You may be able to ship furniture to Israel from Amazon FOR FREE...

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

Shoppers in Israel, and probably many other non-US locations, this is for you! I was really curious about this - can you get FURNITURE shipped to you from the US?

Surprise! There are lots of great deals on furniture that ship here FOR FREE. I found a cute kids' fold-out couch-bed (and right now there are double discounts on it - I found a coupon here - no promises that will still be there when you click) that qualifies for free shipping. I also found a solid wood child's stool (there's a coupon for that right now too!), and animal-themed stackable children's chairs!

TABLES: I found a 2-tiered square white end table, and another one, as well! I also found a rectangular farmhouse style end table. And this one is also rectangular, but has a more whimsical feel to it. Also found a 3-tiered table for close to the same price. And if you prefer round side tables, I found some of those too: this one is small. This one is a 2-tiered metal round table, with a great coupon when I saw it! All of these are super affordable compared to what I've seen around here in local stores!

More deals later, sorry I ran out of time!

EDITING TO ADD MORE:

I found a queen-size bedframe that ships free here and currently has a coupon that basically covers the import taxes! Here's a bookshelf/storage cube unit for an unbeatable price! (And this one appears to be a little bigger for only a little bit more $)

I also found a toddler book organizer - I've seen similar in local stores, but they can't TOUCH this price!

If you need a mattress topper, there are some that ship free - check out this memory foam topper for a Twin XL bed, that is basically the size of an Israeli single bed. I got one and it's been approved by a 20-something student!

Food vouchers from Misrad Hapnim

To combat food insecurity in Israel, Misrad Hapnim is distributing hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of food vouchers right now (February 2025). Many people have been automatically admitted to the program through their revacha services, but some eligible people may not be on the list.

If you think you might be eligible but aren't on a list to receive it, check out the Eligibility Simulator at https://govforms.gov.il/mw/forms/PopulationWithOutMunicipalityGalilArea@MOIN.gov.il 

After checking the simulator, clicking on the "Next Stage" button will take you to the "Submit Request" page. If you don't want to submit a request, don't click Next. If you do want to submit a request, be sure you have the required documentation available (a scan of your Teudat Zehut, including the "sefach", and income documentation).

Hope this helps someone out there get extra help when they need it! Feel free to share this post with anyone who might find it helpful!

If you need more financial assistance, you may find these posts helpful:
Click here to see posts labeled "financial assistance": https://www.kosherfrugal.com/search/label/financial%20assistance

Find me on Facebook

If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook: 

Kosher Frugal

Israeli Shopping Overseas 

Live in Israel, Shop Online 

Israel Deals Made Easy (in English) 

I'm also on WhatsApp with an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post.

Deals I found today!

Sometimes, I go to supermarket websites and only decide to actually place an order if I find a GREAT sale on something that justifies the 30 NIS delivery fee.

Usually, I do this on Saturday nights, but for some reason, today I decided to check, even though it's Thursday.

And that, my friends, is how I found this markdown:

As you can see, the Carmel "Excellence" wines are marked down to 9.90 NIS! You might know that if I buy wine, I really really don't buy expensive wines -- not that I have a problem with anyone who does, it's just not a priority in my budget, so I don't. Anyhow, once I found that wine price and justified my purchase, I looked around for other good prices and placed an order.

I didn't actually find that many super awesome markdowns besides the wine, but here are some of the ones I found:

Small packs of tomato paste, 8 for 7.70 NIS - under 1 NIS! This made me feel nostalgic for the early days of our Aliyah journey, when I routinely found tomato paste for under 1 NIS each...

They also had several vegetables for under 5 NIS/kilo, which is getting harder to find around here.

They also had several fruits for under 4 NIS/kg.

And they had Noam cheese deeply discounted - 10 NIS off the regular price!

Did you find other great deals?

Let me know!

Find me on Facebook

If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook: 

Kosher Frugal

Israeli Shopping Overseas 

Live in Israel, Shop Online 

Israel Deals Made Easy (in English) 

I'm also on WhatsApp with an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post.

Maanak Avodah 2023 - Reminder to apply!

It's time for your yearly reminder to check if you might be able to claim this benefit! Maybe you've heard about this already, and maybe this is new information for you. There is a reverse-tax benefit in Israel for low-income families. It's called the "Maanak Avodah" or "Working Grant". The point of this grant is to put more money in your pocket if you earn less than a certain amount of money!

Please don't miss out on this if you qualify - apply as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment later. It won't take much of your time to apply, and you can do it now, BEFORE YOU FORGET! Right now, you can still apply for the 2022 grant AND the 2023 grant. 
  
Updated information for the 2023 grant: 
Who can apply for this grant?

You can apply for this grant if: 

1. You were employed or self-employed
 
2. You were 21 years of age or older, and have minor children*, or 55 years of age or above, even if you have no minor children
 
3. You did not own more than 50% of a property or rights to a property (anywhere in the world) in the 2022 tax year, other than your primary residence
 
4. If you have one or two children, or are age 55+ without children, and your average monthly income falls between 2,320 and 6,980 you may be eligible for this grant. If you are a single parent of 1-2 children (with custody of your minor children), your average monthly income must fall between 1,420 and 10,570 NIS to qualifyץ
 
5. If you have 3 or more children, and your average monthly income falls between 2,320 NIS and 7,650 NIS, you may be eligible for this grant. If you are a single parent of 3 or more children (with custody), you may qualify if your income is between 1,420 and 12,900 NIS per month.

*children who are counted are those who are under the age of 19 as of 31/12/2023

How do you apply? 

Online, using the Israeli tax website - this option allows you to apply for 2023 and 2022 if you missed this reminder last year.

OR
At the post office, where you'll need to answer a few questions. BE SURE to bring your teudat zehut (ID card) and either your checkbook or an "ishur" from your bank that you have an account with them. Please keep any paperwork you receive at the post office and/or in the mail. This option only allows you to apply for 2023.

If you have questions after you've applied, or to check the status of your application, you can check the status of your request online in your "eizor ishi", or call *4954 or or 02-565-6400 to speak with the Tax Authority. 

Your payment may arrive in anywhere from 1-4 installments.

How much can you expect to receive? 

The amount you receive will vary depending on your circumstances, and if you qualify, could be up to 9,720 NIS.

Your spouse's income may affect your eligibility, as may various other factors.

I hope this helps some of you out there! It's worth it to check if you are eligible.

Please share this information with your friends and family who may benefit from it!

Don't miss out on useful tips and tricks for living in Israel! Follow me on FB and join my Kosher Frugal group!

Updated Post: Some Money Saving Tips

This post may contain affiliate or referral links. This means that if you click on a link I may receive a commission or other compensation. This will never cost you any extra!

This is a repost of an old post with updates - hope you find it helpful.

In trying to help a few friends find ways to reduce their monthly expenses, I discovered a few things that may seem obvious to native Israelis, but for the immigrant (oleh) community, they may not be obvious:

1. If you get hurt or sick and think you need to go to urgent care or the ER, if you're conscious, call your kupat cholim first and get a referral. This will keep your copays and fees to a minimum (there are exceptions. Some ER visits are always fully covered but it's not a long list - see the list here). You might still have a copay (especially for urgent care), but at least you won't be stuck with huge fees. You can also try to see a doctor online via your kupat cholim and save yourself a trip sometimes.

2. You can save money on non-prescription medications by buying them at your kupat cholim pharmacy, and getting a script from your doctor will sometimes save you even more! So if your doctor says you should take a supplement - ask for it to be put in your prescription list. Or, buy supplements from iHerb, where many of them are about 1/3 of the cost of the local options.

3. Negotiate your credit card fees. Often, credit card companies will waive your monthly fee if you ask. Sometimes they'll waive it if you spend a minimum amount on the card - but it's definitely worth asking.

4. Negotiate your bank fees. Instead of paying a fee per transaction, see if you can get your fees waived, or at least pay a small flat rate monthly fee that covers all of your transactions. They call these options a "maslool".

5. Use an app (like Moovit) to pay for public transportation, but be sure to register before you get started. The apps will then calculate your monthly payment based upon the cheapest option. If you travel a lot, you'll likely see a charge for a chofshi chodshi. We have one child who pays less than 50 shekels each month to travel all over the region we live in. And another who travels further, so their bill is for a chofshi chodshi artzi. The advantage to this is if your travel habits change, you'll always just pay the best rate. So one month the one who normally pays for a chofshi chodshi artzi (country-wide pass) stayed local, so they only paid for a regional monthly pass. If you qualify for a discount fare, the app can do that too. Just give it a day or 2 to process your paperwork (you'll need to upload some proof of qualifaction for the discount). If you're a senior citizen and eligible for free public transportation, I believe you must go get a Gold Rav Kav instead of using the app.

6. Renew your passport using the online form, during the winter months. Misrad Hapnim discounts passport fees for people who do this during non-peak season. The online part is just the first step - you'll still need to make an appointment and go in. But this will save you money.

7. If you need to renew your US Passport: you will be required to do so via the mail or dropbox if you are able to do that. If you need an in-person appointment, those slots open up every Wednesday at about 3PM Israel time. Go to the Embassy website for full info. DON'T PAY someone to get you a slot. The embassy advises against using these services. You can get an appointment for FREE.

8. If you're out and about and need a quick snack, buying a single fruit (like a banana/apple/orange) from a makolet is almost always the least expensive option, and will give you a healthy burst of energy to help you get thru your errands so you can eat when you get home. 

9. Always carry a water bottle instead of planning to buy a cold drink while you're out. Best if you freeze your water bottle half full the night before, and fill it as you head out. This, and an insulated holder, will help you stay hydrated!

10. Check which day of the week your local store has "shuk day" and buy your produce that day instead of paying full price on the other days! Often, shuk day will be Tuesday, but sometimes it's Wednesday. The makolet near me has shuk day on Mondays and Thursdays, but they generally only discount a small selection - but it's still convenient.

11. If you're going to a movie, check if you can get a buy 1 get 1 free ticket deal via your credit card! Most credit cards have deals like this - some are available to anyone, others require a minimum spend in the month prior in order to activate it. Just be sure to log into your credit card app and check out the "Hatavot".

12. If you're going out to eat, it's worth checking if you can get a discount. Discount vouchers for restaurants are a great way to live it up without draining your bank account.

13. See if you can earn free things or gift cards from your kupat cholim (healthcare company)! I know Clalit has a fitness app that lets you accrue points to redeem for various prizes, including fitness equipment and giftcards to a variety of places. If you're also on Clalit, and have Mushlam coverage, just click this link from your phone to get it! And be sure to add in referral code JPAJKYK for a sign-up bonus - there's a section called מישוש קוד מתנה where you can put the code in for a 600-point bonus! You have to put the code in the day you activate the app in order to get the bonus.

Hope you found this list helpful! Do you have more tips? I'd LOVE to hear tips you want to add to this list!

Avoid getting scammed

Have you gotten an email or text about "an order" of yours that's waiting for payment of some trivial amount? Or that has to clear customes?

Maybe you've received a text message telling you that your account is in danger of suspension and you must verify your details?

Or one of the many other messages that people are getting out there?

BE CAREFUL. Many Israelis are getting scammed and find their credit cards compromised after clicking one of these messages!

How can you tell if that message is a scam/phishing message? Here are some tips:

Spelling mistakes in the URL - don't click! 

Look carefully at the picture above with screenshots of actual text messages I've received - that link that is supposedly from Israel Post is from "Israeilpost.com" - which is NOT the Israel Post URL!

Don't trust short links or unofficial-looking links:

Always go through official websites when you need customer service, tech support, or to authorize changes to your account. This applies to your bank, credit cards, postal services, and even websites you shop on. Look in the picture above - at least one link is "tinyurl" link, another is a "rebrand.ly" link. Big Red Flag.

 

Verify links first:

Legitimate websites use the url you know for that site. The post office does not send out short links! Neither does your bank. When in doubt, go directly to the website (or app) you think the message came from, and log in on your own. A legitimate request will show up when you log in. If you got a text message telling you to pay a customs fee, but you can't see the fee and information about it when you track your package, it's a scam. Same goes for resetting your bank account password. If you log in to your account and there's no message there, the text/email you got was almost certainly a scam!

Urgent messages should make you wary:

Scammers will often try to get you to act quickly. They'll tell you that you must pay within X number of hours, or that your account will be closed in X amount of time if you don't act quickly. If they manage to make you feel panicked, you're more likely to give out sensitive information. So always take the time to double and triple check before you click on that link or agree to reset your account. If the message seems out of the blue AND urgent, be wary! See the picture above - one of the messages says that your package will be returned to sender if you don't pay! If you really owe taxes, this won't be the way you get this message.

Same goes for phone calls!

If someone calls you and urges you to pay a fee over the phone with your credit card, even if they seem to know who you are, don't pay! Call the number you have for the contact person you work with at that company (it's often an insurance scam, so call your insurance agent, or whichever company they claim to be from) and speak with them directly so you know you're speaking to a legitimate person and not a scammer.

A friend called asking you to wire money because they're stuck overseas without money? 

Phone numbers and voices can be cloned. If your friend is truly overseas and stuck, chances are they won't be calling you. If you're concerned about a friend overseas and you can't reach them when you call them, you can get in touch with the embassy in that country or a trusted contact there, who can check on your friend. DON'T WIRE MONEY because of a phone call. Always find a way to verify the person is who you think they are before you agree to send any money! It's really truly rare that any request for you to urgently wire money is actually legit. So my bottom line is BE WARY!

My thoughts about scammers:

Scammers are theives. They prey on people in whatever way they think they'll get you to part with your money or your sensitive information! That doesn't mean you can't still help a friend in need, or give tzedaka! Just be sure to do this in a way that you're sure your money will get where you intend it to go. 

Hope you found this helpful! I'd love to hear from you! Be sure to join my Facebook group and we can be in touch there! 

 

Orlah Update: Adar Aleph 5779

Here's the latest Orlah update, so you can shop for fruit in Israel with confidence!

This post is a follow up to the Kashrut for New Olim post. If you haven't seen it yet, please check it out -- there's important information there! 

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES in Israel - Specific Kashrut Issues

Unlike in other parts of the world, in Israel, fruits and vegetables are NOT automatically "kosher" - here we need to make sure that they are not "orlah" fruits (harvested during a tree's first 3 yrs, with other rules applying to year 4) and that trumot and ma'asrot have been taken (from both fruits and vegetables). Without these basics, these fruits and vegetables are NOT acceptable in a kosher kitchen!

If you shop at a market that doesn't have an ishur kashrut (kosher certification) on their produce, you'll need to investigate these issues further, if you are interested in adhering to the halachot of the Land of Israel OR if you regularly host people who assume the food in your home is kosher! I must say that it's important to familiarize yourself with these special halachot, as they are part of keeping kosher in Israel! (If you say you keep Kosher in Israel, everyone assumes that you have taken care of these issues; and if you don't, then you may be unwittingly putting someone in a situation they don't want to be in!) 

It's definitely possible to take trumot and maasrot on your own (I do it often), so vegetables are easiest to buy without a teudah, as that is all you need to do (and very often, it would be without a bracha). Some of the fruits on the market may be ok to purchase even from a non-certified establishment and just take trumot and maasrot, because of the extremely low percentage of orlah fruits being sold, but those lists change frequently, so you'll constantly need to stay up-to-date.

Other fruits can be a problem, because of orlah (from the first 3 years after the tree was planted). I try very hard to post a monthly update here on my site with a list of the fruits where the percentage of orlah fruits on the open market is greater than 0.5%. These fruits should only be bought from a reputable source that does not sell orlah fruits (i.e. a place with a teudah). This orlah issue is a serious issue for kosher consumers:

ORLAH Update for Adar Aleph 5779

Fruits to AVOID buying without a teudah:

• Avocado - Ettinger, Mutti, Haas varieties
• Blueberries
• Annona
• Grapefruit (White)
• Olives for curing
• Olives for oil (Barnea)
• Lemon
• Papaya
• Prickly Pear (Sabra Fruit)
• Clementines - Hadas, Merav, Morkutt  varieties
• Oranges - Blood oranges, Choice Valencia
• Starfruit
• Passionfruit
• Almonds
• Figs

Please be sure to speak with your personal Halachic Authority about purchasing fruit in Israel without a teudah. Not everyone holds by the 0.5% threshold, and there are differences of opinion about certain fruits and whether they are subject to Orlah. This information is just for informational purposes and is not a halachic psak! Even if you follow a psak that relies on the 0.5% threshold, you still must take trumot and maasrot on all produce grown in Israel (or be sure it has been taken), in order to fulfill your halachic obligations.

Also, be aware that this list does NOT apply to fruit grown by an individual. If your friend has a fruit tree, you'll need to find out how old it is! 

I hope you find this helpful! Please follow or like my Facebook page and don't miss out on updates and other posts!

My "We Made Aliyah" Money-Mindset

If we're not careful, the money just FLIES away!

Hi everyone!

Today I've got all these thoughts swirling around in my head, and I decided to put them down into a blog post, since that's as good as any other method of procrastination I can think of! 

(Yes, procrastination - because we all know I have a million things that need my attention I would completely prefer to ignore, so I WILL. At least I wrote a blog post instead, right?)

Let's face it - making Aliyah requires a major change in mindset for so many things, and I'm going to focus on some of those things that affect our financial health.

When we first got to Israel, I naively figured I could just recreate my life in America right here in Israel (which life didn't really matter - it could have been a NY-style life or a Florida style life, or wherever. We lived in a lot of places, and I'd figured out ways to make it work anywhere...).

But I quickly discovered that things I had taken for granted in America were not so easy here. Not as olim. Perhaps if we had a trust fund (we don't!) we could have bought a house with a pool and a big yard (or a townhouse in a big city) and eaten organic fruits and veggies. But we figured out really quickly that this plan wasn't realistic for us, nor is it for most olim. (This did not take 8 years to figure out. It became rather obvious in just a matter of weeks!)

So there were a bunch of things we had to do.

Food Shopping:
We started shopping on shuk days - and discovered that even if we couldn't get to the shuk, lots of supermarkets compete with local shuk days and offer special sales on Mondays or Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Often, there are awesome deals! We try to take advantage of the cheapest fruits and vegetables we can get by making the most of these sales - since I believe that eating fresh fruits and veggies is very important, so saving money on them is a big WIN! We also try to focus on buying other groceries on sale in general (obviously?). Last week, I got chicken wings for 5 nis/kg (a few weeks earlier, I got them for 3.50 nis/kg!!) - just saying.

Transportation:
We walk. Or bike. Or take buses. A LOT. Filling up the car is pricey in Israel. We do use the car - but we try to use less expensive transportation much of the time. Obviously walking is cheapest. Biking is pretty cool, too - though lately my kids keep popping their inner tubes, and that can be pricey to fix all the time!

Eating out:
I try really hard not to go out for coffee. I've got a coffeemaker at home and I am happy to make my own, and I'll gladly host a coffee hour from time to time! I also have several reusable travel cups on hand for taking coffee-on-the-go, since sometimes that is super convenient. Same thing about ice cream. We buy tubs of ice cream and get our ice cream fixes AT HOME, and the kids more or less know not to ask for ice cream cones when we're out.
If we're going out for the day, we try to carry a decent amount of snacks or food with us. If we're caught unprepared, we try to buy food that is simple and inexpensive. You might see me going into a makolet or supermarket to buy sandwich stuff when that happens!
Eating out at a restaurant is reserved for special occasions ONLY.

Housing:
We bought a smaller house than we originally wanted, and way out in the boondocks. It makes the mortgage manageable. Don't go for a big house with a huge mortgage, if you don't like anxiety attacks!

Shopping:
In America, I was a thrift store junkie. I regularly scoured thrift stores and scored some great items. Some of them were things we needed (I bought a changing table and lots of clothing!), and other items were just things I liked, or thought were cool. So one of the things we had to change was buying things we don't actually need. Without the extra stuff, we can try to keep our clutter in check, and our wallets a little fuller. When we do need things, often our first stop is our local "free to a good home" group, or our second hand shop. We also give away plenty of things to our friends and neighbors! We have a book swap shelf we regularly swap books at, as well.

Here in Israel, money is often tight. Not for everyone, but for many of us. In order to avoid the never ending cycle of "minus" in the bank that seems so prevalent around me, I make an effort to evaluate each purchase by pulling out a few different yardsticks - 1. Will I miss it tomorrow if I skip it today? 2. How many hours of work will this splurge cost me? 3. Can I get my needs met by spending less?

Basically, what I think I'm trying to say is that an Aliyah Money Mindset is all about being Mindful. It's not about deprivation. It's not about denial. But it is about being purposeful and thoughtful before spending money.
After all, tomorrow will come! And it's always best to be ready for the tomorrows.

How are you doing with your Aliyah Mindset? I'd love to hear!

Orlah Update: Elul 5778

This post is a follow up to the Kashrut for New Olim post. If you haven't seen it yet, please check it out -- there's important information there! 

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES in Israel - Specific Kashrut Issues

Unlike in other parts of the world, in Israel, fruits and vegetables are NOT automatically "kosher" - here we need to make sure that they are not "orlah" fruits (harvested during a tree's first 3 yrs, with other rules applying to year 4) and that trumot and ma'asrot have been taken (from both fruits and vegetables). Without these basics, these fruits and vegetables are NOT acceptable in a kosher kitchen!

If you shop at a market that doesn't have an ishur kashrut (kosher certification) on their produce, you'll need to investigate these issues further, if you are interested in adhering to the halachot of the Land of Israel OR if you regularly host people who assume the food in your home is kosher! I must say that it's important to familiarize yourself with these special halachot, as they are part of keeping kosher in Israel! (If you say you keep Kosher in Israel, everyone assumes that you have taken care of these issues; and if you don't, then you may be unwittingly putting someone in a situation they don't want to be in!) 

It's definitely possible to take trumot and maasrot on your own (I do it often), so vegetables are easiest to buy without a teudah, as that is all you need to do (and very often, it would be without a bracha). Some of the fruits on the market may be ok to purchase even from a non-certified establishment and just take trumot and maasrot, because of the extremely low percentage of orlah fruits being sold, but those lists change frequently, so you'll constantly need to stay up-to-date.

Other fruits can be a problem, because of orlah (from the first 3 years after the tree was planted). I try very hard to post a monthly update here on my site with a list of the fruits where the percentage of orlah fruits on the open market is greater than 0.5%. These fruits should only be bought from a reputable source that does not sell orlah fruits (i.e. a place with a teudah). This orlah issue is a serious issue for kosher consumers:

ORLAH Update for Elul 5778

Fruits to AVOID buying without a teudah:

• Avocado - Day, Galil varieties
• Pears - Brown, Nashi
• Blueberries
• Annona
• Peach - variety 1881, large white, very large yellow
• Guava
• Strawberry Guava
• Olives
• Lemon
• Apricot - large
• Nectarine - large yellow, large & medium size white
• Seedless grapes: many or most varieties
• Seeded grapes: Muscat
• Papaya
• Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)
• Prickly Pear (Sabra Fruit)
• Kiwi
• Starfruit
• Passionfruit
• Plum - Wickson, Miriam varieties
• Almonds
• Figs
• Apples - Grand, Granny Smith, and Brookfield

Please be sure to speak with your personal Halachic Authority about purchasing fruit in Israel without a teudah. Not everyone holds by the 0.5% threshold, and there are differences of opinion about certain fruits and whether they are subject to Orlah. This information is just for informational purposes and is not a halachic psak! Even if you follow a psak that relies on the 0.5% threshold, you still must take trumot and maasrot on all produce grown in Israel (or be sure it has been taken), in order to fulfill your halachic obligations.

Also, be aware that this list does NOT apply to fruit grown by an individual. If your friend has a fruit tree, you'll need to find out how old it is! 

I hope you find this helpful! Please follow or like my Facebook page and don't miss out on updates and other posts!

Free Show Tickets for Olim!

Recently, the Ministry of Absorption has been on a social media ad campaign, and I clicked on one of their ads (weird, I know - but it caught my eye!).

Much to my surprise, I discovered this amazing program I had never heard about before!

If you have been in Israel for fewer than 30 years, read on!

You can get FREE show tickets from Misrad Haklitah if you are over 14 years old, and made Aliyah no earlier than 1989!

Here's how you go about getting your free tix:

Choose a show from the list of participating shows (find the list here) at one of these theaters: Haifa Theater, Beer Sheva Theater, Hullegeb Theatre, Yung Yiddish, Gesher, The Hebrew Theater, Yiddishpiel, The Israel Chamber Orchestra.

You must order your tickets no less than 2 days in advance!

Fill out the online booking form and submit it online.

If you have difficulty booking online, you can order your tickets over the phone by calling *2994, but Misrad Haklitah says that it is best to place your order online.

Your order will be processed, and then you will receive a confirmation email with details of the show you requested.

You can pick up the tickets at the theater box office an hour before the show (no later than 15 minutes before the show).

Each individual can order only one ticket per show! You can't place an order for all of your friends, sorry. But any oleh/olah can order, so you can spread the word!

In the event that you need to cancel your reservation, call *2994.

Enjoy the show!

(If you want to go to shows at other theaters, be sure to check out my discount entertainment posts to save on tickets!)

Don't miss out on savings tips, deals, and important information for every English speaker living in Israel - be sure to follow me on Facebook so we can stay in touch!

Orlah Update: Tammuz 5778

This post is a follow up to the Kashrut for New Olim post. If you haven't seen it yet, please check it out -- there's important information there! 

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES in Israel - Specific Kashrut Issues

Unlike in other parts of the world, in Israel, fruits and vegetables are NOT automatically "kosher" - here we need to make sure that they are not "orlah" fruits (harvested during a tree's first 3 yrs, with other rules applying to year 4) and that trumot and ma'asrot have been taken (from both fruits and vegetables). 

If you shop at a market that doesn't have an ishur kashrut (kosher certification) on their produce, you'll need to investigate these issues further, if you are interested in adhering to the halachot of the Land of Israel OR if you regularly host people who assume the food in your home is kosher! I must say that it's important to familarize yourself with these special halachot, as they are part of keeping kosher in Israel! (If you say you keep Kosher in Israel, everyone assumes that you have taken care of these issues; and if you don't, then you may be unwittingly putting someone in a situation they don't want to be in!) 

It's definitely possible to take trumot and maasrot on your own (I do it often), so vegetables are easiest to buy without a teudah, as that is all you need to do (and very often, it would be without a bracha). Some of the fruits on the market may be ok to purchase even from a non-certified establishment and just take trumot and maasrot, because of the extremely low percentage of orlah fruits being sold, but those lists change frequently, so you'll constantly need to stay up-to-date.

Other fruits can be a problem, because of a high possibility that they are orlah (from the first 3 yrs after the tree was planted). I have recently begun to post a monthly update on my website, with a list of the fruits where the percentage of orlah fruits on the open market is greater than 0.5%. These fruits should only be bought from a reputable source that does not sell orlah fruits (i.e. a place with a teudah):

ORLAH Update for Tammuz 5778

Fruits to AVOID buying without a teudah:

• Avocado - Reid variety
• Blueberries
• Peach - Oded, Round Yellow, Flat Yellow
• Lemon
• Apricot (regular and red)
• Nectarine - several varieties of yellow, medium size white
• Seedless grapes: several varieties of green and black
• Seeded grapes: Black, Muscat
• Papaya
• Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)
• Prickly Pear (Sabra Fruit)
• Starfruit
• Passionfruit
• Plum - Wickson, Miriam varieties
• Valencia Oranges
• Apples - Bachir

Please be sure to speak with your personal Halachic Authority about purchasing fruit in Israel without a teudah. Not everyone holds by the 0.5% threshold, and there are differences of opinion about certain fruits and whether they are subject to Orlah. This information is just for informational purposes and is not a halachic psak! Even if you follow a psak that relies on the 0.5% threshold, you still must take trumot and maasrot on all produce grown in Israel (or be sure it has been taken), in order to fulfill your halachic obligations.

Also, be aware that this list does NOT apply to fruit grown by an individual. If your friend has a fruit tree, you'll need to find out how old it is! 

I hope you find this helpful! Please follow my Facebook page and don't miss out on updates and other posts!

Free Resources for Small Business Owners in Israel

We all know it can be a real challenge to go solo and open a business, and olim especially can use all the helping hands we can get! 

Today, I'd like to highlight a few of the resources I know about that small business owners can use to hopefully get ahead.

I hope you find this list helpful!

-- Bank Leumi offers small business management courses in the following locations: Ra'anana, Ramat Aviv, Ashdod, Lod, and Afula. The course is 7 sessions, and is free of charge.
Sign up HERE

They also offer some digital classes (video series) - you can check it out HERE.

These classes are specifically for Israel, so may address some of the unique challenges small businesses in Israel may encounter.

-- The Israel Tax Authority runs Free Clinics for Atzma'im with income from self employment up to 60,000 NIS using Form 137, and other people who need to file a tax report using Form 1301

Find this help HERE:

Every Regional Tax Office (except Eilat and Tel Aviv - details below), between April 22, 2018 and June 14, 2018, Sunday - Thursday from 1pm - 6:30pm. Some offices may be closed on certain days of the week (Teverya is closed on Tuesdays, for example). I recommend calling before you go to verify they are open!

In Eilat, the clinic will be available only on Mondays and Wednesdays.

In Tel Aviv, there is a special Resource Center dedicated just to this service, and it will remain open until July 19, 2018. Find it at Rechov Shefa Tal 12, Tel Aviv.

-- The Jewish Agency (a.k.a. "The Sochnut") has Loan Funds for entrepreneurs if you meet certain criteria. [More Info]

-- Benefits for Small and Medium Business Owners, offered by the Ministry of the Economy - on the BIZנס site

-- Online (Video-based) Courses offered by the Israel Employment Services - for free! The videos are in Hebrew, and are actually a great way to improve your business Hebrew at the same time as learning something new!

-- If your business can travel, you need to know about the fairs at which you can set up shop! Find all the fairs here!

Please let me know if you know of other great resources - I'd be happy to expand this list!

If you're struggling to stay on top of life because you're not yet earning enough money, be sure to check out my Financial Assistance Series, and see if you may qualify for help you didn't know about!

Oleh Pay - Low-Fee Money Transfers

This post contains affiliate links. I may be compensated if you click a link and make a purchase or use a service. Thanks in advance for your support!



Often people ask me about ways to lower fees when transferring money from the US to Israel. This is sometimes a one-time thing, like when one is making a large purchase, and sometimes, it's a regular (perhaps monthly) occurrence.

Either way, the goal is to keep more of our hard-earned money in our own pockets instead of paying it to the bank.

I'm happy to let you know about OlehPay - see the infographic to the right for a quick rundown about this service.

It's definitely a game-changer, and a money-saving service!

When you use OlehPay, you'll keep more of your dollars in your own account, even when you transfer money from the US!

Check them out and compare with whatever offer your bank made - I am certain you'll save money if you use OlehPay!

18 Ways to Save in Israel in 2018

People are always looking for more ways to save money - we all would rather spend our money on the things that are important to us! If we're not careful, though, we often spend too much money just keeping up with life! This is the year to get things in order so you can spend less money on the less important things, and get more out of life! So today I'm sharing some of my favorite tips for reducing your expenses so 2018 will be all around great!

1. Call your phone company, cable company, internet provider, and insurance companies (as applicable) to negotiate better rates. You can often save a lot just by asking for a lower rate!

2. Make sure your water company knows how many people live in your home (the more people you have living there, the more water you can use at the lower tariff) - update them when you have a change in family circumstances, or when you move.

3. Check that you are getting any Arnona discounts you may be eligible for.

4. Always shop with a list and a budget, and stick to it. Don't spend more than you've allotted for whatever it is, be it food, shoes, clothing, or whatever. If you must spend more than you planned, you'll need to compensate by cutting back somewhere else, or you quickly fall into the overspending trap! The easiest way to be sure you don't spend more than you budgeted is to pay in cash and don't use a credit card. If you don't like to carry cash, you will need to be super disciplined with your credit card purchases!

5. Only buy items you really need. If you see something and think you need it, don't buy it right away. Go home and really think it over. If it really is something that will improve your life or save you money, go back and buy it (after doing some comparison shopping. Sometimes those gadgets are much less expensive online, from stores like aliexpress (see my online shopping guide for more ways to shop online). You can also get help finding a great deal in the Groupon Israel's Best Deals Facebook group!

6. Cook your own food. Stop buying food - whether it's restaurant food, takeout food, or frozen prepared food, it's almost always more cost effective to cook a simple meal. (Need a recipe? I've got lots of recipes for you!) Save eating out for special occasions only!

7. Buy secondhand whenever possible. Turn this into a source of pride, not shame. Secondhand purchases do a lot to save energy and resources. Convince yourself (and your kids) that this will do a world of good. (**Even better - scavenge or dumpster dive if you are up for it! We have scavenged many perfectly good and useful items over the years!)

8. Accept hand me downs. People give things away all the time - much of it is still perfectly useful. Join your local "freeswap" style group to connect with others!

9. Walk or ride a bike to get around whenever possible. Gas is EXPENSIVE in this country. Walking is free. Sure, that means a little more time and possibly carrying some heavy items home when doing errands, but it saves a ton that whenever I do things locally, I walk! And it ensures we get moving, too! 

10. Use the library instead of buying books. Or go to book swaps! (If you're local to me, there's a book swap shelf outside my house - feel free to use it!)

11. Don't pay for TV access. It's just not worth it when you can almost always stream your favorite shows online!

12. Take short showers! If you can shower Israeli style, turning the water on only to get wet and then rinse off, you'll really lower your water consumption.

13. Drink water. If your water has an unpleasant taste, get a simple filtration system, like a Brita pitcher. No need for a pricey, water wasting reverse osmosis system. We also like to add orange or lemon slices to our water in order to enhance the taste! It's easy and really inexpensive (especially if you or a neighbor has a citrus tree)!

14. Find free alternatives to expensive "needs". My computer was dying. I abandoned Windows and gave my computer a new lease on life by installing Linux.

15. Make homemade cleaning solutions instead of buying pricey bottles of cleaner. Not only will this save you money, it will save you from exposure to questionable chemicals used in many commercial cleaning products. (I use baking soda, vinegar, and simple soaps or natural detergents to do most of my cleaning. I add essential oils for fragrance purposes)

16. Learn to cut your kids' hair. This will really save you a lot, especially if you have a whole crew of kids! If you're brave enough, swap hair cutting with a friend, too, so you can save on your own haircuts as well!

17. Use low-energy lightbulbs. Swap out older style lightbulbs with LED bulbs when you need to replace them. I recommend you choose "warm white" instead of regular white - it's easier on the eyes.

18. Keep your mazgan filters clean - cleaning them regularly will keep your mazgan working more efficiently, and will save money on your heating and cooling bills!

There are lots of other everyday ways to save money, so please share your favorite tips in the comments!