ModiInfo Spring 2013

Modiin Area’s English Speaking Magazine Spring 2013 | Nisan/Sivan 5773 | Volume 10, Issue 2 | FREE

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Girl Interrupted

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Limor Rubin: Feeling Centered

The Natural Way

Israel’s Top 10 Animal Attractions

ModiInfonline

Wishing Well

ModiInfocus on Home & Garden Section

Design Done Right

All in the Family

Building Bridges

Kitchen Aide

Home Financial Plan

Home Organization

Helpful Tips from the Experts

Home & Garden Index

ModiInfor Kids

Why We Live in Israel

Healthy Living

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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We sent our daughters off to Poland a few days ago on a trip that is known to be intense, life altering and momentous in a young person’s life. Many thoughts run through my mind as I envision the girls standing at Auschwitz in the freezing cold, visiting old, empty, magnificent shuls and walking along train tracks proudly waving huge Israeli flags.

Parents often remark about the quality of life for children growing up today. They have so much at their fingertips and the ability to learn about anything and everything through the press of a button. Without having to leave the house they are experts on the entire world and beyond.

Yet, real life experiences are irreplaceable. To stand in real time in a new place, breathe the air there and look strangers in the eye is some-thing that cannot be replicated, no matter the advances in technology. Our youth need now, more than ever, to board a plane and travel to places that will leave an indelible mark on their journey to adulthood.

Their trip happens to take place just a few weeks before Pesach, although thousands of kids go with their schools throughout the year. Perhaps the upcoming celebration of freedom will take on new meaning for them this year as they sit at the Pesach Seder and perhaps they will embrace how fortunate they are to practice their Judaism comfortably and without fear. And as they return to Israel, after having witnessed the remains of the Shoah, as Israelis carrying Israeli passports and not as visitors like so many others, perhaps they will contemplate their own feelings of Zionism.

Our daughters, like many kids, did not make the choice to live in Israel. It was made for them by their parents much the same way chil-dren grow up observant because their parents made that choice. But at some point in everyone’s life, they come to the realization that they must make the choice anew, for them, because it’s what they want, regardless of how they were raised. May this trip and the upcoming days of Pesach, Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, be opportunities to remind all of us to embrace our freedoms and our choices daily.

Chag Sameach,Caryn and Daniella

Continues on page 12

By: Daniella Hellerstein

“They came out for Gabriella – because they cared about her, not just us.” This is how Shlomtzi Werblowsky begins to recall the horrific ordeal her family went through this past October. Now, several months later, with both the physical and emotional scars healing, Shlomtzi speaks out to share their miraculous story. It is the story of an unexpected life threatening crisis, followed by an against all odds recovery and of the close knit community that stepped up to see a beloved young girl and her family through.

Girl InterruptedThe Story of One Girl’s Sudden Illness and Miraculous Recovery

Thirteen-year-old Gabi Werblowsky is an exceptionally bright and serious young lady. She devours books and is a top student. She is mature for her age and had been fasting on Yom Kippur since she was young. This year was no different and as usual, the post fast/pre Sukkot activities were in full swing in the Wer-blowsky’s Modiin home. Gabi, the second out of four children, complained of a stomachache Friday but felt well enough to meet up with friends as usual after dinner. Shabbat morning it seemed

Pictured on the cover: Take a break from cooking and treat yourself and your family to the homemade delicious food of Maccabis.

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By: Rav Warren Kaye

Pesach and Sukkot have a great deal in common. On both there is a mitzvah to go up to the Beit HaMikdash, both last seven days, both begin on the fifteenth of the month with a six-month gap separating them and on both it is imperative that we eat a Kazayit of Matza/bread on the first night of the chag.

Another common denominator is the mitzvah of hachnassat orchim (welcoming guests). We begin Seder night with a declaration at the opening of Maggid: “all who are hungry should come in and eat”. I am sure that we re-ally do not expect a stranger to suddenly take us up on the offer but the custom of providing matzot and other food items for the poor before Pesach finds its source in this idea. People are ac-customed to inviting people to join them at the Seder. Rambam (Hilchot Yom Tov 6: 17-18) writes, “On these days, a person is obligated to be happy and in good spirits; he, his children, his wife, the members of his household, and all those who de-

Two Sides of the Same Coinpend on him, as it states in Devarim: "And you shall rejoice in your festivals. In contrast, a person who locks the gates of his courtyard and eats and drinks with his wife and children, without feeding the poor and the embittered, is not indulging in rejoicing associated with a mitzvah, but rather the rejoicing of his gut.” We also invite the prophet Eliyahu to our Seder.

Sukkot sees us invite a different type of guest into our temporary homes – the Ushpizin. Each night of Sukkot we ceremoniously invite one of

our prestigious predecessors and some are accustomed to leave an empty seat at the table. This is a more spiritual act of hachnas-sat orchim.

The subject of guests and strangers is a central motif of the exodus narrative. We often state “Zecher LeYitziat Mitzrayim” in remembrance of the Exodus. This reminds us of our past as strangers in a foreign land and teaches us to respect and act kindly towards strangers and guests. The mitzvot of Pesach are largely performed with the mouth: speak about the narrative of the Exodus, we eat and drink certain amounts of matza, maror and wine. Sukkot, again, represents a higher level of spiritual-ity as the mitzvah of Sukka is performed with one's entire body. As the Vilna Gaon stated, “we enter the sukka with the mud on our shoes”. On Pesach we lower the level of our sustenance and eat matza instead of bread through it we perform the mitzvah of hachnassat orchim. On Sukkot we lower our standard of liv-ing and move from a permanent residence to a temporary one and there we will perform the mitzvah of hachnassat orchim. On Pesach we prepare the house for the chag by removing chametz and on sukkot we go out to greet the chag.

A closer examination of these chaggim shows that they are two sides of the same coin. Pesach represents a moment of Di-vine revelation, a time of miracles which led to the formation of the Jewish people. Am Yisrael was quite passive in the Exodus narrative and Hashem performed miracles and plagues. Suk-kot represents a forty-year period of wandering and worrying about our daily needs. Sometimes we have religious experi-ences like Pesach when we suddenly feel close to Hashem and sometimes we feel we are on a long journey and are concerned about Hashem’s closeness. Both chagim teach us about types of Divine experiences and both are connected to the mitzvah of hachnassat orchim.Chag Sameach.

Warren Kaye is the Rav of Shivtei Yisrael Primary School and served as the Rav Shaliach of Bnei Akiva UK.



Limor Rubin is a born and bred proud Israeli. Is-rael, she says is the right place for the Jewish people to live. But that doesn’t mean we have nothing to learn from our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. Limor is not talking about importing peanut butter, iPhones or Ziploc bags. Limor wants to import a model to create a feeling, a connection and an un-derstanding.

Limor spent the first few years of her life living in Barcelona, Spain, where her parents were on sh-lichut. She then returned to live abroad after com-pleting her army service as a shaliach to Uzbekistan. There, Limor worked in the Israeli Center which served as a community center of sorts for the small group of Jews. The center gave them a sense of community and belonging. Like many Jewish Community Cen-ters, the Israel Center was a place for Jews to learn about their history, culture and heritage in an open and non-threatening envi-ronment. Many of the Jews in Uzbekistan that Limor worked with ultimately made Aliyah. Yet, instead of being thrilled with their decision, Limor ironically, had real concerns that once in Israel, they would no longer have the same opportunity to continue to learn. She feared they would lose the strong sense of community that had contributed so much to their growth and Jewish identity.

Having grown up in Moshav Kfar Sirkin, near Petach Tikva, Limor experienced first-hand what it means to be part of a tight knit group of families who know and support one another. Yet, she is well aware that in most of Israel, unless you are a member of a shul or live on a moshav or kibbutz, you are probably missing out on a significant part of a satisfy-ing and productive Jewish life, namely a community. Ironically, life abroad offers much more opportunity to explore your Judaism while connecting with other like-minded people, and not necessar-ily in a religious context.

Limor characterizes herself as a naturally introspective and questioning person. Although she is observant, Limor does not believe in blind acceptance with regard to any aspect of her life and is raising her children to feel the same. Rather, she proudly promotes the natural human drive to live an increasingly elevated life through constant searching. Such sentiments are even more

dramatic in Israel. According to Limor, Israel is not a place where you can just live your quiet, pri-vate life. Israelis must share the burden of building small communities as well as the broader country. We have a mutual responsibility to do our part and no one is exempt, she says.

Limor has been involved in several Non-Gov-ernment Organizations (NGO) and has voluntarily spearheaded projects through the Modiin munici-pality, the most successful of which joined parents of special needs kids. Limor believes strongly in the

right of people to shape their own future and has worked towards this goal in a variety of capacities. Critical of how the Foreign Ministry invests so much in strengthening Jewish identity abroad to the neglect of local Israelis, Limor decided to take matters into her own hands and a few months ago her dream of opening a form of a Jewish Community Center in her neighborhood in Modiin was finally realized. A project she has been envisioning for the past four years, the Israel Community Center (ICC) was officially launched on October 28 at a special event in memory of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. One of the motivating factors for Limor

was the feeling that for many families living in Modiin, unless your children go to the same school or you attend the same shul, neighbors do not really know each other. “We can’t be strong like that,” she says. In addition, “dati youth are often raised to believe religion is black and white. That’s arrogant and wrong because chilonim built this country. In Israel, secular is defined by what you’re not. For many, there is no positive connection to Juda-ism.”

The ICC, modeled after the Jewish Community Centers of the Diaspora, is looking to change that. In a new, mixed city like Mo-diin there is a unique opportunity get to know others who may be different than you and appreciate the common ground we share. The ICC, with the support of the municipality and the Modiin-Rochester Partnership, hopes to facilitate this neighborly love through community wide activities and learning experiences. Ac-cording to their stated goal, “ICC is a project in Modiin, aimed at


Limor Rubin: Feeling Centered


ow did you become one of the most renowned professionals in medical cosmetology in Israel?From 1986-1997 I worked in Japan in cosmetology. In 1997 I re-turned to Israel to continue learning in the field of medical cosme-tology in Tel Aviv. I then opened my own practice in Modiin from 1998 until 2004 when I traveled to Los Angeles where I opened a successful clinic in Beverly Hills. There I improved my expertise in cosmetics and alternative natural plastics as well as deep peels and permanent makeup. In Beverly Hills I had the unique oppor-tunity to study the unbelievably effective but completely natural method of Dr. Schrammek.

Tell me about the Dr. Christine Schrammek method and what makes it so remarkable.Dr. Schrammek developed a medical peel which is a purely plant based method of peeling the skin. Her line of products has been

highly successful in treating discoloration, scars, wrinkles, acne, cellulite and improving overall skin so it looks fresh and rejuve-nated. Her method is completely free of damaging chemicals and synthetic abrasives and most importantly, show results. These green peel treatments can only be carried out by cosmeticians spe-cially trained by her and I am the only one in Israel who is an authorized cosmetician.

What is your practice in Modiin like?In 2011 I returned to Israel and opened a private professional clin-ic in Modiin where I practice all the knowledge and expertise I gained abroad to treat my many clients here in Israel. In addition to the special deep peels, I also offer permanent makeup, a variety of facials, acne solutions all without the use of chemicals or abra-sives. The satisfaction of my clients as well as the before and after pictures speak for themselves.

The Natural WayInterview with Iris Barmoha, skin care expert

Continued from page 8

ICC Jewish learning group

creating a shared communal life, founded on values, tradition and Jewish-Israeli culture. We strive to build a worthy society, charac-terized by social responsibility and involvement and a communal discourse based on partnership, mutual respect and commitment to forge a shared future in Israel.”

The ICC plan is to start in a single neighborhood, in this case, the Moriah section of Modiin which is made up of about 10,000 people or 2,050 families of which roughly half are dati and a significant portion are olim. From there, they hope to grow to other Modiin neighborhoods so that each area has its own com-munity center. Although right now they are functioning out of an existing shul, it is very important to Limor that the center have its own building. It will serve as the meeting place to hold vari-ous lectures, activities and groups that revolve around common interests, be they choir, running, parenting, photography etc. It will also serve as a community base for those not connected to a shul. If a family needs help, any family, they will have some-where to turn.

The way Limor sees it, Israel is at a critical turning point. As she says, “We have proven that we know how to yell and shout and protest but that does not build a strong country. It is a post-protest time. It is time to take all that energy and use it for good – to build common ground and connect with each other, in other words, to do ‘tikun olam’. It is in the DNA of the Jewish people to take care of one another. Yet, we have a lot to learn. We must look at how it’s been successful abroad and mimic it here.” Li-mor believes in a strong Israel and a strong Diaspora. “We don’t have a choice – we have to be strong and stand for each other. No one else is going to. We are a family. We share the same future and the sustainability of the Jewish people is at risk. We don’t have a choice but to be united, not based on fear but on positive things like building a future together.”


clear that a full blown stomach virus ailed Gabi and she stayed in bed. Her younger sister even brought her tea, a seemingly small act of kindness that would be recalled and appreciated later. By Sunday night, the first night of Sukkot, it looked as if Gabi had become dehydrated, and so her mother, Shlomtzi, put her reluctant and self-conscious (because of Yom Tov) daughter in the car and drove to Terem.

The busy doctors at Terem determined that Gabi was indeed dehy-drated and put her on an IV to replenish her fluids. Gabi fell asleep but soon woke up very abruptly and extremely agitated exhibiting er-ratic and unusual behavior. Alarmed, Shlomtzi called the doctor who thought her behavior may be a reaction to something in the IV and sug-gested she wait for it to wear off. But with Gabi’s behavior becoming rapidly more distressing, Shlomtzi insisted they call her an ambulance. Shlomtzi asked the ambulance to take them to Schneider’s Children’s Hospital, the sister hospital to Beilenson where Shlomtzi’s brother works while she called her brother and asked him to meet them at the ER. By the time they arrive, Gabi is not responsive, not focused and her


By: Caryn Meltz

From the moment that Gabriella's community heard about her condition, they sprung into action. And community in the Buchman area of Modiin means two shuls, a youth move-ment and three schools. The two shuls, Kehillat Shaarei Yo-nah Menacham (KSYM) and Kehillat Moriah immediately sent a call out for tehillim reading in Moriah. Within an hour there were over a hundred people who came out to say te-hillim for Gabi.

Nightly tehillim continued for about two weeks. A Google docs was posted to make meals for yom tov and the week and filled up within minutes. The Bnei Akiva kids had their sched-uled Sukkot overnight but felt strange going on the tiyul with-out Gabriella, so while they were away, they stopped mid-hike to say tehillim for their friend. KSYM organized a trip for tefillat yeladim to Kever Shmuel to daven for Gabriella.

The most moving night of all was Erev Hoshana Raba when Gabi's teacher from the local ulpana organized an evening of learning for the grade. The girls all gathered together and the principal, Rav Korsia, told them that tonight something good was going to happen. Minutes later, one of the girls received a text that Gabi had opened her eyes for the first time. There was not a dry eye in the room. The girls felt they had wit-nessed this miracle. Indeed they did.

A Community Comes Together

Continued from page 5 agitation has become more aggressive and violent.The ER doctors immediately begin running tests and asking Sh-

lomtzi a myriad of questions as they try to determine the cause of Gabi’s behavior and diagnose her. Has she eaten anything unusual, been exposed to anything, have possibly taken drugs? Shlomtzi says no, but tells them to run every test in the book anyway. Ev-erything comes back negative. The doctors are stumped to the ex-tent that they begin searching the internet and medical books for some clues. Someone suggests they test her ammonia levels. They come back at a level above 800 when the normal count is 30 or 40. They repeat the test three times to confirm its accuracy because it seems so unbelievable. Yet, with Gabi’s liver and kidneys func-tioning fine (normally high ammonia levels would cause the liver to fail) they still have no clear diagnosis.

While Shlomtzi waits outside, they give Gabi something to calm her down. Once it takes effect she unpredictably slips into a coma. Since Gabi’s breathing is strained, they decide to intubate and they put her on dialysis to wash the ammonia out of her blood. Yet, what exactly went wrong and why remains a mystery.

It is now the next afternoon. Shlomtzi’s brother has not left her side. Her sister-in-law appears with food and a change of clothes. When Shlomtzi sees her it is the first and last time she will allow her-self to break down and sob uncontrollably. The rest of Gabi’s fam-ily meanwhile, is in Modiin, enjoying a Yom Tov meal completely unaware of Gabi’s dire health condition or that she may be fighting for her life in the critical care room of the ICU. Not until the nurse insists that Shlomtzi make contact with her husband, Gedaliah, does Shlomtzi fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. Faced with the difficult task of contacting her husband on Yom Tov, it takes Sh-lomtzi numerous attempts at different homes, most of whom didn’t even hear the phone since they were eating in the sukkah and most likely would not have answered it if they did. Finally, she reaches someone who runs to the home of friends where the family is eating and tells Gedaliah to get to the hospital immediately.

Although Gabi’s ammonia levels have stabilized and her liver is recovering, Gabi’s body has now stopped making platelets. Instead of the normal 150,000 count, Gabi’s count is at 20,000. News of Gabi’s condition and her urgent need for platelets quickly sweeps across Modiin and abroad. The search for a diagnosis is still un-derway and as Yom Tov ends in America the news reaches the extended Werblowsky family living there. Every doctor known is consulted. The Schneider doctors are open to any and all sugges-tions and Shlomtzi gives credit to the hospital for their willingness to listen. Shlomtzi, desperate for clues, also contacts Gabi’s friends to see if they know of anything she might have taken or done to make her so sick. But still nothing. Though now medically stable, Gabi is in a coma and it is unknown if and when she will wake up and what her condition will be when she does.


Meanwhile, friends, family, co-workers and neigh-bors band together dividing up tasks. Gedaliah’s brother and sister-in-law, along with their small chil-dren, move into their house and takes over running the home and looking after the other children. Shlomtzi doctor brother stays at the hospital consulting with medical staff. The grandmothers, one in Israel and one who flies in from America, move into the hospital as well. The Modiin community arranges a schedule of volunteers to donate platelets as well as cooking for the family and taking care of their daily needs. The hospital is wor-ried they will run out of platelets, since they only have shelf life of 5-7 days, but the list of volunteers is endless. Lines of people come to visit even though they are not allowed into the ICU to see Gabi. They come to offer support and let the family know how much they care. And they turn to prayer. Community recitation of the book of Tehillim is organized almost nightly with standing room only. Gabi is in everyone’s thoughts and prayers from young to old.

Shlomtzi recalls being blown away by the communities’ reac-tion. There were so many powerful acts of kindness and support. She received constant emails and text messages from people say-ing – please don’t respond, we just want you to know we are think-

ing of you. Someone made a Facebook group which allowed the family to share and update the public without having to retell Gabi’s story and status re-peatedly.

The power of prayer is palpable. There is no doubt in Shlomtzi’s mind that prayer played a significant role in Gabi’s miraculous recovery. People who had never prayed before opened a book of Tehillim and prayed. According to Shlomtzi, many people found their way to tefillah or other things that were new to them because of this situation. There is the story of Shlomtzi’s co-worker who had always insisted

that he was an atheist. He began to pray on behalf of Gabi but told Shlomtzi that G-d would probably not listen to his prayers. She believes to the contrary, G-d listened harder to his.

Yet, Gabi remained in the ICU in a coma. A machine helps her breathe and she is hooked up to countless tubes and machines. Shlomtzi and Gedaliah sit by her side round the clock. They sing to her, caress her and plead with her to wake up. They say, “Gabi, we love you, how ever you come back to us we will always love you, just come back.” The doctors are skeptical she will ever re-cover. Even if she regains consciousness there are unimaginable fears of brain damage, inability to walk or speak. Is the intelligent and talented Gabi they once knew gone forever? There are doctors

who believe so. It is hard to listen to them. Geda-liah leaves the room when they start speaking about worst case scenarios. Shlomtzi’s iron clad strength and optimism are unbreakable. Gedaliah says it is why he married her.

Motzai the second day of chag, Gabi opens her eyes effort fully. The family is ecstatic but terri-fied. No one knows what is on the other side. But as quickly as she opens them, she goes back to sleep. Shlomtzi and Gedaliah continue to stroke Gabi’s hair, sing to and ask her to please open her eyes again. The grandmothers, who had moved into the hospital as well, had not been allowed into the ICU at the parents’ request for fear that the sight of Gabi connected to so many tubes would be too much. Now, suddenly, one of the grandmothers enters the ICU, turns to Shlomtzi and Gedaliah and says, “You are being too gentle!” She then turns to Gabi and says, “Gabi – it’s Savta – open your eyes!” And Gabi does.

That was the beginning of Gabi’s gradual waking up out of the coma. The news quickly spreads like wildfire throughout the ward. Doctors, nurses and hospital staff stream in to find two grandmoth-ers carrying on in an impromptu stand-up comic routine as Gabi watches. Gabi’s friends, and the community, desperate for infor-mation, quickly hear the incredible news and rejoice. Continues on page 17


Gabi doing her breathing exercises

Thus begins Gabi’s recovery. With remarkable speed, she is eased off her medications, extibated and moved out of the ICU. With the move to a reg-ular floor, Gabi returns to herself almost instantly. Shlmotzi believes that the subconscious impact of leaving the ICU had a direct effect on Gabi’s physi-cal and psychological improvement. She begins to walk and talk and is making enormous strides dai-ly. It is nothing short of miraculous.

Shabbat comes and the doctors allow Gabi home for the weekend. When she arrives in Mo-

diin crowds of people have come out to greet her. The family feels enveloped by love that permeates the community. Gabi is thrilled to be home. Friday night is scheduled as the opening activity for Bnei Akiva. They decide to move the event to the Werblowsky garden so Gabi can attend. Rav Dovid Lau, Chief Rabbi of Mo-diin, is the featured speaker and leads the group of hundreds of youth in singing Tov Lehodot Hashem in honor of Gabi.

Saturday night Gabi returns to the hospital. She is now well known as the miracle. The doctors who first treated her in the ER cannot believe it is the same Gabi when they see her walking down the hall. Finally, Gabi is discharged from the hospital. With


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Israel’s Top 10 Animal AttractionsBy: ISRAEL21c

Dolphins, crocodiles, alpacas, monkeys – you’ll see these and many other creatures in Israel’s zoos and sanctuaries. Ace Ventura and Dr. Doolittle would love Israel’s variety of natural-environ-ment zoological parks and reserves harboring a huge range of ani-mals on sea, land and air. If you love animals too, check out these top 10 sites in Israel to commune with creatures.

1. The Tisch Family Zoological Gardens (Biblical Zoo), JerusalemThe Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is the second most-frequented paid tourist site in Israel (Masada is No. 1), welcoming 786,429 visi-tors in 2011.

Established in 1940 by a Hebrew University zoologist to pre-serve and display animals mentioned in the Bible, the zoo grew and moved several times until getting a permanent home in 1993 on a 62-acre site in southern Jerusalem.

No longer limited to biblical animals, the wheelchair-accessible park houses more than 2,000 mammals, amphibians, fish, reptiles

and birds in natural habitats such as Lemur Land and the Wet Side Story aquatic pavilion. The newly reno-vated Marsh Aviary reopened in June 2012, and the new Nile crocodile ex-hibit opened last summer as well.

The zoo’s animal conservation proj-ects include artificially incubating eggs of endangered raptor species and developing a tooth varnish to wipe out a deadly kangaroo gum disease.

2. Zoological Center of Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan Safari. Coming in at No. 3 on the most popular Israeli paid sites list with 744,550 visitors in 2011, the Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan Safari is home to elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, orang-utans, hippos and lions wandering freely on 250 acres. It has the largest animal collection in the Middle East.

The Safari participates in 25 international programs for endan-

gered species, and is a partner in various breeding and repro-duction programs and research projects. Workshops and camps are geared to teaching Israeli children about animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

3. Coral World Underwater Observatory, EilatComing in at No. 8 on the list of most-visited Israeli tourist sites, this marine park – first of its kind in the world — showcases fish and other creatures from the Red Sea. Visitors can watch feedings in the shark tank, see turtles and sting-rays paddling in their pools and explore two underwater observatories and 35 aquari-ums filled with the Red Sea’s colorful and rare forms of marine life. The center’s vast coral colony is alive with about 400 species of fish.


their departure, the doctors instruct Shlomtzi to come in immedi-ately if there is any change in Gabi’s mood. But Shlomtzi only half-joking says, “We are talking about a teenage girl. I am going to need something more specific than ‘change in mood’!” After Gabi returns home she continues in outpatient physical therapy but quickly graduates.

It is now several months later and, for the most part, Gabi has returned to her busy self. She is back in school, going out with friends, and even babysitting and tutoring. That’s not to say there aren’t alarming moments. Gabi has been back to the ER because of vomiting but thankfully, nothing serious. Shlomtzi remains on edge for fear of a recurrence. The fact that there is still no clear medical explanation for what happened is constant cause for concern.

The family looks back and is overwhelmed with the sequence of events. Affected by the trauma itself but also by the community’s response and Gabi’s miraculous recovery, the family hosted a seu-dat hodaya in December. It was important for them to publicly ac-knowledge the hand of G-d in Gabi’s miraculous recovery. They also wanted to pay tribute to all those who donated platelets, helped out or prayed on her behalf. They hope to express the same grati-tude by speaking out now. The community feels gratitude as well. For Gabi is all of our walking miracle. ▀



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4. Dolphin Reef, EilatYou can spend hours gently rocking on the floating wharf at this handicap-acces-sible secluded beach, watching a group of eight bottlenose dolphins hunting, playing, courting and socializing. For a more up-close experience, you can sign up for a guided swim, snorkel or dive with the gentle mammals.

5. Alpaca Farm, Mitzpeh RamonWhat are miniature South American camels doing in Israel’s Negev Desert? Along with llamas and horses, they’re enjoying the desert scenery and giving visitors a chance to interact with animals at this unusual farm.

Today’s herd of 400 llamas and alpacas – possibly the largest in the world – began with 190 llamas and alpacas flown to Israel from In-can villages in the Andes Mountains. You can ride the animals or help spin their delicate and colorful wool into yarn. Tiyullama, an overnight

8. Crazy for crocodilesHamat Gader Park, another top-10 Israeli tourist site, is about five miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee. In addition to its natural thermo-mineral springs and archeological ar-eas, it boasts 40 acres of trop-ical parkland housing about 200 crocodiles as well as al-ligators and other reptiles.

Crocoloco, down south in the Negev, gives all-year-round guided tours of the swamps where hundreds of African Nile crocodiles enjoy their adopted home in Israel.

9. Turtle timeThe Alexander River north of Netanya is home to many soft-shell turtles a yard long and 100 pounds in weight. You’ll also find coots and other waterfowl, nutrias and swamp cats on the river and its banks. On Beit Yannai Beach in the western part of the park, sea turtles come on warm summer nights to lay their eggs in

small holes in the sand.Part hospital, part stud farm, the Israeli Sea

Turtle Rescue Center, a few miles north of Netanya on the Mediterranean coast, plays a vital role in protecting one of the world’s most endangered species. It’s a popular place for volunteers from all over the world.

10. Birds of a featherSome 500 million birds of 200 different species fly across Israel each spring and autumn en route to and from Africa, Europe and Asia, making Is-

rael a major world site for bird observatories and sanctuaries.Among the best places to spot migrating and resident birds in

Israel are the International Birding and Research Center in Eilat, the International Birdwatching Center of the Jordan Valley at Kfar Ruppin, the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, the Kibbutz Lotan Eco-tourism and Birdwatching Center in the Arava Valley, the Agamon Hula Ornithology and Nature Park and Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael near the southern Carmel Mountains.

Reprinted with permission of ISRAEL21c, www.israel21c.org.

Continued from page 17 family desert experience, provides a guide and llama, campfire and meals at the site.

6. Gan GarooThis four-acre park provides a taste of Aus-tralia’s wildlife right in Israel’s Beit Shean Valley. Seven types of kangaroos, plus an assortment of cockatoos, flying foxes, laughing kookaburra, cassowary, wallaby, and emu are spread out in a landscape of eu-calyptus trees and other Australian plants.

7. Afrikef Monkey Park, Kfar DanielThe Israeli Primate Sanctuary Foundation operates Afrikef as a refuge and rehab cen-ter for hundreds of monkeys that were used in lab experiments or illegally smuggled

into the country. It is located about halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv near the Ben Shemen Forest at Kfar Daniel. You’ll see lemurs from Madagascar, crab-eating macaque, leaf-eating langurs and marmosets, the smallest monkeys in the world. Guid-ed tours are held every half hour on weekends.

21

ModiInfo is with you quarterly in print and daily online. A quick recap of some of our recent Facebook posts.


New MovesBnei Akiva launched a new project last week called Amishav. This project originated in Raanana in an effort to integrate olim into Bnei Akiva. Amishav branched out to Modiin this year in Snif Yishai with the help of the absorption department and Deputy Mayor Michael Harlap who holds the Absoprtion portfolio. The

In the NewsModiin Mayor, Haim Bibas, recently published an article in the Jerusalem Post advocating for education as a means to increased enlistment from all sectors into the Israeli army. “There is a direct correlation between education and recruitment for military and national service,” he wrote. The article highlights the IDF enlist-ment figures which were recently released, showing Modiin-Mac-cabim-Reut to have the highest recruitment rate in Israel for the second year running. Mayor Bibas proudly credits the success to “a carefully constructed city-wide educational plan, incorporating the efforts of parents and schools alike”.

Water WorksThe Azrieli Mall in Modiin was once again flooded in the midst of an especially severe storm this winter. Higher than usual rainfall, while excellent for the country’s water supply, also caused mas-sive flooding. The first floor of the mall became completely flood-ed within seconds when huge gushes of water, pushed through the doors located at the mall’s lowest point. The mall was closed for approximately twenty-four hours while the water was removed and damage assessed. Hundreds of huge sand bags have now been placed at that entrance to prevent further flooding but a long term solution has not been found.

goal is for counselors to reach out to olim kids to help give them a sense of belonging within the larger Bnei Akiva youth group. Nili Gorodetser, Modiin Amishav Coordinator, believes strongly in the impor-tance of children participating in an Israeli youth movement and hopes that a little bit of personal attention will go a long way. Call Nili for more information at 0523-488-144

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Titorah or Not TitorahAfter a community wide battle to save Titorah, the District Com-mittee for Planning and Construction reached an agreement with the Israel Lands Authority stating that 770 housing units that were planned to be built in on the Titorah, will be built in other neigh-borhoods and the Titorah will remain an urban nature park. Over 1,800 signatures were collected on a petition demanding Mayor Bibas preserve Titorah as an archeological site, home of ancient Modiin where the Hashmonaim rebellion took place in 165 BCE as well as other historic events and a wealth of nature.

Shul ShowdownThe local exciting Shul Bas-ketball League current-ly reached the last stages of its eighth season. The end of the quarterfinals determined the four teams participating in the semifinals when this exciting game repeated last year’s history; the champi-ons from the Shimshoni Shul against the finalists from the Hashmonaim Shul. The sec-ond game will be between Shivtai Israel and Tzeray Hageva. The first game of the Semi Finals was held on Motzash, March 2.

New StationMayor Haim Bibas, together with Public Security Minister Yit-zhak Aharonovitch and Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino, who lives in Modiin, recently laid the cornerstone for the new Modiin Police Station which will be near Aidanim School across from the City Hall.





Photo courtesy of Mordechai Gordon 054-811-4045

Solid as a RockThe Iron Dome, which was successfully used in the recent Op-eration Amud Anan to intercept rockets, was recently tested in the Modiin area. In November Gaza militants fired two rockets at the Jerusalem area to the surprise of many and prompted the addition of Iron Dome batteries to new areas. The IDF had declared the Mo-diin area where the Iron Dome missile-defense system was located for several days to be a closed military zone, and residents were being asked to keep out but now the Iron Dome has moved on.

Modiin’s Got TalentModiin Women in Theater (WIT) put on their latest English pro-duction, Untangled, to packed audiences in Modiin, Beit Shem-esh, Raanana and Jerusalem. The all-female cast is made up of girls and women from Modiin and Beit Shemesh who are highly talented singers, actors, dancers and gymnasts. Proceeds of the production go to benefit the AMIT organization.

Purim Parades and PartiesVisitors from Rochester participated in this year’s Adloyada Pu-rim Parade in Modiin. Thousands came out to see the costumes, floats and per-formances of the annual parade. Twenty-eight dif-ferent schools from Modiin took part and was even featured on Chan-nel 2 news. In ad-dition, a giant Pu-rim carnival took place in the Fish Park on Purim day and Purim party for Olim was held at City Hall where 250 immigrants played games for prizes and mingled with clowns (as well as members of City Hall).

Much to Do and See at ICCThe Israel Community Center (ICC) in Moriah, Modiin was launched in October with an opening event in memory of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. The center also hosted a screening of “Unmasked Jueophobia” followed by a panel discussion on Inter-national Holocaust Remembrance Day. Upcoming events include the launch of the Women’s Leadership Learning Group which will take place at a special event on the subject of motherhood on March 17 at 8 pm at KSYM, 13 Ephraim St. (see related article on page 8).



You may not notice the drastic changes. Open the tap and the water flows freely. Not much new there. But behind the scenes, Mei Modiin, the company in charge of supplying water to the residents and businesses of Modiin, new things are happening. If you’ve had a question or problem with water in recent months, you may not have taken notice to how easily you are able to speak to a customer representative or how quickly your problem is re-solved. This is the direct result of a concerted effort on behalf of the new CEO, Moshe Ashkenazi.

Ashkenazi came on board with the specific goal of improving not only the running of the water supply company but the customer service, communication and education as well. The statistics speak for themselves. For example, according to recent polls, it takes 31 seconds for a customer’s call to be answered. In our test call it only took 13 seconds. The company receives approximately 685 calls a week so this is no small feat. In the Mei Modiin office, it will only take 1.5 minutes to speak to a customer representative. In addi-

Wishing Welltion, Mei Modiin has increased the regular pipe and water checks which have resulted in 30% less problems because problems are being fixed before they occur. In the neighborhoods currently be-ing planned, Mei Modiin is directly involved in the planning and construction which will improve service there from the onset.

One water related issue Mei Modiin does not have a hand in is the cost of water. All water fees are determined by the Israeli government who also make all rules and regulations. Mei Modiin has no control over pricing and regulating water. Their efforts are directed at improving service and customer relations.

They have also invested in education. This year, the tenth grad-ers in the city are required to complete 60 hours of volunteer work. Eleven tenth graders have chosen to work with the Society for the Protection of Nature and Mei Modiin to learn about water and the environment. Mei Modiin is also holding a contest for best artwork in six local elementary schools. The winning pieces will hang in the Mei Modiin offices.



Here are some frequently asked questions and answers:What are Mei Modiin’s responsibilities when it comes to fixing water and sewage problems?

Mei Modiin is obligated to treat any problems in the water sys-tem up to the main water meter of the building or in the case of a private home up to the water meter of the home. If there are any problems with the main water meter, in the building area, the park-ing lot etc., those are problems that are considered private and are the residents’ responsibility.

If there problems in the sewage system arise, Mei Modiin is responsible to take care of the city problems and not problems which occur inside homes. The exact border between private and public lines in the city can be found in the Sanitation Appendix that is submitted by the building contractor. What home activities use the most water?

Flushing the toilet - 40%, Baths and showers - 32%, Laundry -14%, Dish washing - 6%, Cooking and drinking water - 5%, Bathroom sink - 3%, Cleaning the house - 4%.What is the water source for Modiin-Macabim-Reut?

All the water that is used in the city is acquired from the Me-korot Company. The Mekorot Company brings the water from the mountain aquifer drilling, from the national water carrier or from

water desalination facilities. In 2011 the amount of water used in the area was 5,330,00 cubic. How do you ensure the quality of the water?

The removal process of bacteria from the water is done though disinfecting with chlorine. The use of the chlorine to ensure the quality of the water is done by the Mekorot Company in a tightly supervised way and is under the regulations and guidelines of the Health Ministry.


Modiin Area’s English Speaking Magazine

On Home & Garden

Organize Your Life p.42

Crazy about Kitchens p.46

Tips for a Tip Top Home p.48

H O M E @ G A R D E N


DEAR READERSadrichal - architectbidoud - insulation

bikoret - inspectionbiton - concretechafirot - diggingdalpak - countergeves - drywall

itzuv pnim - interior designitum - sealing

mafsek - switchmamtera - sprinkling system

ovesh - moldroba - grout

sheka - outletshpachtel - filler paste

teorah - lightingtiach - plaster

tzinor(ot) - pipe(s)umum - dimmer

Home and Garden Glossary

t’s that time of year – Pesach, spring cleaning, home improvement. Throw out the old and bring in the new. Been pushing off a renovation? Now is the time. Need new furniture? Take advantage of the season. This edition is designed to help you find everything you need to make your house your dream home. From construction, to design, to furnishings to gardens, ModiInfo Home and Garden is your resource guide for every aspect of home improvement. Can’t do it all at once? Stash this issue someplace safe, or access it online anytime, and when you’re ready, all the information will be at your fingertips. And let’s face it, as soon as we finish one project there is another waiting in the wings. Are our homes ever really complete? Maybe not, but at least the leg work involved can be cut down considerably which means you can start enjoying whatever changes you’ve made even sooner (and with the right help, maybe even have fun while doing it).

Happy remodeling,

Caryn and Daniella



By: Sharonne Turen

How do you create and design a warm and beautiful home that's still within your budget? How can you make the most of the space you already have? These tasks can seem daunting but here are some expert suggestions that can jump start your next project and prepare you for success.

1) Maximize your current space by understanding the impor-tance of design: Even small homes can live large today, thanks to smart furniture choices. Here are some ideas:

- When space is limited, keep scale in mind and find furniture that isn't oversized.

- The use of glass helps make spaces feel brighter, larger and less cluttered. Glass can be used as shelving – for tables, in bathrooms and for kitchen back splashes.

- Mirrors are also a great idea as they reflect light, which will make a space feel larger than it is.

- A properly designed home will be a more functional home. Isra-

Design Done Rightel's climate and spatial constraints lead most people to a more con-temporary design, yet this is by all means not necessary. Before beginning any project you have to ask yourself or your designer a depth of design questions: What is that particular area used for and how can you make it both aesthetically pleasing and designed to suit your needs? Remember, proper storage is necessary and can be both functional and beautiful at the same time.

- Is a designer or architect needed to address issues such as traf-fic flow, door swings, room adjacencies, lighting plans, kitchen design, carpentry drawings, grand vs. intimate spaces, and more?

Remember, with building costs at an all-time high, you deserve space that lives up to its potential from every standpoint. Be sure to make every square meter count.

2) Define your likes and dislikes:

Figure out what appeals to you. This may seem obvious, but most people don't actually know what they like, yet they do know what they DON’T like. The ultimate success of a project depends




upon really knowing what 'speaks' to you. Before beginning, you must ask yourself a variety of questions, such as: Are you neat or messy? How many children do you have, and what are their ages? Do you like to cook? Do you work from home? Does your home have a lot of sunlight?The answer to these, and many more revealing questions, is key in planning your perfect home. If using a designer, then developing a personal relationship along the way can make all the difference in the end product. Your home is your oasis from the outside world and should reflect YOU.

3) Saving money: Before getting started you have to honestly de-cide what you can afford. Keep in mind that construction costs in Israel end up, on average, running 10-20% over what was origi-nally expected.

Here are some helpful ideas to keep you from making design faux pas and ultimately wasting money:

- Don't decide on colors in a store. Ask for samples of paint, car-pet, wood, tile and swatches of fabric so that you can see what they will look like in your home, in natural light and at night.

- Remember that true design is in the details. Don't just paint the walls and put furniture around the room. Learn about the impor-

tance of lighting, accents and accessories that make your decorat-ing style unique. Find compelling pieces, i.e. lamps, vases, mir-rors, decorative pillows, etc., that will personalize your new space.

- Don't overcrowd your home with collectibles or furniture. The old adage, “Less is More” speaks volumes. Each piece in your home should mean something to you, but you should be selective. You will enjoy your home more if it’s not cluttered.

Sometimes having an interior designer can actually help save money. Even if you think having a designer do the entire project is not for you, consider having a one-time consultation before you begin your project on your own. A designer can help you avoid mistakes because he/she does this every day. Plus, with in-store designer or architect discounts a client can save up to 20%-40% on furniture, rugs, carpentry, tiles, hardware, and appliances.

Israel is exquisitely inspiring, bursting with creativity, and a mix-ing of the old with the new. We have a true blending of European modern, American elegance, and Levantine comfort. Whether you decide to start small in one room or space, or to go big and do an entire redesign, the creative possibilities are excitingly endless, and much more doable than you may have thought.

Sharonne B. Turen, Certified Interior Designer, [email protected]




All in the FamilyBy: Caryn Meltz

Twenty years ago David and Sheila Hauser made aliya with their five boys (their sabra daughter was born later in Israel) aged 13 and younger from Massachusetts to Ramot. David had owned a lighting business in Boston which he sold and brought his exper-tise with him to Israel. Here he bought an existing manufacturing lighting business and turned it into Technolite, a company which manufactures all kinds of light fixtures to sell en masse to lighting stores as well as private individuals. Chances are, that if you’ve bought a light fixture in Israel, Technolite manufactured it.

Their showroom, located fifteen minutes from Modiin, is de-signed for people to get a feeling of the kind of light they are buy-ing by simulating different room settings. The goal of the show-room is to help individuals who are planning the lighting for their entire home and need help choosing the specific type of lighting needed for each room. There are two aspects to lighting – how it aesthetically look (which style fixture you choose) and how the light shines (for example, the type of bulb). The experts at Tech-

nolite work with home owners on an entire house lighting plan to ensure that the correct decisions are made. As they explain, in Israel we’re used to look-ing at bright light because we have sunshine most of the year so the indoor lighting here tends to be brighter. Now there is finally a change in trend and people are choosing more aesthetic lighting which gives off softer, nicer light.

Technolite is a family run business in every sense. The five brothers all work here either full or part time. Youngest sister, Jor-dana, is in the army. Yet, there’s a job for her at Technolite if she chooses. According to one brother, Jonathan, the family policy is that there will always be a job for family but it has to be a good fit that works for everyone. Jeremy is the brother who does m the travelling to China where the company buys most of their fixtures. There, they pick apart the designs to figure out how to make them

better for the Israeli climate and décor. They have an understand-ing of what a light fixture should be doing and quality control is key. Ensuring the quality of a fixture is a big part of their success.

Several years ago, Technolite started a website called Nurot.com which sells light bulbs. The goal was to drive down the highly in-flated prices of light bulbs in Israel to the end-user and it worked. The prices that we see now are in line with market value.

How does this family get along when they spend so much time together? Great. They worked hard on separating business from pleasure. At work, each brother has the opportunity to state his opinion, but ultimately, only one has the final word over his de-partment. Any disputes are deliberately left at work, a concept that is easier for some than others. While there is no one “right hand man” to father, David, Jonathan says, “The greatest step our father made was to always have us involved in the business and let us make decisions.” And mom’s in the business too – she’s book-keeper from 9-5 and mom at all other hours.Here are a few lighting tips:• There is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” fixture. There are lighting fixtures that are appropriate or not appropriate to suit your needs in the intended location and use.




Building BridgesBy: Caryn Meltz

Behind every person is a story untold. Shumulik Bar Sheshet makes beautiful hand-made carpentry work for homes, shuls and buildings, but in his spare time he is part of a group that was created to help people with special needs. Bar Sheshet and several friends are part of an Amuta (non-profit organiza-tion) called, Etgarim (Challenges). Nine of the mem-bers are from Kibbutz Tzora and the tenth member, Bar Sheshet is from Beit Shemesh.

Bar Sheshet was introduced to the group through the carpentry work he did for members of the kib-butz. He liked the idea of doing some good in his spare time now that his children are grown. This is not your aver-age bunch – the ages range from 50-70 and as Bar Sheshet says, “We’re an old group with a young soul.” One of the members, David Yaalon, is blind. He began losing his sight in his 40s and, now in his 60s, is completely blind. The group wanted Yaalon to be able to participate so as part of their activities, they bike ride

with him on a tandem bike. The group sets out on tiyulim every weekend and stops to have coffee and snacks along the way. Tan-dem bikes are not cheap and are not as easy to transport as regular bikes and involve training.

The group’s goal is to become an independent amuta to be made up of seeing people and vision impaired people. There are

currently five vision im-paired people waiting to join the group until it be-comes an official amuta. There are strict rules and guidelines such as, you need a professional guide to train the members and go along on the tiyulim. The guide gives instruc-tion to the volunteers is aware of the rules that have to be met and fol-lowed. Bar Sheshet plans on taking this course at Wingate.

Zmira German, one of the members, says that it’s not just about giving and doing a mitzvah, it’s about what the people they are as-sisting give back to them. She explains that on a hike they describe the scenery to Yaalon by using the clock. Such as, at 3 o’clock there’s a big leafy tree with a bird on it. By using the descriptive, the volunteers themselves learn more about nature. Yaalon will tell them that it had rained earlier because he feels the humidity in the ground. Through his senses he teaches them how to use their senses. In this group, it is understood that everyone is different but equal.



Kitchen AideHow did you first get into the field of kosher kitchen design?

When I was looking to redo my New Jersey kitchen a couple of decades ago, I met with many different designers. I finally found an individual who was well known for creative space planning, and together we designed a very successful floor plan that has served my family well. He was working at the time with a large clientele, some of whom were kosher and observant. He himself, although Jewish, was not kosher or observant. Since we had such a positive experience collaborating on my kitchen, he would call me with questions and ask me to review the designs that he was preparing for kosher clients. After doing this for some time, it be-came apparent that his design expertise and my understanding of the needs of observant families combined to make a unique team. Although I was working professionally as a Holocaust Studies in-structor [and continued that as well for many years], I had always been interested and involved in art and design. My entry into the field as of residential space planning and design was a natural out-growth of those pursuits.

Did you feel you had hit on a niche market that had not been tapped into before?

Absolutely. We developed a series of design seminars comprised of kitchen planning ideas with accompanying before and after slides called Designs for Kosher Living. Many different Jewish organizations and synagogues brought us in as a popular program. We were featured events for AMIT women, Emunah women and even at the New York Kosher Food Expo. We were also the fea-tured event at the launch of Susie Fishbein’s first cookbook for the Kushner Academy, called The Kosher Palette. There were ar-ticles about our approach to kitchen design in many publications including The New York Times and Kosher Gourmet Magazine. Our kosher clientele grew rapidly and although most of our clients were from the New York metropolitan area, because the Times article appeared in all its syndicated papers across the country, we received request for design work from clients as far away as Dal-las, Miami, and Israel. We designed huge kitchens in the suburbs and tiny kitchens in Manhattan. We had the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of very warm and wonderful observant families over many years.

What kinds of kitchen planning tips do you offer people? To the outside world the kosher and observant community looks

homogeneous. The truth is that every family functions differently and their kitchen should be customized to meet their needs. When I meet with a family I start by asking a series of questions. I have found that the key to a successful project is the amount of thought and time invested in the planning and design stage. The questions for example are: how large is the family? If there are many chil-dren, do you want a large eating area in the kitchen or will a couple stools at an island suffice? What are your patterns of meals – do you eat meat every night for dinner or only on Shabbat? Do you do a lot of baking and need a parve area? Is your house the gathering place for Yom Tov and family occasions? What is your appliance wish list such as, are a double wall and a separate cooktop a must or is a standard size stove acceptable? How do you heat food on Shabbat, with a warming drawer or plata?

Most importantly, is the family home for Pesach? The answers to these questions and many, many more will dictate the amount of storage, counter and size of appliances that are needed. How-ever, the space designated for the kitchen together with a realistic budget will greatly influence the design. It is the responsibility of a good professional designer to help a client think through their needs and create a floor plan that addresses both their “wish list” together with space and budgetary limitations.

How is planning a kitchen different in Israel?I have now been working on my own for many years and am

involved in a variety of projects both in the United States and in

in Israel. In all of them I prepare a floor plan and when asked I am involved in the selection of materials. Since I travel to Israel often I have the opportunity to work with many clients from different areas of the country. I have found that Israel has excellent materi-als from which to choose. In addition to the beautiful selection of natural stone and granite, the cabinetry and hardware are top qual-ity. In terms of appliances, many larger American appliances are available or can be easily shipped.

What is lacking in Israel is a creative and customized approach to kosher kitchen design. There is the notion that if a kitchen has two sinks then it’s a great kosher kitchen. That’s not necessar-ily true and two sinks alone does not make a superior working kitchen. For example, in a small space with limited counter area, two dish washers and one sink may make more sense. In addition, almost every carpenter or kitchen company in Israel will tell you that they know everything about keeping kosher and can design the perfect plan. Yet, unless they delve into the specific needs and dynamics of a family, the plan is probably too generic and does not optimize the space to best meet the needs of that particular family. Because the kitchen is the most important and most used room in a kosher and observant home good design is essential.

The space designated for the kitchen in new construction in Is-

An interview with kosher kitchen designer, Basheva Goldberg




By: Baruch Labinsky

Apartment, villa, penthouse… the options are endless. And so are the saying – a man’s home is his castle, there’s no place like home, home sweet home. But placing the emotional aspect to one side, the question, if you are a home-owner, is where does your home fit into your financial plan? And if you are currently renting and considering buying, what kind of home can you afford?

Your home needs to fit into your financial plan. Don’t overex-tend yourself. If you’re looking to buy, understand that the Israeli housing market is considered expensive, especially given the rela-tively low salary level in Israel. However, your home can certainly represent equity generated over time (i.e. your long term savings), and mortgage payments will help build that equity. This mortgage acts like a ‘forced savings plan’ and is the main reason why so many couples find their house to be their largest asset at retire-ment. Because losing your home has such negative consequences, it forces you to make those monthly payments.

However, taking on too large a commitment means that you

will feel the extra strain for decades. Many Western olim come from com-munities where owning a large house is the norm. In Israel it is reserved for those living in the periphery (where housing prices are much cheaper) or were cheaper when you bought – e.g. Modiin, or to those on the upper end of the socio-economic scale. Consider as well the continued total ownership costs after purchasing the prop-erty. The larger the property, the larger the overhead (whether it’s municipal taxes, utilities, or just maintenance). If you are spending more than 25% of your income on housing costs, consider care-fully if you can really afford it, especially given the fact that many Israeli mortgage payments increase over the life of the mortgage.

However, beyond real estate asset growth, there are other areas of wealth creation that should be part of your financial plan. If your home is currently your only source of wealth, you need to adjust your financial direction. The other two areas of wealth cre-

ation are business development and financial asset accumulation. Even someone with a high salary needs to find ways to accu-

mulate wealth, by putting some of their monthly income into long term financial assets that can grow over time. In Israel, fortunately there are mandated savings programs including pensions (kranot pensia and bituach menahalim policies) as well as advanced train-ing funds (kranot hishtalmut). Fifteen to twenty-five percent of your salary should be going into these savings accounts. However, you need to ensure that these savings are properly invested, and that the management fees are not too high. Check your policies to ensure that high fees and commissions are not choking your savings accounts and that your insurance is appropriate for your needs, or else you’ll find your savings substantially reduced in re-tirement. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, seek assistance from an independent source.

For your long term savings, the Israeli investment scene has of-ten been described as ‘an economic miracle’. Israel has become an increasingly attractive investment option, although many An-glo olim are under-represented in the Israeli stock and bond mar-ket. It’s a well-known phenomenon that when English-speakers make Aliyah they tend to leave their money in their home country, which is often a major mistake. New or veteran olim, expecting


Does Your Home Fit into Your Financial Plan?

Cartoon by Menachem Jerenberg, as it appears in A Financial Guide to Aliyah and Life in Israel.



By: Miriam Gold

Do you look at your beautiful home and wonder what pile the beauty is buried under? Does the mere thought of getting the mess organized depress you? And more importantly, does the mess make your life in general feel overwhelming and stressful?

Having an organized home means that everything has a place and you never have to obsess about it ever again. You’ll be happy to know that there is no right or wrong way to organize. You just need an organized system that will work for you and your family. Being organized means having less stress, more productivity, and more time to enjoy life!

So, while you are waiting to be rescued by a home makeover show, here are some easy tips to get you started!

Step 1 – Survey your space and pick a place to startCarefully (and quickly) analyze each room in the house and make a list of the areas that need improvement. Don’t forget areas that are not seen such as junk drawers, medicine cabinets, closets, etc.

Step 2 – Ask yourself why the mess is happeningIs your front hall cluttered with shoes, coats and knapsacks? Maybe this is happening because you don’t want the kids trailing outside dirt onto your new floors, or maybe you don't have an ef-fective and realistic 'storage station' in place.

Are your kitchen counters a mess? Perhaps this is because your cabinets are so disorganized that you can’t fit these items back in. Is your bathroom cluttered with products and cleaning supplies? Could it be that you don’t have proper under the sink storage bins? Is the problem that you have habits that simply need to be altered? Do you need to create more effective space for efficient organiz-ing? Or could it be... both?

Step 3 – Devise creative and realistic solutions● A simple solution for the Entryway can be a nice coat rack, or hooks at adult and child heights so that everyone can hang up

their coats and bags. Perhaps you need a key bowl or hooks, so that you don’t spend 15 minutes looking for your keys when you need to rush out of the house? Giving each person their own space for shoes, coats, and bags will keep your entryway organized and clean.● Shelves are your friend.

In a living room, consider shelving out an entire wall. This wall could house a TV, electronic equipment, books, and knick-knacks.

In a kitchen, shelving between the counter and the cupboards can store extra utensils in a pretty vase, and cookbooks or decora-tive pieces. This will save counter-top space for larger items.

In a bedroom, shelves can hold your accessories arranged at-tractively, without taking up dresser space. In your laundry area, consider shelving above your washing machine to hold detergent and other cleaning supplies.● Contain yourself!

In a bathroom, use clear, plastic, pull-out drawers under the sink to store extra cosmetics and toiletries. You can even give each person who uses the bathroom their own drawer.

In a home office, select a desk that gives you room for under-neath storage to organize files and store extra supplies. In your kids’ rooms, containers will help keep different small toys from taking over! Get various containers (preferably transparent) and label them so that your kids can put away each type of toy in its rightful place. This also makes playing, and clean-up, easier!

Step 4 – Time to implementStick to the 10-minute rule: We all lead busy lives, so start with using 10 minutes every eve-ning to put away the items that ended up in the main areas of the house. Or pick one spot and spend 10 minutes on that area. No one is too busy for 10 minutes a day.

Most people only need about 40% of the items they have. Many people don’t want to get rid of items that they feel have meaning or are not so easily replaced. For things you are ready to part with, consider garage sales or gamachs. Both are great ways to sell or donate unwanted items.

You can also take pictures of your child’s art projects and make a small photo book at the end of the school year.

And, let’s face it, even though styles do repeat themselves, it is never in the same way, so there is no need to keep that pink taffeta dress from 1984!

Remember: Many of the problems you will encounter will re-quire organizational tools plus behavioral changes. But if you go into this project with honesty and commitment you will succeed.

At the end of your organizing journey, you should have, as the old saying goes, "Everything in its place and a place for everything."

Miriam Gold, CSW, is a professional organizer with 10+ years’ experience. She is originally from Worchester, Massachusetts and trained and schooled in New York.

Does the Phrase “Home Organization” Send Shivers Up Your Spine?



The American PainterA natural way to get rid of fresh oil paint stains on the skin of your four-year-old child who decided to test your word about not touch-ing the shiny doorposts, is to use three simple and readily available household ingredients: cooking oil, dish washing soap, and water. Just rub a bit on your child's new beauty mark and it should come off almost immediately, it is safer than turpentine. Wipes are also very good to take out the stain of oil on your favorite suit that has been autographed when you leaned against the doorway that was just painted. But do it quickly!

Hint: never have your doorposts painted by your four-year-old when he is wearing his Shabbat suit.

Shimon’s Electrical ServicesElectricity went out!!! If your Ground Fault (pe"chat) went down and won’t go up, put all your circuit breakers down including the Main one (Rashi). Now lift up your Main, then the Ground Fault, see if they stay up. If they stay up, then start picking up all the cir-cuits one by one, until you get to the one that shorts your electric-

ity. Leave that down, and reset the Ground Fault and put up the remaining Circuits. (If this does not work try unplugging all plugs from the wall, and try again from step one.) This way you can find what caused the short and get it fixed. If this does not work, call your local electrician and they can try to help you restore it over the phone. Remember to have one or two emergency lights avail-able. And in the rainy season make sure all your outside sockets and lights are covered and sealed, so as not to cause shorts.

Dynamica ScreensDid your shutters (trissim) get damaged by the hail? Did you know that your home insurance reimburses you for the cost of the repair from weather damage?Shutter (tris) got stuck again? Did you know – you need to pull the strap straight and not pull to the side or unless it will get stuck.

Bar Sheshet Brothers CarpentryKeep your furniture look brand new for years. If you want your

Helpful Tips from the Experts




furniture to last, you need to treat it well. Solid wood (not Formica) should be waxed twice a month when you first purchase it and then it should be waxed once a month. But not with just any wax and certainly not with turpentine based wax. Used good quality oil based wax. Spread on a thin layer, leave it for a few hours and then come back and wipe it down so that it doesn’t look oily. Do this and for years your furniture will look like you just bought it.

Yaniv Construction and RenovationsGutter leaks - sometimes the source of leaks is from gutters. Un-fortunately some gutters are buried in the walls and sometimes in concrete walls. As long as we are not talking about a constructive element, we are able to expose the gutter in the damaged area and repair it. If the gutter is situated in the concrete pillar, digging into the gutter material affects the strength of the pillar. In such cases you can insert a flexible drainpipe with a smaller diameter into the damaged gutter. The drawback is that in larger roofs the diameter of the gutter is important and we do not want to narrow it. Another option is to clog the bottom of the gutter and fill with liquid seal-ant all the way up and then empty the filling – this gives us an in-

ner lining that is full of sealant throughout the gutter. This is done without causing damage to the building and does not restrict the diameter of the gutter (coating thickness is mm).

Anat Michaeli Architecture and Interior DesignAlmost every home has a hallway. Hallways that are too long can be reduced in size, giving it an optical illusion, by painting the end wall a darker color and adding a light fixture. The hallway itself can be used as a family gallery – you can buy frames in the style and shapes of your preference – modern or rustic in shades of gold or creme and in different sizes. In the frames, either put family pictures or your children’s artwork from gan and school. The pic-tures can be hung either in a straight line or dispersed to create an interesting composition on the wall.

Osnat Drori Dagan Architecture and Interior DesignNo matter how many closets and cupboards we buy, there's never enough room to hang bags and coats. And our children's shoes are scattered everywhere. There's a magical area that is overlooked from a design perspective and that's the space under the stairs. There are a variety of ways to take advantage of this golden space, here are a few tips.

Continued from page 48 ● The space under the stairs isn't always open, don't be afraid to break open this space to use it.● Storage takes careful planning, make a list of what you want to store, measure the space and decide if you want to use it for daily or long term use.● You can design with either drywall or carpentry or a combination of both.

Shuki Lurie Locksmith10 tips for your house safety:1. Change your entrance door cylinder when you take ownership of your house/apartment (especially when renting).2. Install 'bayonet' locks on your sliding doors and windows.3. Change the batteries in your home/office digital safe once a year.4. Keep the copy code for your cylinder in a safe place and keep a copy in another safe place.5. Keep a cheap, spare metal key (without digital chip) to your car in your wallet in case you lock your keys inside.6. Keep a front and back outside light on overnight.7. If going away for the weekend put indoor lights on a timer so that they will go on and off as if you were home.8. Install a basic alarm system, or get a dog...




to retire in Israel, need to match their future revenue sources (for example from fixed income and pension sources) with their future expenses, which will be predominately in shekels. Investing in Israel allows you to accomplish this goal and reduces many of the costs involved with managing one's assets abroad, while spending shekels.

Understanding and implementing the above points should be an empowering, not debilitating, experience. Proper investing, whether through your home and/or financial assets, should protect — and increase — your nest egg towards a stable financial future. Wishing you much continued Hatzlacha!

Note: The above article is not, nor should it be a substitute for, financial advice relating to any individual’s specific needs.

Baruch (Brent) Labinsky, MBA, TEP, founder of Labinsky Financial, is an independent Financial Planner and Israel Securities Authority licensed Investment Portfolio Man-ager. He has devoted his professional career to helping individuals and organizations realize their financial and investment goals. His new book A Financial Guide to Aliyah and Life in Israel, published by Mosaica Press, is now available in bookstores in Israel, via www.labinsky.com by contacting Labinsky Financial at [email protected] or 02-991-0029.


rael is usually smaller than in large suburban homes in the United States. Therefore, crucial issues must be carefully thought through. For example, since the dining room can accommodate everyone in the family, it is a mistake to sacrifice superior workspace in the kitchen in order to create a large eating area. But basic principles remain the same whether the space is large or small. As an exam-ple, most work done in the kitchen is done on the counter between the sink and the cooktop. The biggest challenge to successful de-sign is well placed contiguous countertop for meal preparation and cleanup. It is not important how much counter there is, but where it is placed.

Any family about to embark on a project of new construction or renovation should set aside enough time to choose appliances and intelligently plan way in advance of building. Working with a creative design professional who actually listens to your wants and desires will help achieve a successful outcome. Designing is a collaborative process to which everyone, but most especially the homeowner, contributes.

Basheva Goldberg can be reached at [email protected]


Financial Plan?Kitchen Aide

• When choosing lighting near your bathroom mirror, do not forget that what needs to be lit up well, is you. If you are not illuminated evenly, it will be very difficult to put on makeup in the mirror. For the best lighting solution for mirrors, make sure to combine light from the wall, and the ceiling.• Near stairs it is always good to leave a light on at all hours of the night. With today's LED fixtures, you can get enough light from fixtures that consume 1 watt and have a very long life span. By leaving this light on all night, there will always be enough light to get down the stairs safely. (A 1 watt LED lamp running 12 hours per day costs roughly 3NIS per year!)• Natural lighting should also be taken into account in any lighting design. In Israel we have many hours of strong sunlight on most days of the year. The number of windows, orientation and choice of curtains that block or let the light through are all a huge compo-nent of all lighting design decisions.

Technolite is located 15 minutes from Modiin in Bareket. 03-556-8433.


All in the Family

9. Install a peephole or video camera by your front door so that you can see who is there before opening.10. Keep Shuki Lurie's cell number saved in your phone so that you can call him if you get locked out of your house or car or if you want him to install any of the items listed in 1-9!

Ofakim GardeningThere are a few types of computerized watering systems. Some systems water the entire garden – plants, trees, grass and then there are some that you can program to water the plants and trees on one timer (these need to be watered more often) and grass on another timer. Now that spring is approaching, the plants and trees should be watered moderately three times a week and the grass only one-to-two times a week. Having the right system will save you money on your water bill.This is the perfect time to plant citrus trees and also a great time to decorate your garden with the season’s flowers. Add some color to your garden and brighten up your spring.

Helpful TipsContinued from page 51



Carpentry/Furniture/KitchenBar Sheshet Brothers Carpentry 052-253-1787see ad page 36Lior Shemer Furniture 08-976-2004see ad page 37RamOr Kitchens 03-961-8569see ad page 41Saf Chen 050-647-9992see ad page 52

Construction/Property ManagementBenny Jacobs Construction Management052-357-0000see ad page 35

ElectricianShimon Zack Electrical Services 052-295-3717see ad page 38

Feng ShuiRonit Lev Jewish Feng Shui 050-576-7542see ad page 39

GardeningGreenland 054-634-1707see ad page 48Ofakim Gardening 050-451-6495see ad page 43

GlassModiin Glass 052-909-7096see ad page 44

Home FinancesLabinsky Financial 02-991-0029see ad page 53

Home RepairsSolomon Rosenbaum 054-804-0129see ad page 45

Interior DesignAnat Michaeli Architecture and Interior Design 050-561-8198see ad page 39

Osnat Drori Dagan Interior Design 054-487-4438see ad page 47

Inbal Gilmore 052-824-4611see ad page 34

LightingMiri Or Lighting Design 08-976-2542see ad page 46Raziel Lighting Design 08-622-1100see ad page 51Technolite 03-556-8433see ad page 49

LocksmithShuki Lock 054-627-7167see ad page 47

MattressesSleep Harmony - Uncoiled 058-627-2677see ad page 38

PainterAmerican Painter 054-672-0234see ad page 34Holy Rollers 054-922-9910see ad page 42The Perfectionists 0528-600-295see ad page 36

PergolaGiving Tree, 054-233-0195see ad page 50

RenovationsYaniv Smadar Building & Renovations Contractor050-579-8536see ad page 40

ScreensDynamica Screens 08-972-6791see ad page 51

TableclothsMe/She Tablecloths 054-624-9003see ad page 39

VentilationT-Vent 1-700-555-876see ad page 32

Water DamageHaim Nigrin 052-836-6669see ad page 33

Home & Garden Indexבס"ד


By: Gabriella Werblowsky

When asked to write an article for ModiInfo about my recent experience, at first I didn't know what to write about or even if I would write it at all. But, while reading "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, inspiration struck. "The Secret Gar-den" is about a spoiled little girl, Mary, who becomes an orphan and goes to live with her uncle. She discovers a garden that was locked away and neglected after her aunt died. She begins to take care of her "secret garden" and brings it back to life. One night, Mary hears crying in the house, she follows the noise and finds a sickly boy named Colin hidden in a room. Colin is Mary's cousin and has been hid-den away like the garden, since the death of his mother. Colin is very delicate and hysterical, he stays inside all the time for fear of getting sick and dying. Mary helps him deal with his fears by telling him sto-ries about his mother's secret garden. They slowly start to trust each other and become friends. Colin slowly starts to get better and healthier, and Mary does too. She becomes much friendlier and less spoiled, and they begin working together to bring the garden back to life. The chil-dren surprise Mary's uncle with both a healthy child and garden.

Colin's story reminded me of my own.When I first "woke up" - understood what had happened - and

I never went back to "sleep"- forgot, when I realized the date, and how soon my brother's birthday was I decided that against all odds I would be out by his birthday. Once I had made that

“Yes if This Is Magic, It Is Good Magic”decision, I began to recover with such speed that I became "The Walking Miracle". By that Shabbat, I was already allowed to go home to visit, though I was instructed to return immediately after havdala. Three days later I was on my way home for good, just two days before my brother's birthday, and only a week and a half after my decision was made. Since then it's been three months,

and there have been ups and downs. I started outpatient rehab 3-4 times a week with days in between for resting. I quickly progressed to once a week, spending the remaining weekdays with my classmates in school. I finally finished rehab on the 9th of January, and went back to school as a regular student, though I still miss a day now and then for a checkup at Schneider hospital.

On the 16th of January while reading "The Secret Garden", I got to the part where Colin says, "Just this minute, all at once, I remembered it myself. And I had to stand on my feet to see if it was real." I knew exactly what he meant. And when he then continued with "I'm well! I'm well! I

should live forever and ever and ever." I felt like shouting it along with him.

I knew then that if not for my brother's birthday and that deci-sion I made, I may still have been, chas veshalom, lying in that hospital bed. Because, "Thoughts - just mere thoughts - are as powerful as electric batteries and as good for one as sun light." So yes, if it's as magic as it seems, such a sick girl having a refua shelamah, then it's Hashem's good magic. And you can take that from a "Walking Miracle"!

Retold by: Caryn Meltz

A friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous, told me this story and gave me permission to retell it without revealing any identities.

“I had just dropped off my husband at the train this morning and was at a red light when I saw a woman from the car next to me signaling with her hand to roll down my window. She started to ask me something, but the light was turning green so I told her to follow me until I could pull over. She was passing through Mo-diin and needed directions on how to get to Jerusalem so that her children could see the snow. I told her that Highway 1 was closed and that she should take 443. She then said that she needed to ask a very “chatzuf” question. I could see tears welling up in her eyes. Her six children were in the car with her all bundled up for the snow and said that she had worried about taking all the coats, scarves, gloves, etc. but had forgotten to take her wallet and she only had a few drops of gas left in her car. She asked if I could loan

her 50 NIS, take my details down and would repay me. Usually I leave my house without any cash on me, but it just

so happened that this morning I had taken 300 NIS with me. I said to the woman that 50 NIS wouldn’t be enough for her to get anywhere and to take the 300 NIS. We went back and forth for a few minutes and finally she took the money with tears streaming down her face. I almost cried myself because she was so thankful. How could I let a woman with six children potentially run out of gas, cold while waiting for someone to come get them? Before we went our separate ways I told her that even if she didn’t return the money it was ok. We left and within minutes her husband called insisting he drive the several hours to Modiin to repay the money. I told him not to worry we’ll figure out a way without him having to go to so much trouble.”

When my friend told me this story, I said that it wasn’t coinci-dental that she was the one who the woman asked for help and my friend replied that she didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t have done.

Why We Live in IsraelSnowy Acts of Kindness – The Snow Day in January


By: Shayna Goldberg

A few months ago my four boys and I had an amazing experi-ence. We were privileged through Nefesh B’Nefesh to get tickets to the Israeli Air Force graduation ceremony. First we were al-lowed to walk around and view the aircraft and the kipat barzel on the tarmac. Then we went to the ceremony where we heard mov-

ing speeches from Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ehud Barak and others about Operation Amud Anan and how the Air Force is prepared to de-fend us against any en-emy at any time. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyhau

emphasized how this group of 30 graduates was a real mix of men and women, datiim and chilonim (I think half the crowd was dati with huge mincha minyanim at the end), olim chadashim (a lot of Anglo families) and those born here...and this time for the first time there was also the first female datiyah who graduated and got her “knafaim” in a long navy skirt. The whole event was

Flying High

As posted on Facebook by Jordana Schoor

Jeremiah envisioned elderly sitting and children playing in the streets of Jerusalem. Today I witnessed (mostly) middle aged people running in the streets. Running where Herzl’s carriage brought him from Yaffo, which is now covered with a lite rail. Running through Zion Gate where soldiers helped liberate the Old City in 1967. Running past The Tower of David with only cameras shooting from the roofs. Running with non-Jews who also appreciate the spirituality of city. And running up the chal-lenging Jabotinsky street! Thank you Nir Barkat and the residents of Jerusalem for enabling this version of aliyah to the holy city. Next year in a further developed Jerusalem!

emotional, meaningful and in the words of my kids, “the most awesomest day of their lives.” Mi Keamcha Yisrael! We feel so blessed to live in a country that can protect us and whose prime minister blesses its graduates with Yaakov Avinu’s words to Yo-sef from that week’s parsha “vayevarechecha birchot shamayim me’al”.

A Marathon for all Times

BILLBOARD

Send your Why We Live in Israel story to [email protected]


RECIPE

By: Dina Solomon

It seems like almost every day I receive a call asking me to say Tehilim for someone who is ill. I am happy to pray for others, but it is disturbing that there are so many young women being diagnosed with breast cancer, too many young people with auto-immune diseases, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease and a whole host of other strange illnesses, from aching joints to general lack of energy. As spring comes to the world and the trees and plants are all flourishing and giving their beautiful blossoms it seems like the perfect time to think of our own renewal and to give attention

to our physical wellbeing. So many people live in fear of illness coming out of nowhere, but really we are not helpless to protect ourselves from whatever is “going around” or to avoid the more serious diseases.

A large part of our immune system is in our digestive tract. This is the place where both the good and the bad microorgan-isms dwell. When we are healthy the friendly bacteria greatly out-number the unfriendly bacteria and we feel well. However when we upset the balance by eating processed foods like white flour and white sugar products or by taking antibiotics, we become sus-ceptible to illness. The best way to maintain balance is by eat-ing largely alkaline forming foods as opposed to foods that cause acidity. Fruits and vegetables, especially the leafy greens, garlic, ginger, nuts and seeds are the alkaline foods, while dairy products, meat and processed grains are acid forming. Probiotics like home-

Healthy Livingmade sauerkraut, pickles and kefir are wonderful for restoring and building the good bacteria in the intestines. Drinking two liters of water every day and especially drinking in the morning will help to flush toxins from the body. Adding lemon is an even better way to cleanse the intestines and alkalize the blood. Walking for at least 20 minutes every day and deep breathing are both excellent ways to help purify the body.

Dairy products, although delicious, are well known to be mu-cus forming and at the root of many allergies and digestive dis-orders. Many people are also sensitive to the gluten which is in most grains. This sensitivity manifests in many ways, including bloating, fatigue, headaches, skin rashes and constipation, to name just a few. Try eliminating wheat and wheat products for 30 days and notice if you are feeling better. If you do include these foods in your diet they should play a minimal role. We are fortunate that

now in Israel there are many alternative matzos available. Spelt, rye and oat matzos are all found on the supermarket shelves and they have much lower gluten content. Much more information on this subject can be found on the internet on the sites of Donna Gates, the Body Ecology Diet. Old habits die hard, but it is impor-tant to keep an open mind when hearing things that contradict the paradigms that we are accustomed to. Our aim is radiant health and to that end we must be willing to do the research and become informed.

Remember that all good health begins with happiness so smile often (it boosts the immune system and releases serotonin). Eat in a quiet and peaceful setting and enjoy!

Dina Solomon is a raw food chef and yoga instructor. You can sign up for a class or order raw goodies by email: [email protected] Walnut Pie

Savory Cauliflower


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