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The Ultimate Guide to Israeli Wine & The Best Wines in Israel

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The Ultimate Guide to Israeli Wine & The Best Wines in Israel
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Some local wines – courtesy of the Golan Heights Winery

One aspect of Aliyah that is sometimes overlooked, is finding food we miss from home. Good chance that the wines we regularly drank from the Napa Valley, USA, from Stellenbosch near Cape Town and those from vineyards in South Australia are not available here. But, at some point, down the line, we will be ready to explore alternatives.

Wine has been produced in Israel since biblical times and while Israel does not feature on the top-ten list of wine producing countries, hundreds of local wineries, ranging in size from small boutique enterprises to large companies produce over 30 million bottles per year.

The top 4 major wine regions of the world; France, Italy, U.S.A. and Spain, produce over half of all the wine in the world.

Did you know that the modern Israeli wine industry was founded by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, owner of the Bordeaux estate Château Lafite-Rothschild? He also imported French grape varieties and helped establish the Carmel Winery in 1882.

Does Israel produce good wine?

You can spend a lot of money on a bottle of wine but price does not always indicate quality. So how do you find a good quality Israeli wine at a reasonable price?

The Israeli wines we see on supermarket store shelves probably look similar to the wines you are used to back home and most come from approved vineyards here in Israel.

A substantial number of local wines, mostly the sweet ones, are used in religious and sacramental rituals.

There are many small, boutique wineries that produce small batches and will customize their wines according to their customers’ preferences.

The Best Israeli Wines

There are many types of local wines and over the years I’ve tried Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Blends, Chardonnays, Pinot Noir, Muscats and others too. Most are quite pleasant.

Winemaking in Israel takes place in 5 major regions; Galil and the Golan Heights, the Judean Hills, the Negev and around Haifa (Zichron Yaacov and Binyamina).

There are a wide range of microclimates across Israel with different soil types and it is these soil types that allow different varieties of grapes to thrive resulting in unique flavors.

How much is a bottle of wine in Israel?

On supermarket shelves we’ll see best-value-for-money wines from vineyards like; Recanati, Barkan, Golan, Binyamina and Segals. Starting price-point for a decent wine is around 50NIS/bottle.

Israel’s most expensive wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Golan Heights winery retailing at over 700NIS/bottle and it definitely wont be found on supermarket shelves.

Sweet, Kiddush and sacramental wines are the cheapest at around 20NIS/bottle.

Carmel and some Teperberg wines come in at around 35NIS/bottle (both red and white).

The variety of grapes

Most Israeli wineries use the same varieties of grapes for their wines. If you’d like to try something new or different, try a wine from a small winery.

Alcohol content

A traditional wine has alcohol levels ranging from 12 to 16% – while the French or Italian standard, would be around 15% – to 25% alcohol.

What about Kosher wines?

Surprisingly, not all wines produced in Israel are kosher. Orthodox Jews believe for a wine to be considered truly kosher it should be prepared only by Jews. This is not always the case. Some will consider wine made by non-Jews to be kosher only if heated; mulling, cooking and pasteurizing wine renders it kosher.

Tips for pairing wine with food

The experts say

  1. Pinot Noir: Pairs with earthy flavors
  2. Chardonnay: Great with fatty fish or fish in a rich sauce
  3. Champagne: Perfect with anything salty
  4. Cabernet Sauvignon: Fabulous with juicy red meat
  5. Sauvignon Blanc: Goes with tart dressings and sauces
  6. Dry Rosé: For rich, cheesy dishes
  7. Zinfandel: For pâtés, mousses and terrines
  8. Riesling: Pairs with sweet & spicy dishes

Pairing wine with chocolate

At your next dinner party, instead of serving the usual deserts, try serving fabulous chocolates paired with wine

  1. White chocolate: Pairs well with Riesling and sweeter Rosè
  2. Milk chocolate: Pairs well with Pinot Noir, Merlot, Gewürztraminer
  3. Dark chocolate: Pairs well with Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

A few Hebrew ‘wine-words’ you might want to know

EnglishHebrewTransliteration
GrapesענביםAnavim
WineיַיִןYayin
VineyardכֶּרֶםKerem
AcidityחוּמצִיוּתChumtziyut
SweetnessמתיקותM’tikut
CorkscrewחוֹלֵץCholetz
Bottle Openerפותחן בקבוקיםפPotchan (Bakbukim)
DrunkשיכורShikor
WineryיקבYekev

Which is your favorite wine? Let us know in the comments section below.

Green Pass eligibility for Israelis vaccinated abroad.

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Green Pass eligibility for Israelis vaccinated abroad.
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Do you perhaps have the answer for a reader who sent us this question regarding her eligibility for the Green Pass?

“Perhaps my problem is being faced by others as well:

With regard to the Green Pass, I had my first two shots in Israel and received a vaccination certificate. I was in the States for the summer and in August (8 months after the second one in Israel) received a 3rd shot and an American vaccine certificate for the 3rd shot.

Returning to Israel in early October, I had a covid test at B-G [Ben Gurion] and received a confirmation of a negative result the next day.

I then went to the MOH website and tried to enter my information on the tofes ramzor form and the reply was that I was not eligible for a Green pass.

*5400 [Ministry of Health Hot Line] did not respond at the MOH and I began to get calls and visits from the “policecovid”.

I learned that my kupa – Clalit – should make sure my record with the 3rd shot was correct. I did, but am still getting the note that I am not eligible. I do not know who to turn to and how to get the Green pass to which I am entitled.

I hope you can address this as I expect I am not the only one with a 3rd shot from abroad. Thank you!”

As you will see in the comments section below, and from other responses we got via Facebook, the answer is as follows:

You need to get an official document certifying your vaccination. In this instance, the reader was from the USA and so she needed a certification from the CDC confirming that she had had the vaccination.

You need to submit that certification to your Health Fund.

It will take some time, even a few weeks, until all the paperwork is done but once it is, you should receive notification from your Health Fund confirming this.

Once the system has been fully updated, there should be no problem getting the Green Pass.

Update: The reader updated us and said that after a few more days, her eligibility was confirmed and she was delighted that the ‘covid police’ had stopped banging on her door.

A good day at Misrad HaPnim.

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A good day at Misrad HaPnim.
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By: Sylvain Blumenfrucht

israel coat of arms

Some two years ago after having at long last made “official’ Aliyah (after 14 years here – but that is another story), I was getting ready to travel out of the country with a 16.00 flight that same afternoon.

When packing I discovered at 10.10 that morning that my Teudat Ma’Avar was nowhere to be found.

Panic station was in order, BUT I decided to call the Misrad HaP’nim “Help” line. They advised me to go to their nearest offices and to see what could be done.

I set out ready to beg, plead or do anything that would allow me to get out that same afternoon.

I got to Shlomzion Hamalka in downtown Jerusalem at about 10.55 and there the story really gets interesting.

As soon as the Pekida (clerk) at the information desk heard my predicament she pulled a sad face (that boosted my confidence no end!) and told me to go to room number …..

As soon as I got there they took one look at me, listened to my problem and told me: “go downstairs and on the other side of the street there is a good coffee place that serves very strong coffee (you can imagine by now what thoughts went through my mind), get one, sit down and drink it and come back in 1/4 of an hour and we will meanwhile try and work out if and how we can help you.”

No need to try and describe my state of mind by now – I needed to be at the airport in less than two hours.

I came back after my coffee  (that was, I must say very tasty) and was first asked why it took me so long as I had been gone 17 minutes (2 minutes longer than the 1/4 of an hour they had suggested!) and then handed a new Teudat Ma’Avar!!!

Nothing like Israel when it really matters!

Mi Ke’Amcha Yisrael

A Kitty’s Tale of Aliyah.

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A Kitty’s Tale of Aliyah.
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A purrrrrrrrrrrfect homecoming…..

By: Rolene Marks

When I mentioned that I was “importing” my pet cat, Weave, to Israel there was a collective countrywide groan. Surely Israel does not need anymore cats!

Modiin has no shortage of felines and I could literally have my pick of the bunch! Fat/thin/mottled/gingy/male/female/spotted/striped – you name it, it is a kitty smorgasbord! Anyone who has ever been owned by a cat wouldnever dream of excluding them! Erm, did I also mention that she is 15 years old? An age where most cats dream of the big scratch pad in the sky…

Weave’s move to Israel required as much planning as the Normandy landings. She needed an extra battery of shots and tests in order to be approved by Israel’s State Vet. This delayed her aliyah. Naturally news of this debacle led to frantic execution of Plan B which entailed me phoning around, desperately trying to find accommodation fit for a feline princess while she waiting to be probed and scanned, jabbed and examined.

Enter the dynamic teams of Gail’s Kennels and Keringa Petwings who ensured that this feline princess was looked after like a queen and travelled  to Israel safe and sound.

It is often said that Israelis are amongst the warmest and most hospitable people in the world. This epitomised my experience collecting my furry friend from the airport. Navigating red tape is about as much fun as a root canal treatment. Armed with the necessary paperwork in Hebrew and English, I trekked off to Ben Gurion airport on a solo mission to collect this most important arrival. Half expecting her to strut through the arrivals gate, travel cage under paw, I was quite perturbed to find out that not only would she not be disembarking with the rest of El Al Johannesburg to Tel Aviv’s passengers but that I would have to find my way to cargo city to collect her.

 A short shuttle trip with a driver who had no concept of speed limit later, I arrived at cargo city. To cut a long story short (okay and a mini meltdown due to my lack of understanding of Russian-accented Hebrew and a drop in sugar levels which brought out my inner dragon) negotiations with the “lady” who ran collections was a non entity. Teary eyed (and potty mouthed) I pleaded with the two gentleman from Cargo to please help me.

My eternal gratitude to Ezekiel Ezekiel, Dani and the mysterious Kobi who moved heaven and earth to cut the red tape and bring my precious cargo to me. I don’t know what was more entertaining, Weavie’s excited mewing or the macho Israeli men trying hard not to smile at our joyful reunion!

And so by plane, train and automobile (literally!) Weave made her way to her new home in Israel. Gratitude to Ben Gurion security, Israel Railways security, the nice Russian guy who carried her to the platform for me, the nice security guard who shared stories about pets while waiting for the train, the nice teenager who carried her to the taxi and the befuddled taxi driver who asked me, “Nu, what is so special about THIS cat?”

I am happy to report that she has settled in nicely. Kitty ulpan optional.

Cannabis in Israel – Is it Legal?

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Cannabis in Israel – Is it Legal?
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Weed in Israel – Don’t Let Your Friends Be Your Guide.

By: Adv. Jay Hait

EnglishTransliterationHebrew
CannabisKana’bisקנאביס

They mean well and want to help you when you come on Aliyah. But when it comes to weed in Israel, don’t let your friends be your guide. Aliyah brings with it pressure and stress. Your friends and other Olim are there to help ease the burden. But if they suggest you unwind with a little cannabis or weed you better know exactly what the laws are so you don’t wind up getting arrested. That would not be a very auspicious beginning to your new life.

Jared had been planning his Aliyah since 2018 and was thrilled to have finally made it to Israel. A few of his California friends had preceded him and they were celebrating Jared’s arrival with a ‘welcome home’ party. 

“Can I get you a drink? A little weed?” The host welcomed the guest of honor with a warm embrace.

“Wait. What? Weed is legal here?” Jared asked. He’d heard you could only use it in Israel with a medical prescription.

“No worries, man! Everyone does it. It’s just about legal. They’ve been batting it around in the courts for a couple of years. It’s just a formality now. Come on, let’s celebrate!”

The cops showed up because of a neighbor’s noise complaint. And instead of celebrating, Jared and his friends spent the night getting processed for the possession and dealing of cannabis.

Did you know that cannabis has many different names, including more than 1,200 slang terms, and some 2,300 names for individual strains?

Slang names:  Weed and pot are commonly used slang term for marijuana. New slang names, like ‘trees’, came into use early in the twenty-first century.

Some other names: Dagga (Afrikaans), Ganja (Hindi), Hashish (Arabic)

There is a story that the English word ‘assassin’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘hashishin’ (Hashish eater)? In the 1200’s the leader of an Islamic sect stoked his followers up with hashish before sending them on a murderous mission.

Are you a drug dealer in the eyes of the law?

When we come on Aliyah we learn that Israel is often more relaxed when it comes to bureaucracy. We hear stories about passports being issued on the spot even though the official proclamation is that it takes three days. Or the wink and nod that gets people an entrance to a closed government office. That wonderful new word, ‘protectzia’ or ‘ who you know’, enters our lexicon. Just the sound of it connotes magical possibilities. But when it comes to the legal system in Israel, especially when it involves weed, you’re better off knowing exactly what the status is before you get involved. For example, did you know that the simple act of dividing your group purchase of weed amongst friends could make you a drug dealer in the eyes of the law?

Most clients who come into my office with drug related charges are extremely surprised that they’ve been arrested, let alone accused of dealing. They’ve come on Aliyah from western countries where it’s legal.  And they’ve been following the news in Israel surrounding legalization here. They are not, nor have ever intended to be, drug dealers. Many have simply purchased some recreational pot together with their friends. The act of giving their friends their share in exchange for money is what classified them as dealers. Some of them know this ‘soft drug’ isn’t yet legal for recreational use in Israel. But they were under the impression that the law isn’t really enforced when it comes to personal use. They found out the hard way that the police don’t actually look the other way. So until the government legalizes recreational marijuana in Israel, here are some things you need to know.

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Contact Adv. Jay Hait for an appointment

Who’s Using Cannabis?

Research shows a huge jump in the recreational use of cannabis in Israel in recent years – up to 4 times more (27% of the population) – compared to previous years where it stood at 8.8%. As we do with many – usually more admirable – endeavors, Israel went straight to the top. We’re first in the world with the most pot use from ages 18-65. Iceland came in second and the United States was third in this 2017 study.

Cannabis was first studied in Israel in1964 at the Weizmann Institute. We currently have the most advanced cannabis research centers in the world and a long-established history of authorized use of cannabis for medical purposes. Since 1990 it’s been possible to get a medical prescription to legally use it for treating symptoms of cancer, chemotherapy, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and many other illnesses. Patients either smoke it, take it orally or apply it directly to the skin in a cream. And the Israeli Defense Force has used it since 2004, for the treatment of post traumatic stress syndrome. Dozens of countries worldwide have legalized cannabis for medical use. And recreational use is legal in Canada, more than 18 states in The USA, Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay and Australia.

Legalization of cannabis in Israel

Even though there have been various proposals to fully legalize cannabis or ‘soft drugs’ for regulated recreational use, it appears that up until recently Israel’s long standing political stalemate had put a hold on any move forward. One notable change, however, is some recent “easing” in the punishment for personal use of cannabis. So while it’s still illegal to be in possession, it is possible that Naftali Bennet’s government could garner enough votes in the Knesset to pass new cannabis legislation. 

Israel is the start-up nation and so it stands to reason that the planning for new commercial and recreational opportunities for the cannabis industry has been underway for a few years. Everyone is waiting, with bated breath, for the new legislation.

There is a big chemical difference between soft and hard drugs. Marijuana (also known as cannabis, pot, or grass) is classified as a soft drug. The risks are less serious than with hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and the like. There are no plans to legalize these more dangerous and highly addictive substances.

What are the penalties for possession?

What is the legal distinction between personal use and dealing when it comes to soft drugs? It’s classified as personal use if you are in possession of up to about 15 grams of soft drugs. If you have anything above 15 grams on you, you are legally a drug trafficker. And as mentioned before, if you are caught dividing a group purchase amongst your friends and taking their money to pay for their share, you are a drug dealer in the eyes of the law. However, it is important to note that there are some exceptions where the classification can be changed.

The aforementioned easing in the law has established the first offense of personal use of cannabis as “administrative offenses,” which will get you a fine. This usually leaves no criminal record. However, in the event of a repeat offense in a period of less than 5 years it will be considered a criminal offense.

  • The “first” offense is a fine of 1,000 NIS
  • The “second” offense is a fine in the amount of 2,000 NIS.
  • Any additional offense beyond a second offense will result in an indictment.

If You’re Caught With Pot

It’s still illegal to be in possession of cannabis without a medical prescription in Israel. We seem to have been stuck in the midst of this legal battle for far too long. And so much is unclear. So when it comes to weed in Israel – don’t let your friends be your guide. Familiarize yourself with the laws through your own research.

To be safe, if you are caught with pot, be respectful and follow the directions of the police. But don’t say anything and don’t sign anything. Ask to call an attorney. Your lawyer’s meticulous attention to the details surrounding your case can mean the difference between being prosecuted and the charges being dropped.

Jay Hait is a family law attorney specializing in divorce and child custody. His practice has expanded to include a criminal law department because the families he’s assisted have come to him with many of their other challenges as well. You can contact Jay with your questions about cannabis, as well as divorce, child custody, wills and continuing powers of attorney. Hait Family Law Israel (077) 200-8161 USA (201) 696-3947  jay.hait@orcheidin.co.il

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Contact Adv. Jay Hait for an appointment

Israel’s New Green Pass -Latest Update.

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Israel’s New Green Pass -Latest Update.
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Further delays in implementing Israel’s NEW Green Pass.

Your Green Pass contains your unique scannable QR code with the vaccination status of your minor children (Image: Ramzor App modified screen shot)

Update Thursday, October 7th, 2021:

Following the chaos that accompanied the transition to the new Green Pass earlier this week, its implementation has been further delayed.

On Sunday it was announced that the new Green Pass would come into effect as of Thursday, October 7th.

A further postponement was announced late last night. Your OLD Green Pass will remain valid for another 10 days – until October 17th.

Who is entitled to the new Green Pass?

  1. Those who have received 3 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
  2. Those who have received 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine but are not yet eligible for the third booster shot.
  3. Those who have recovered from the coronavirus within the last 6 months.
  4. Those who have recovered from the coronavirus and have had one vaccination.

The coronavirus cabinet also voted to ease the Green Pass restrictions. Your Green Pass will no longer be required at open-air venues; restaurants and attractions.

The number of newly diagnosed cases and of seriously ill patients continues to decline.

Download your NEW Green Pass

Download via the RAMZOR app. The app is available in app-stores – search for the name in Hebrew – רמזור. You can also download a Green Pass from the English page of the Ministry of Health’s website.

The Green Class(room)

In areas where the contagion rate is low, less stringent isolation in the school-place is being considered.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: “If a sick child is found, and only if the parents agree, the children will stay in class and undergo daily Covid testing”

Latest on the Coronavirus in Israel

  • Total cases in Israel since the onset of the pandemic: 1,298,589
  • Total active cases: 33,808
  • New cases diagnosed yesterday: 2,514 (+75% lower than the September 13th peak of 10,949 cases)
  • Total fatalities: 7,862
  • The contagion rate currently stands at 2.32%.

Vaccination status

  • First dose – 6,163,046
  • Second dose – 5,669,213
  • Third dose – 3,654,650

October 3, 2021

As of today, October 3rd, 2021 you will need to be in possession of Israel’s NEW Green Pass in order to enter the workplace and do all the things we love.

The Green Pass has been redesigned so your previous pass (even if it was valid beyond today), is no longer acceptable.

Take note that you will most likely have to try a few times before you can download your Green Pass – the system is overloaded today.

UPDATE 9:00am: Due to system overload the deadline for the new Green Pass has been extended for another 3 days.

Vaccination status

  • First dose – 6,126,931
  • Second dose – 5,646,429
  • Third dose – 3,464,502

A record of 97,427 Israelis received vaccinations on Thursday

Temporary Closure of 6 of Israel’s Main Railway Stations.

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Temporary Closure of 6 of Israel’s Main Railway Stations.
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From today and for the next 2.5 weeks, 6 of Israel’s main railway stations will be closed.

israel railways updates

Work on Tel Aviv’s new light rail has caused a temporary closure of 6 of Israel’s main railway stations in the center of the country.

From Sunday, October 3, 2021, until Tuesday, October 19, 2021 (inclusive), train traffic will be discontinued between the Tel Aviv – University and Raanana stations, and trains on the Be’er Sheva – Rishon LeTsion – Moshe Dayan – Herzliyah line, (The western Negev line and the Sharon Ring) will operate between the Be’er Sheva and Tel Aviv – Savidor Center stations only.

The 6 stations that are affected

These stations will be temporarily closed for service during the operation

  1. Raanana
  2. Hod HaSharon – Sokolov
  3. Kfar Sava – Nordau
  4. Rosh Ha’Ayin – North
  5. Petah Tikva
  6. Bnei Brak

Free shuttle service

A free shuttle service will operate between the Rosh Ha’Ayin – North and Tel Aviv – Savidor Center stations, as well as between the Kfar Sava – Nordau and Tel Aviv – Savidor Center stations.

Israel Annual Vacation Law

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Israel Annual Vacation Law
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Your Israel employment rights – vacation days

Coral Beach, Eilat – a great vacation getaway

By law, every employee, in Israel, is entitled to annual vacation days.

The number of vacation days is determined by the employee’s seniority in the workplace.

  • The minimum amount of annual vacation days is 12 if you work a 6-day week
  • You are entitled to 10 vacation days if you work a 5-day week.

The maximum number of vacation days for a single year is 28.

Extra vacation days can be negotiated into your contract of work.

Some basic employment rights

Tips and tools for getting a job in Israel

Covid-19 in Israel’s Retirement Homes

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Covid-19 in Israel’s Retirement Homes
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My experience of Covid-19 in one of Israel’s retirement homes and elder-care facilities.

By: Lynette Karp (Resident at Beth Protea – Herzliah)

Lynette Karp enjoying the sunshine at Beth Protea

My husband and I made Aliyah in 2008  to join our daughters in Israel when our responsibilities in South Africa allowed it. This included our involvement in  the establishment of a Jewish Aged Home (Jaffa)  and caring for the last of our parents. We settled in Kfar Saba and I volunteered my services at Beth Protea where I felt very at home after my involvement with Jaffa in Pretoria – and after a short while we put our names down on the Beth Protea waiting list. Ill health accelerated our future intentions and when an ideal room became available at Beth Protea in 2017, we made the move to the independent-living section there.

Life has taken an upturn since that day – we have maintained friendships out of the home and have made new meaningful and international connections amongst residents and staff of this fabulous institution without foregoing our independence.

Being here for this taxing time of Covid was an adventure of note, isolated from our children, grandchildren and extended family we are protected and  reassured by the amazing staff and the company  of our fellow residents.

This is my story…

The Year that Was

Like every chapter in our lives there comes a time to turn the page and get on with it. And that is where we are now, but we take with us some important lessons from the past and some vivid memories.

The arrival of the first corona cases with warnings to cancel or postpone large gatherings caused a great deal of disappointment and despair. For the staff of Beth Protea it required an overnight paradigm change to daily programs and planned events. From cleaners to executives we were being served by willing workers covered in protective gear, but very quickly our routines were established albeit in a different form.

We woke up to sheeting closing off the social centres of Beth Protea and separating us from all staff members except for a limited few who were delegated to connect the two sections. The wonderful Filipinos, aides to many of our residents willingly co-operated in assisting the staff.  Our essential shopping was immediately undertaken with the co-operation of the Beth Protea Home Care team who were amongst the workers entitled to be out and about when Israel itself shut down in a desperate attempt to stem the growing numbers of Covid-19 patients and alarming fatalities particularly amongst the aged. 

In Beth Protea itself we were implored to abide by the required hygiene and distance regulations. As a very limited number of people were allowed to gather for activities; movies were shown 3 or 4 times a day to entertain as many as possible, art was distributed over a sheeting barrier, exercise classes continued on  a grassy knoll adjacent to the swimming pool which luckily remained open as did the gym for limited numbers. All of this took a tremendous amount of organization to implement and the overriding attitude of the residents was tremendous respect for our newly appointed CEO and the phenomenal staff who certainly were thrown into the deep end overnight.  

Anxiety was replaced by reassurance and every day brought more positive encouragement. Entertainment was introduced on the outside patio, with musicians and entertainers separated from us by the dining room doors while we enjoyed glorious weather with a new and wonderful silence interrupted only with  the sound of the birds chirping freely in the blue skies, uninterrupted by the noise of air travel! There is always a silver lining to every dark cloud.

Progress was tangible. First the testing and the relief at our Home being amongst the small number unaffected by Covid. This was shortly followed by the arrival of the vaccine in Israel and it being made available to us so promptly after it arrived. Our corridors were soon opened, we returned to the dining room albeit in three sessions to abide by the numbers stipulated to be safe indoors. 

Life is full of surprises – just because the world was wracked by a lethal virus didn’t mean that peace reigned over the troubled earth – and Israel was not spared, neither was Beth Protea. Sirens woke us up on two consecutive nights which saw us all rushing into the corridors for safety. But here again – we were not alone. The heads of many of the departments left their own families to drive to Beth Protea at 3 in the morning to make sure we were all in a place of relative safety and to reassure us that we were not alone.

What a privilege it is to live in this home and we all pray that the Covid-19 pandemic will in time just be a memory for all of us that live through it.

A new reality is waiting for us all out there!

Beth Protea is a retirement facility in Herzliah with a distinct Anglo flavour. To arrange an appointment with them, fill out the contact form here

Switching Banks in Israel

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Switching Banks in Israel
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Switching Banks in Israel – Now it’s easier to move your account from one bank to another.

opening a bank account in israel

Have you ever considered switching banks since you arrived in Israel? Probably yes!

You surely remember those first days of your Aliyah, when you had to open a bank account and if that wasn’t hard enough, finding a branch employee who spoke English, was patient and vaguely friendly was almost impossible. You were sure you’d find a better bank, better service and better conditions somewhere else but that was not so.

Until now, changing banks has been a nightmare; endless trips to the branch, paperwork, tracking transactions, undoing errors and extra bank charges – staying put was easier.

Some good news from the Bank of Israel though…

As of Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021 Israelis can switch banks much more easily. A new system enables bank customers to switch from one bank to another, online, quickly and at no cost.

Now, bank accounts can be switched within seven days, and any charges or deposits reaching the old account will automatically be directed to the new account within two years of the switch. Currently any debits or credits for a closed account are returned, and the onus is on the customer to arrange the transaction.

You can submit a digital request to transfer from one bank to another via the banks’ websites or physically at your branch.

If your bank account is complicated or any legal holds, you may may not be eligible for this new program called “Follow Me”.

The Bank of Israel advises that if you have any queries or issues you should liaise with the new bank and NOT with the old.

Information about the process is also available at switchbank.org.il (a Hebrew website from the Bank of Israel)

Under the new system you will be able to move credit balances in shekels and in foreign currency, debit balances, authorized debits of a current account, checks, securities (Israeli and foreign), credit card activities and standing orders.

Special arrangements must be made for your loans and mortgages as well as your savings accounts. Banks will work out the transfer on an individual basis.

Customers of Union Bank and Bank of Jerusalem will not be able to make use of this service at this time. (Union Bank is expected to merge with Mizrahi Tifahot and client numbers at Bank of Jerusalem are too low.)

If you make use of this service, please let us know if you were satisfied or not. By leaving a comment below, you’ll be helping a friend.

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