Parev fruit & nut cake for Tu B’Shevat (or anytime)
We mark the festival ofTu B’Shevat with a special Seder. We eat fruits particularly those mentioned in the Torah; grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Preserved citron (left over from Sukkot), kumquats, dried papaya and kiwi are just some of the more exotic dried fruits that Israelis enjoy eating at this time. Pecans, cashews and pistachios are just some of the nuts that will grace the table.
Preheat oven to 175 degrees C (350 degrees F). Grease 3 – 8×4 inch loaf pans and line them with baking paper.
Beat eggs, salt and vanilla together until very light and lemon colored. Stir in sugar, 1 cup flour and baking powder.
Place cherries, nuts, and dates into a large bowl. Dust with the remaining 1/2 cup flour. Then stir in sugar mixture. There is very little batter which makes this a very stiff mixture. Mix with hands if necessary.
Press batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour.
Chef’s Tip
Sprinkle powdered sugar on the loaf for an attractive decoration
Food fact
Brazil nuts contain more selenium than any other food. While this sounds like a benefit, the amount of selenium in a handful of Brazil nuts is so high that eating them too frequently puts you at risk for selenium toxicity. As long as you occasionally eat only a few, Brazil nuts are good sources of magnesium, vitamin E and healthy unsaturated fats.
Hanukah is an 8 day festival that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over Hellenistic rule. It celebrates the re-capture and re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Only enough oil, to use for a single day in the temple, was found. Miraculously the oil burnt for 8 days. It is traditional to eat foods that have been deep fried; latkes, fritters and jam donut). Here are some Hanukah recipes you will enjoy eating.
Hanukkah is an 8 day festival that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over Hellenistic rule. It celebrates the re-capture and re-dedication of the Temple. Only enough oil for a single day, was found. Miraculously the oil burnt for 8 days. It is traditional to eat food that have been deep fried – latkes, fritters and jam doughnuts. More…
Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year – it is also known as the Day of Remembrance or Day of the Sounding the Shofar (ram’s horn) and is celebrated in the month of Tishrei when Jews believe that the world was created and on the day when G-d created Man – the last and most precious creation. It is traditional to eat sweet things – symbolic of a sweet year. More…
Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the period when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and slept in tabernacles. Sukkot is a harvest festival. In ancient times it was the duty of all Israelites to go up to the Temple in Jerusalem. They would bring with them baskets of fruit and other delicacies. We commemorate this by eating similar kinds of food. This recipe for a date and nut pudding, originates from Eastern Europe. More...
Tu B’Shevat The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar marks the beginning of a “New Year for Trees.” This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.
We mark Tu B’Shevat by eating fruit, particularly mentioned in the Torah; grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Preserved citron (left over from Sukkot), kumquats, dried papaya and kiwi are just some of the more exotic dried fruits that Israelis enjoy eating at this time. Pecans, cashews and pistachios are just some of the nuts that will grace a table. More…
Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar. It is the Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Persian Jews from the plot of the evil Haman to exterminate them, as recorded in the biblical Book of Esther. More…
Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) is celebrated on the 6th day of the month of Iyar. The day before, Israelis mourn all those heroes that fell in the defense of the country. This solemn and somber day officially comes to an end at 8pm. The country then turns its mood and attention to the celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut. An official celebration is held in the capital and hundreds of other are held in the cities, towns, moshavim and kibbutzim all over the country. More…
Pesach is an 8 day festival it is celebrated in the spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan – which corresponds to the 30th March to the 5th April, 2010. 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. More…
Shavuot, is celebrated on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (corresponding to May 18th/19th 2010) . It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer as well the day the Torah was given at Mount Sinai. It is one of the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals (shalosh regalim) during which we are supposed to go up to Jerusalem. It is traditional to eat dairy products on Shavuot. One of the reasons for this is; when the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai, included were special instructions for slaughtering and preparing meat for eating. Until then, the Jews had not followed these laws, thus all their meat and utensils were “not kosher.” The only alternative was to eat dairy, which required no advance preparation. More…
Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the period when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, after they left Egypt, and slept in tabernacles. Sukkot is a harvest festival. In ancient times it was the duty of all Israelites to go up to the Temple in Jerusalem. They would bring with them baskets of fruit in season and other delicacies. We commemorate this by eating similar kinds of food. This recipe for a date and nut pudding, originates from Eastern Europe.
The Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah – the New Year – it is also known as the Day of Remembrance or Day of the Sounding the Shofar (ram’s horn) and is celebrated at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (September or October). It is on this day that Jews believe that the world was created and on the day when G-d created Adam – the last and most precious of all creations. On this holiday it is traditional to eat sweet things – symbolic of a sweet year. Here are our favorite Rosh Hashanah recipes.
There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities in Israel and volunteering is an excellent way for new immigrants (olim) to integrate and immerse themselves into the community and culture. Meet Israelis from all backgrounds, learn and improve your Hebrew language skills, make contacts for possible employment opportunities and and first and foremost, do something good for the community. Here is a list of some of the many organizations and social services you can volunteer with. Google their contact details, call them and ask them how to go about joining their programs as a volunteer. Don’t despair – non-profit organizations in Israel generally have some English speaking staff members you can talk to.
A
A Roof for Israel’s Demobilized Soldier
ACHVA
Achy: The Unity of Israeli Society
Adam LeAdam: International Humanitarian Aid
Advice and Guidance for Citizens in Tel Aviv-Yaffo
AHADA: Association of Parents of Disabled Children on Kibbutzim
AITAL: The Organization for the Support of the Handicapped
AKIM-Jerusalem – Association for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
Big Brothers, Big Sisters is a voluntary organization, established in Haifa in 1973, and is based on a model of an international organization originating in the U.S. in 1904, and now acting in many countries around the world.
The purpose of the organization is to assist and contribute to the education and proper development of children growing up in single-parent families, by providing an “older sister or brother” that serves as a model for identification. These older sisters and brothers are volunteers recruited by the organization.
Big Brothers Big sisters takes care of children between the ages of 6 – 16, native Israelis and new immigrants, living in Haifa and the north of the country. Many of these children are taken care of until the age of 21 and after military service. Some of our children are new immigrants, and some from families in distress and at risk
The absence of a parent affects a child’s development and therefore, the involvement of an adult in a constant one-to–one relationship is very important. The volunteer becomes a friend, a guide and a supportive figure in the child’s life, and makes a meaningful contribution to the development of the child’s personality to reaching its fullest potential. Through these positive and mature friendships the “young brothers and sisters” improve their self-confidence, inner discipline and independence.
In addition to the one-to-one weekly meetings of the “brothers and sisters”’ the volunteers also participate in group activities with the children like celebrating holidays together, participating in trips and fun days, celebrating Bar-Mitzvas and Bat-Mitzvas together etc.
The process of matching volunteers and children is accompanied by a professional team of social workers, who are in charge of selection, supervision, follow-up and group activities.
In the northern region of Israel there are more then 6000 single-parent families. Many of them are live in weak neighborhoods, in which most of the citizens are new immigrants from Russia and Ethiopia. In these areas our service is needed even more.
We run a special project for the Ethiopian population:
A Friend to a Family – Yedid Mishpacha
This project was established in 2005. Big Brother Big Sister has been responsible for the project since the beginning of 2007. The purpose of this project is to help Ethiopian families through the complicated process of adjusting and integrating into the Israeli society, and to ease their way in such a totally different culture
It is very difficult to understand fully the issues and their impact on the Ethiopian community in their absorption from the Ethiopia to Israel. Most of them come from the villages of this under developed country. Coming to Israel – a western and modern country – means that hundreds of years of the psychological, technological and cultural gaps have to be dealt with in one generation.
Within the framework of this project we recruit volunteers to be a “friend” to a family. The friend helps in many ways and acts a bridge between two different cultures. The friend is a strong anchor to the family.
In addition to the one-to-one relationship of the “friend” and the family, there are group activities with the families and the volunteers.
The organization is supported by the public and institutional donations, as well as by private donations from Israel and abroad
For more information call: 04-838 9824
Their vision
You cannot change the whole world, but you can change the world of a single child.
Aliyah for seniors & planning your retirement in Israel
As a senior you may want to make Aliyah, or your children may have to consider the option of bringing their elderly or disabled parents to Israel. Living as a retiree or pensioner in Israel; whether you are a new immigrant or veteran resident, will probably mean that you will have to make some considerable changes to your life style and re-assess your housing options. It is not always possible or realistic to remain in one’s home and therefore you might decide that some kind of secure living project, retirement village or similar set-up, that offers independent living, skilled nursing staff, rehabilitation and specialized care, is necessary but these are often prohibitive from an economic point of view and would erase all your financial reserves. If you want, downsizing is an option and there are many new housing projects, around the country, that offer you smaller apartments, easy access and a convenient, secure life-style.
No matter what, we want the best for our ourselves or our parents and loved ones. Children may have to make decisions and compromises for their parents’ sake that leave everyone feeling guilty and unhappy.
If you have the financial resources for a retirement village or complex -some more luxurious than others – many are available country-wide. Independent living, frail-care services and numerous cultural and leisure activities are also available.
Your immigrant organization (Aliyah Office); AACI, UJIA, Telfed etc., may have regular senior groups and hold events in your area. Contact them for the most up-to-date information of on-going and new activities and events
Volunteering
There are numerous opportunities for seniors in Israel, to volunteer. This is a wonderful way for you to meet new people and contribute your time and energy to a worthwhile cause. Check our list of volunteer organizations in Israel. Check with your Aliyah office for other volunteer programs they may support.
Specialized products, accessories for seniors, the elderly and physically challenged
Gottlieb: Provide transportation systems for the physically challenged.
Aminach for orthopedic mattresses, wheelchair cushions, specialized bed pillows and reclining chairs
Yad Sarah: Hire orthopedic equipment and various other medical aides from them.
Kapelkal: Medical and treatment beds.
Bidan: Hygiene equipment
Abena: Manufacturers of absorbent and disposable underwear and towels etc.
Understand your monthly Israeli pay slip and learn Hebrew with our English translation.
Hebrew: Tlush Maskoret – תלוש משכורת
Your pay slip/paystub may differ slightly in appearance from the example provided here but by law, all Israeli pay slips have to include specific information and have to be approved by the Israel Tax Authority.
Your employment rights
An employer is obliged to provide his workers with a salary slip within a maximum of 9 days after receiving your actual wage.
Failure to issue a detailed salary slip (as approved by the Israel Tax Authority) may entitle the employee to damages of up to NIS 5,000 per salary slip
An employer who does not provide a pay slip, or one that does not include all the particulars specified in the law, is guilty of a criminal offense
An employee has the right to submit a formal complaint to any employer who has violated his duty to provide a pay slip.
If your rights in the workplace have been violated, you can contact the Labor Law Enforcement Unit. Complaints can be made by voice mail. Call 1-800-354-354 for details. You can also file a complaint by mail, fax and email.
Finding a job in Israel in English: A general overview of employment & the job market in Israel.
Hebrew: שוק העבודה הישראלי לדוברי אנגלית
Finding a job in Israel can be challenging especially if you have limited Hebrew language skills. To help you our we have complied a list of some of the very many employment opportunities for English speakers and foreigners living in Israel.
Tel Aviv is known as the city that plays, Jerusalem is the city that prays & Haifa is the city that works!
Haifa has job opportunities in the fields of life-sciences, hi-tech, medicine, academia, industry etc. MATAM (Israel’s Silicone Valley), is a hi-tech industrial park to the south of the city. There are around 10,000 workers in MATAM. Companies like IBM, Philips, Elbit, Intel, Microsoft, Google, Zoran and Amdocs are all represented there.
Raanana, a satellite town of Tel Aviv is also close to Herzliyah where there many work opportunities in a variety of fields for English speakers.
In the Negev region the Be’er Sheva Hi-Tech Park (Ramat Hovav) and the Omer Industrial Park, near Carmit provide around 600 jobs. There are many entrepreneurial opportunities in the area as well.
The Gush Etzion Development Company established an Industrial Park that is meant to provide 1,000 jobs to local residents. Sussya, in the hills of Hebron is known for its farming industries owned and operated by its citizens and Modiin’s industrial park was planned to provide employment for 35,000 people in the fields of office industry, hi-tech, manufacturing, retail and education.
In Academia
There are many job opportunities for English speakers at Israel’s various academic institutions of higher learning, these are just a few:
Haifa
Haifa University
The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
Gordon College and Oranim for teachers training and education
Raanana
The Open University
The Raanana College
Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv University (TAU)
Bar-Ilan University
Rehovot
Weizmann Institute of Science
Beer Sheva
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
In the Field of Medicine
Israel’s hospitals offer employment to tens of thousands of people and numerous jobs for English speakers in patient care, research and fundraising. You might want to try applying for a position at some of Israel’s major hospitals.
You may also want to investigate the large industrial corporations, some of them are:
Haifa & Ashdod ports
Rafael (government munitions R&D)
Haifa Chemicals
Banks
Israel Aeropsace
The Israel Electric Company
The Oil Refineries in Haifa & Ashdod
Dead Sea Works
Stock Exchange
Diamond Exchange
Accessibility to Employment
There are buses and trains to and from all destinations in Israel and Israel’s workforce are now commuting between cities. Many organizations and public institutions have their own transport arrangements (Heb: Hasa’a) that will transport you from a designated location (it could even be right outside your home) to your place of employment. Israel labor laws require the employer to pay for their employees transport costs as regulated unless however, the organization provides their own transport. This is a huge saving for you!
The criteria for being able to the services offered by the Aliyah Job Center are:
You have an open Aliyah File with your local Shaliach (emissary) or Global Center (“Tik Aliyah”)
You have never made Aliyah before or previously held Israeli Citizenship
Entitlement to make Aliyah under the “Law of return” (“Zakaut”)
Aged between 21 – 60
You have an known Aliyah date within the next 6 months
You have made Aliyah within the last 12 months
A “Katin Hozer” someone born in Israel who left before the age of 14 or an “Ezrach Oleh” someone born abroad to at least one Israeli parent may also qualify for assistance from the Job Center.
The Jewish Agency for Israel – Aliyah Job Center is a limited program and the full range of services does not extend to “all immigrants” or returning residents (“Toshavim Hozrim”).
Job Hunting & Networking in Israel
Networking is an excellent way to update yourself on local opportunities and share your experiences.
Make sure you regularly check with your Aliyah Organization or Jewish Federation for any jobs that might have become available.
The international organization, BNI – Business Networking International has an English speakers branch in Herzliyah. They hold weekly meetings for group members and guests. BNI give you an opportunity to give a two minute introductory presentation. There is an annual fee for members and guests pay a nominal rate for a one-time visit.
Bhajia Onion Fritter 
