’un certain nombre d’institutions académiques, à l’hôpital et, bien sûr, au groupe Ikea qui opère un magasin dans la région. Les petites et moyennes entreprises de Netanya, magasins et galeries marchandes offrent tous une gamme variée de possibilités d’emplois.
Transport et accès
Cars, trains et sheruts (service de taxis collectifs) relient Netanya au reste du pays. Deux gares ferroviaires ; la gare de Netanya et celle de Bet Yehoshua opèrent un service direct vers Tel Aviv, Binyamina, Hadera, Herzliya, Lod, Rehovot, Ashdod, Ashkelon et autres villes. Toutes les gares ferroviaires d’Israël, ainsi que l’aéroport Ben Gourion, peuvent être reliées depuis Netanya par le biais de gares intermédiaires telles que Binyamina et Tel Aviv.
Logement
Vous pouvez louer ou acheter un appartement, un pavillon ou une villa. En fonction de son emplacement, le prix de départ pour un appartement neuf de type F4 (3 chambres) est d’environ 1,2 millions de shekels. Les loyers tournent autour de 3000 shekels pour un F3 (deux chambres) et peuvent aller jusqu’à 5000 shekels par mois pour un F5 (4 chambres). Vous devez être prêts à débourser au moins 3 millions de shekels pour l’achat d’un pavillon ou d’une villa.
Nitza et South Beach sont des banlieues prisées ainsi que Kiryat HaSharon et Ramat Poleg.
Éducation
186 jardins d’enfants, 46 écoles primaires et 16 lycées sont gérés par le service de l’éducation de la municipalité avec une grande sélection d’écoles laïques ainsi que des écoles pour la communauté Dati Leumi. Bet Yaakov et Chabad sont aussi munies de structures éducatives.
L’éducation supérieure dans divers domaines est offerte par le Collège Académique de Netanya. Le collège technique Ort Hermelin, le collège Zinman d’éducation physique et des techniques du sport, l’école d’infirmiers Tesler. L’Institut Wingate, le Centre National d’Israël pour l’éducation physique et le sport se trouvent également dans la ville et ses environs.
Les quatre assurances de santé complémentaires d’Israël : Maccabi, Clalit, Meuhedet et Leumit sont représentées et ont des branches et cliniques dans la ville. L’hôpital Laniado est au service de près d’un demi-million de gens qui résident dans la région de Netanya et de Sharon. L’école d’infirmiers Tesler est rattachée à l’hôpital Laniado.
Vie religieuse
Environ 200 synagogues de toutes tailles et affiliations; ashkénazes, sépharades, orthodoxes, ultra-orthodoxes, réformées, etc. Vous êtes sûr de trouver une synagogue qui correspond à vos attentes.
Centres commerciaux
Netanya a 5 centres commerciaux ; Hasharon Mall, BIG Poleg, Hadarim Mall, Halrusim Mall et le Poleg.
Le Shuk (marché aux fruits et légumes)
Un endroit bruyant et haut en couleur, une des caractéristiques du shuk de Netanya est son toit qui, été comme hiver, sous une pluie battante ou un soleil de plomb en été, rend l’expérience du shuk beaucoup plus agréable. Comme tous les marchés, celui-ci offre fruits, légumes, viande, épices et épicerie fine.
Aromes exotiques et tout ce que vous souhaitez dans les cuisines d’Afrique du Nord, de Russie ou de France. De nombreux petits restaurants aux menus variés et le très recommandé restaurant Tripoli.
Le shuk est situé dans la rue Shoham. Il est ouvert du dimanche au jeudi du matin à l’après-midi et le vendredi jusqu’en début d’après-midi.Les prix sont plus bas en fin d’après-midi, juste avant la fermeture ainsi que le vendredi.
Des falaises de grès et 13 kms de plages de sable fin composent la côte d’azur de Netanya. Un temps clément et chaud presque toute l’année, la saison officielle pour la baignade va de juin à septembre. Les plages sont surveillées du matin jusqu’au coucher du soleil.
La plage Blue Bay
Près de l’hotel Blue Bay – la plage de Netanya la plus au nord.
La plage Zanz
Au sud de la plage de Blue Bay, la plage de Zanz est réservée à la communauté juive ultra-religieuse de Netanya. Il y a des jours de baignade séparés pour les hommes et les femmes :
La plage est fermée le samedi.
La plage Onot
Près de l’hotel Onot, accessible par le boulevard Niza et la promenade Shaked, la plage d’Onot est fréquentée par la jeunesse friande de musique et de danse.
La plage Amphi
La plage Amphi se situe près de l’amphithéâtre de Netanya. Si vous aimez les sports nautiques, c’est la plage qu’il vous faut. Il y a un accès sur la plage pour les bateaux, les planches de surf et les kayaks. Il y a un club de sports nautiques ainsi qu’un magasin de plongée sous-marine où il est possible de s’inscrire pour des cours de plongée.
La plage Herzl
La plage Herzl – sur la rue Herzl et la place Atzmaut est adjacente à la plage Amphi – des aires de jeux, un restaurant, des parasols de plage, un centre de sports, la possibilité de louer des articles de sport et un club pour les enfants sont quelque unes des raisons de fréquenter la plage Herzl. La plage est aussi accessible par ascenseur (Sea Elevator) et on peut se garer sur la partie nord de la plage de Sironit. La plage Herzl a aussi un accès pour les personnes handicapées.
La plage Sironit
La Salsa, les danses folkloriques israéliennes, les activités créatives et les compétitions sportives, le football de plage et le volleyball sont juste quelques raisons de venir sur la plage Sironit. Adjacente à la plage Herzl, les deux plages se partagent les mêmes services. Le poste de secours est ouvert toute l’année.
La plage Sironit B
La plage principale de Netanya et celle votée une des 10 meilleures plages d’Israël, la plage Sironit se situe sous la promenade Rishonim, accessible par l’ascenseur transparent.
Deux brise-lames sont situés en face de la plage créant ainsi des criques tranquilles qui permettent de se baigner en toute sécurité presque toute l’année.
La plage Argaman
L’entrée de la plage Argaman se fait par le boulevard Ben-Ami. Il y a un sauveteur en poste et un parking gratuit. La plage est adjacente aux quartiers de Neot Shaked et de Ramat Yadin. La plage est étroite et belle. Il n’y a pas de brise-lames. On peut y accéder à pied depuis la plage Sironit ou la plage Poleg.
La plage Poleg
La plage de la ville la plus au sud, la plage Poleg « Speedo » se situe près de la réserve de Back Iris et de Ramat Poleg. La plage a un restaurant gastronomique, une cafetaria, des vestiaires et des toilettes. Les scooters des mers motorisés ne sont autorisés que dans la partie nord. Il y a un parking payant.
Nouveaux Immigrants
Le ministère d’absorption des immigrants offre aux nouveaux immigrants son soutien et assistance pour faciliter leur intégration à la société israélienne. Ces droits et avantages comprennent :
Une assistance financière.
Une aide à l’emploi.
Des opportunités pour une intégration sociale et culturelle.
Une aide au logement.
Une aide dans l’apprentissage de l’hébreu.
Une préparation à la conversion et à l’introduction à l’héritage juif.
Une aide aux étudiants et écoliers.
Une attention particulière aux Olim à risque.
Un service de consultation et d’assistance aux Olim, individuels, familles, groupes et communautés.
Miriam Fierberg est maire de Netanya depuis de nombreuses années. Elle joue un rôle très actif dans l’amélioration des services de la ville et travaille énormément pour satisfaire aux besoins de la communauté.
Spelled hummous, hummus or houmous, pronounced with a gutteral “ggghhh’ sound, as if you need to clear your throat (and not hoo-moos) is a Levantine and Egyptian food dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas or other beans, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. It is popular throughout the Middle East and in Middle Eastern cuisine around the globe.
“Wiping” hummus with pita
As you land at Ben Gurion International Airport, the first question you’ll need answered is: “Where is the best place to eat hummus?”. Some of the best Hummus establishments are Arab owned, so if you are looking for a Kosher establishment ask to see certification.
We asked members of the community including some immigrants (olim (Heb: vatikim) to make their recommendations for the best hummus eateries. They took up the challenge and let’s see what they had to say…
Abu Gosh
The best hummus in Israel can be found at the Abu Gosh Restaurant in Abu Gosh an Arab village on the main highway, close to Jerusalem just opposite the Haredi Ultra-Orthodox community in Telzstone (Kiryat Ye’arim). Abu Gosh has been nominated as the ‘best ever’ on TripAdvisor and it’s even listed in Wikipedia.
Akko
Hummus Sayeed in the old city of Akko. Ask anyone for directions. Be prepared to wait in a long queue
Deir El Assad (near Karmiel)
Hummus HaMelachim (The King of Falafel): Sharon says “It’s absolutely the best”
Haifa
Hummus Eliyahu on Dubnov St. Victor says that it’s the best.
Abu Yousuf: Robin says that she’s been going there for years and that they serve the best hummus in Haifa
Abu Shaker – a few doors away from Abu Yousuf. Their hummus and ful (fava beans) is hard to beat. Ask for extra lemon, parsley and olive oil.
Hod HaSharon
Ilan nominated ‘Kaduri’ in Hod HaSharon as the best.
Ilan nominated ‘Kaduri’ in Hod HaSharon as the best.
Hummus Ben Sira located on the street with the same name. Aaron voted this as the best Jerusalem hummus establishment.
Rosh Pina
Rosh Pina is a quaint little town in Northern Israel close to Kiryat Shmona. If you are in the area, take time to walk around and once you’ve built up an appetite head to Hummus Ousol next to the police station. They have a branch in Tel Aviv too. “Simply put, it’s a cut above all others”.
The hummus joint on the corner of Ben Yehuda Street and Frishman also got a top rating and Brian said “It’s the real deal!”
Zichron Yaakov
‘The Hummusiyah’ got full marks and it’s Kosher too.
Hidden gem
One kind hearted fellow with a delightful sense of humor said: “My house, I make really good and healthy hummus and falafel“. For fear of having hoards of people knocking at his door, he preferred to remain anonymous and would not reveal where he lived.
Recently a survey entitled “The Shopping Habits of the Anglo Community in Israel” was conducted by www.anglo-list.com. Suzanne Suckerman who developed the Anglo-list – the Aliyah and Israel lifestyle website – explained “Olim tend to have preconceived expectations about living in Israel based on their lifestyle back home and when they get here the realities can be very different. If they can establish how English speakers in Israel are actually living, they can set realistic expectations. When we design our surveys or web content we try to keep the collective experiences and frustrations of the Anglo community in mind”.
She further explained how the recent local media coverage on the shopping habits of Israeli expats living abroad, prompted her to investigate the shopping habits of the Anglo community living in Israel. When the results of the survey came in, we were able to analyze them as follows:
Food is essential for us to live so the trip to the supermarket is driven by a rational and existential requirements. However, 51% of respondents felt that the selection of products which they choose is primarily an emotional decision. For example 59% will buy food specifically from your country of origin, because it is comforting. 56% of you will shop in accordance with their religious beliefs and 53% have a medical condition that influences their food purchase.
So where do we shop? 87% of those surveyed do most of their shopping in supermarkets, 11% will shop at the supermarket nearest to their work and 52% will not be prepared to travel up to 10km to shop. The formula here is that you can travel up to 20 minutes in order to shop at a cheaper supermarket which is normally located outside the city or industrial areas. A good way to reduce your supermarket bill is that you shop alone which 58% do and 62% will shop without children. Children will increase your total shop by 25% I am impressed that 56.5% will shop at the shuk (an open air food market) here the products are much fresher than in the supermarket, but not necessarily cheaper.
As a family financial advisor I was impressed that 70% will prepare a list to shop at the supermarket and the majority will stick to it. This means that 30% of you still walk into the supermarket without a list and 22.2% do not have a food budget.
67% are aware that supermarkets manipulate us into making unnecessary purchases, like putting a free tasting food stand, having special offers, comfort food at the checkout and have the cashier inform you of the month’s special offer.
Sticking to a budget and planning a shopping list will ensure that you do not spend more than you earn and is essential in achieving financial stability.
Its easy to forget essential supplies when packing for a trip. While you are planning your trip to/in Israel here is a list of 10 essential items you need to pack.
The work week is Sunday to Thursday. Shops and attractions are open for half a day on Friday, closing at 1 or 2pm. Check opening hours before you set out.
In most cities and towns there is no public transport after 2pm on Friday. Public transport resumes on Saturday night after sunset (Sabbath end). Haifa is one of the cities that has some, but limited, public transport on the weekend.
Another general tip – Jewish owned establishments are closed for Jewish holy days. Again there is no transport and most shops are closed. During the Passover holiday it is forbidden for Jewish owned establishment to sell bread. Bread will not be served in your hotel.
Hotel accommodation is not cheap especially in the main cities; Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Consider a hostel, Airbnb or a field school or kibbutz guest accommodation.
Israel’s summer months from June to September can be very hot – very humid in some places and very dry in others. April and May is spring and October is pleasantly warm.
Clothing for Israel – all religious sites; Jewish, Christian, Moslem, Bahai or Druze require you to be modestly dressed.
For locals traveling Israel: have your local Israeli driver’s license and your identity card – teudat zehut on hand.
For foreigners visiting Israel or Israelis traveling abroad: your international driving permit where applicable, passports and booking confirmations. Make sure you have a photocopy of your identity documents in a safe place should they get lost.
Results of your coronavirus test and copies (in English).
Camera, Telephone & Chargers
These marvels of modern technology help us get more out of a trip; hundreds of memorable photographs and selfies, immediate telephone access as well as internet access to useful websites and apps. Pack the charger first and don’t forget your international plug adapters.
A one meter extension cord is also a useful item to pack into your luggage.
Toiletries
Toiletries are often forgotten as we need them until the last moment. Buy a selection of small plastic bottles from your pharmacy or local dollar-shop which you can fill with travel-sized quantities of shampoo, conditioners and liquid soap. Don’t forget to place them in a zip-lock plastic bag to protect your luggage in case of spillage. Toiletries are not cheap.
Hand Sanitizers, Wipes and Masks
Always, and especially now during the coronavirus crisis, travel with pocket-size packages of hand sanitizers, antiseptic alcogel and wipes and keep them in your day-pack. They will be especially useful in public places. Use them to wipe the handles of supermarket trolleys, door handles and elevator buttons – lots of germs there! Wearing masks in public places, over your mouth and nose, is a Ministry of Health directive for Covid-19. We have a communal responsibility to protect ourselves and others around us. Pharmacies, supermarkets, shopping malls and neighborhood shops are all stocked with these items. A pack of 50 surgical masks costs around 10 shekels.
Credit & Debit Cards
No need to carry large amounts of cash and this alone will significantly reduce your stress levels. Make 2 photo copies of your credit cards (one to keep with you and one to leave at home) so that you have always have your credit card details on hand should they get lost or stolen. Don’t forget to record the telephone number of the call-center to report a lost card. Since Covid-19, shops have upgraded their credit card payment systems and minimal contact with the shop keeper or assistant is now the norm during the payment process. You must have your PIN number in order to facilitate a credit card transaction.
Water Bottle
Don’t travel in Israel without a water bottle. Summer temperatures in Israel can reach as much as 40°C in some places. Dehydration is a real danger. Drink at least 2 liters of water per day per person. Make sure your children are well hydrated too especially when a “sharav” (hamsin) or heatwave prevails.
Comfortable Shoes
This almost goes without say – pack comfortable walking/hiking shoes or sandals. Lots of nature parks and trails in Israel. Good shoes that give you adequate support and protection and can also double for stony beaches, wading in streams or other water attractions. If you are in Israel and want to treat yourself to a good pair of sandals for outdoor activities, splurge on a pair of ‘Source’ sandals (or ‘Shoresh’ in Hebrew). They are well worth the 350+NIS price tag.
First Aid Kit
Never travel without a basic first-aid kit. Be prepared with pain-killers, plasters, anti-septic ointment, a tweezers and any other essentials you might need in case of an emergency. Don’t forget to pack any prescription medication you may require. During the coronavirus we suggest you pack a thermometer as well. Anti-pyretics (drugs that reduce fever) should also be part of your first aid kit. Bikur Rofeh is the place travelers to Israel need to go to get emergency medical assistance unless your travel insurance states otherwise.
If you suspect you have the coronavirus you must isolate and seek medical attention immediately. Contact the Ministry of Health. In the interim rest, drink lots of fluids and take pain killers if necessary. Drink lots of hydrating fluids and avoid caffeine and alcohol as these can dehydrate. If you have a fever take recommended doses of fever reducing medications.
Torch
Pack a pocket-sized but powerful torch or headlamp – you never know when this will come in handy. If you are a family of campers, check out our list of camping essentials.
Information Guide
Israel has a rich history so whether it is a travel guide-book or information sheets printed from this website or off the internet, you will find your information guides really useful. Don’t travel without them.
Is your Aliyah destination the Tel Mond – Mevaser Zion community?
Located just 15 minutes from Raanana and 10 minutes from the beaches of Netanya, Tel Mond has developed into an intimate suburb with both religious and secular residents. Located in the heart of the Sharon region, Tel Mond is home to a vibrant and active Anglo community. Residents of Tel Mond benefit from being only kilometers away from high-tech job opportunities, shopping centers, and the beach, while also being able to enjoy the calm and luxury of living in a suburban community.
Employment in Tel Mond – Mevaser Zion
Tel Mond has local businesses and neighboring hi-tech parks, and is easily accessible to employment opportunities in the center of the country.
Education / Youth
Education is core. Twenty-two free ganim (pre-schools) are dispersed throughout the community to serve religious and secular children from the age of 3 to kindergarten, as well as an early intervention pre-school for delayed development. For religious students, Ohr Torah (a public co-ed modern orthodox elementary school from grades 1 -6) has high standards for both Torah and general studies. Housed in a new modern complex, Ohr Torah scored the highest on national test scores when compared to all the religious schools in the Sharon region. The school has a new computer lab, projectors in all the classes, a mobile computer lab, as well as small classes – all of which are luxuries in Israel. Thirty-percent of its student body come from English speaking families, who are also congregants at the new Mevesar Tzion synagogue. English classes for native English speakers are available along with one to one Hebrew instruction for new olim. You can visit the school at https://www.facebook.com/OhrTorahTelMondwrTwrhTlMwnd
There are 3 secular elementary schools, which are all in one central location. There is also a middle school/high school in Tel Mond which services the secular community. Starting in elementary school, there are separate English classes in the schools for native-English speakers. Religious high schoolers are bussed into neighboring Raanana for various high schools. Many high schoolers in Tel Mond also attended “Meitarim”, a pluralistic High School in Raanana.
Both Bnei Akiva and Tzofim are active youth groups in the community. Tel Mond organizes joint programs for both secular and religious youth, which are sometimes recreational and sometimes educational.
Transportation
Tel Mond is centrally located. There is a train station in one of the neighboring communities. As in most suburbs, it’s convenient to have a car. There is bus transportation within the town, to the train, and to the main junction but not as frequently as in a city.
Tel Mond is situated just off the Tel Aviv-Haifa Route 4, and a 15 minutes drive from the coast. The community is very close to the Bnei Dror intersection, a major transportation center. The train station is located in nearby Bet Yehoshua with regular service to Tel Aviv (20 minutes) and Haifa (50 minutes).
Olim Services
The community and school play a major role in welcoming the oleh family and provide support throughout their acclimation. Residents can receive olim services, such as ulpan, in the neighboring Netanya and Raanana.
Tel Mond has an active community center that offers after-school care, all types of extra curricular activities (such as karate, ballet, art, gymnastics, chess, drama in both English and Hebrew) and various cultural programming.
There is a local public library, and sports center, as well as health clinics, fitness facilities, banks, restaurants, supermarkets, and clothing stores. The town is located several kilometers away from major shopping centers.
Community and Religious Life
Through out Tel Mond, there are synagogues for Sephardic and Ashkenazi residents, as well as a community Mikveh. The Mevasar Tzion Synagogue’s congregants are mostly Modern Orthodox English speakers. The synagogue serves as a center for religious and holiday programming and plays a key role in welcoming and assisting the oleh family as they get accustomed to their new life in Israel. For more information about the synagogue: https://mevaser.org.il/
Real Estate
90% of the homes in Tel Mond are semi-detached houses.
4 bedroom semi-detached homes: 2.5-3 million NIS 2,000 units (including 880 apartments) are currently being constructed. Apartment prices start at 2 million NIS.
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods in this community are named after the thematic street names. The older area is called Etzim/Volfson. The Kiryat Hinuch (education complex) is located in the Nahalim neighborhood. Most of the English speakers reside in Tziporim, Giron, Rigashot, and Achuzat Adarim. The other nearby neighborhoods are called: Prachim and Avnei Chen. All of which are a short walk from the center of town, the schools, and the synagogues.
“He died with a falafel in his hand” – a Richard Lowenstein movie from 2001 kind of describes how Israelis feel about falafel.
Falafel is a street food. It is a deep fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas (Heb: hummus) and/or fava beans (Heb: ful). Falafel is popular all over the Middle East and is reputed to have originated in Egypt. Falafel is served in a pocket of bread (a pita) or wrapped by a flat bread (a lafa). Either way it is served with any or all of these; hummus, tahina, chopped vegetable salad, pickled cabbage, hot sauce (harissa or szhug) and numerous other fillings
‘Falafelarias’ often have names like ‘The King of Falafel’, ‘The King of Kings of Falafel’, ‘Grandmas Falafel’ or sometimes they don’t even have a name and are just known as ‘that place on Whatever Street, next to the gas station’. We asked some Anglos and locals where they thought you could get the best falafel in Israel, here is what they had to say…
Afula
Golani Falafel – across from the police station in Afula. Simply the best and a great show to boot.
Haifa
Falafel Orian on Herzliyah Street. A favorite amongst locals and out-of-towners too!
Falafel HaZekaynim makes a great falafel flavored with fresh coriander – Rechov HaWadi in Haifa
Falafel George – opposite Felafel HaZekaynim in Haifa
Falafel George and Felafel HaZekaynim two ‘falafelerias’ that have been battling it out for years for the title of ‘Best Falafel in Haifa’. They have been featured on many Travel-Israeltelevision and culinary programs with Yishai Golan, Yisrael Aharoni and Hila Alpert. Foodies find it hard to declare a winner, but either way queues are long at both of these establishments.
The small settlement town of Pardes-Hanna Karkur lies halfway between Haifa and Tel Aviv.
Falafel Dvora in Karkur got the ‘gold’ for Best Falafel in Israel. Aside from Falafel Dvora the most notable event in Pardes-Hanna Karkur was when one of its residents, Gal Fridman won an Olympic bronze medal for surfing in Atlanta in 1996 and a gold medal in Athens in 2004
Jerusalem
“On Agrippas Street in Jerusalem, on the left side near the shuk. Best falafel I ever had.” This name of this falafel place seems to be a closely guarded secret.
Modiin
Modiin is a growing and upcoming town in Israel’s southern district. May Anglos now call it ‘home’
Falafel HaDerech at the entrance to Mevo Modiin, got the vote here,
All eateries in the Modiin Mall are kosher.
Netanya
Opposite the AACI in Netanya. This ‘Falafelaria’ was voted to serve the best home made pita bread. We have a feeling that this falafel joint got top marks as immigrants, who had had an exhausting morning at the AACI – Association of Americans & Canadians in Israel (an Aliyah office), were starving when they came out and so headed for the nearest eatery.
Israel Home, Repair & Maintenance Services – 20 Top Household Maintenance Tips
Is your plumber a drip? Does your electrician come at lightening speed? Is your mechanic a monster?
Maintenance standards differ in Israel. Finding a reputable technician or contractor is important and finding one that speaks English, in some parts of the country, can be challenging. A repair gone wrong is costly. We often hear horror stories about unscrupulous technicians, service and repairmen and we don’t want to be their next victim. Ask a friend and most likely the Hebrew slang word “fryer” which means sucker, will come up in the conversation. We are not saying that every technician is going to take advantage of you and that they are all dishonest, on the contrary most want to give good service, but here are a few tips, things to look out for and questions to ask:
Ask about their qualifications. Make sure your electrician is licensed. Plumbers from abroad are mostly licensed while local plumbers are not.
Is there a minimum call out fee?
Do they provide a written quote?
Will they help you to save money by giving you some tips and advice for the future?
Do they tidy up after they have finished the job?
Will a solid repair now, rather than just a quick-fix, save you money in the long term?
Do they come on time, as promised
Be prepared to negotiate
Insist on an invoice
Check if there is a guarantee; is the guarantee on their labor and/or on the parts
If you sign up for a service contract, make sure you understand it 100 per cent and then do the maths. You may spend more on the premiums than you are likely to spend on repairs.
Does your household insurance policy allow you to call your own technician? Do you have to use the insurance companies contractor?
Does your landlord insist on using his contractor? Perhaps you can call your own and then deduct the cost of the repair from your rent.
Some suggest telling the technician that you are new to Israeland are sure that the technician will empathize and give a discount. Some suggest never letting on that your are new to Israel otherwise the technician will take advantage of your lack of experience in these matters.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or stand your ground.
If he wears a kippah it does not always mean he is an honest business man.
If possible, for large jobs, get written estimates from at least 3 contractors, keeping in mind the lowest bidder may not be the best choice or be giving the best solution.
When comparing quotes don’t only look at the price. Compare the material and parts. A contractor could deliberately be quoting on inferior material and parts in order to get the job.
Financial Independence for Women Victims of Violence in Israel
Established in 2007, Women’s Spirit assists women victims of violence to develop financial independence and occupational security. We believe that the link between financial dependence and violence (physical, sexual, economic and mental) against women is crucial and therefore the departure of women from the cycle of violence involves the establishment of their financial independence.
While many organizations and welfare offices in Israel provide women victims of violence with excellent crisis and emotional support, Women’s Spirit is the only organization that provides women victims of violence a long term, personally tailored solution, to help them break the cycle of violence and rebuild their lives by improving their occupational and financial status. This is done through mentoring and coaching, professional skills workshops, training, financial literacy, computer mastery, language development, job placement/training.
We operate our main branch in Tel Aviv. In addition we have programs presently in two (soon to be four) battered women’s shelters – in the North and in the South. We provide personal and group professional training, one-on-one mentoring sessions with trained coordinators and volunteers from the community, a special course designated for women who are self-employed, a course on budget management, employment search preparation training and assistance in finding work. (We can accommodate non-Hebrew speakers.)
Women’s Spirit recruits and trains hundreds of volunteers – each year that accompany women victims of violence as mentors, business coaches, private tutors, financial consultants, legal consultants and more. In addition, the organization collaborates with the community and businesses that provide professional development and employment opportunities.
Past/Present/Future: Since our founding in 2007 Women’s Spirit has served over 1200 Women Victims of Violence. In 2015 we will serve 450 women victims of violence and expand our services: from two battered women’s shelters to four; expand our services to additional municipalities; develop our work to reach further north into Israel (by creation of a branch of Women’s Spirit). In addition we support women victims of violence’s financial and occupational state, through systemic changes in public discourse, state policy and legislation. We raise awareness to the strong link between financial dependence and gender violence and impact laws and regulations that limit women’s ability to rebuild their lives and achieve financial independence after leaving the violent circle.
If you or someone you know are in need of our services – please call Liat @ 072-2507770
If you would like to be a volunteer mentor – please call Sivan @ 072-2507770
