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1February 2005 n Shevat/Adar 1, 5765 n Volume 2, Issue 3

Serving the English speaking community of Modiin and the surrounding neighborhoods

February 2005Shevat/Adar I, 5765Volume 2Issue 3

In and Around the City:Switzerland or Modiin?By: Jolie Schokett

If you have three leisure winter days, where do you go? Three days into my last trip to gorgeous Switzerland (not a skiing trip), I packed my bags and jumped on the next train to Italy, but three days in Modiin and its surroundings wouldn’t suffice. If it’s beauty and nature you’re looking for, the grass is no greener than here in Modiin. At the heart of Israel, Modiin is situated in the green and fertile Ayalon valley hugged on the East by the impressive Judean Mountain range and open on the West to the spectacular Mediterranean shore line. Modiin’s periphery, the Ben Shemen forest, sports tree-line hiking trails of pine, olive and carob trees. In a few weeks blooming wild pereg (poppy) will dress the valley while rakafot (cyclamen) will peek out from under the rocks in an array of pink, white, purple and burgundy. Deer prance through the hills while fox, coyote and hare play a dangerous game of hide and seek. For migrating birds in the thousands, from the surrounding continents of Africa, Asia and Europe, the Ayalon Valley is a hot vacation spot in demand.

History abounds in and around Modiin from the Calcolithic period through the Bronze Age, Iron Age (Israelite period), Greek, Hashmonaim, Roman, Byzantine, Moslem, Crusader, Ottoman and Mandate periods. Archeological sites uncovered over the past

Continued on page 4

Role of the Parent’s Committee in ModiinBy: Kooti Farkash

The City’s Parent’s Committee in Modiin is comprised of representatives from all the schools within the city including gamin, primary school, high school, and special education. There are approximately 25 delegates representing 16,000 students throughout Modiin, Macabim and Reut.

The committee has made numerous accomplishments within the area of education. For example, the committee has determined who will head the education committee, or more correctly, who will not be the head. The committee also has influence over the curriculum, as well as other activities. Suffice to say, the existence of the committee provides a vehicle for parent involvement in many aspects of education in the city.

The mandate of the present committee is to unify the parent committees of each school in Modiin, Macabim and Reut. All school facilities should be utilized by all three places to meet and fulfill their demands.

The committee forum meets once a month in the city’s lecture hall. The mayor is present as well as the head of education. Many topics are discussed in an open and friendly environment for the purpose of improving the welfare of the students.

The members of the committee participate andContinued on page 5

2To Advertise n 052-6404-414 n 052-3868-768 n [email protected] n www.modiinfo.com


Dear Readers,ModiInfo is pleased to announce the launching

of a new venture ModiInFone, the only English phonebook serving the community of Modiin and the surrounding neighborhoods. ModiInFone will contain information about our community such as all the phone numbers and hours of public services and facilities. It will also contain a complete yellow page section advertising businesses and services in the area. The idea is to have all the information you need, in one comprehensive book, at your finger tips, in English. Anyone interested in being included should contact us now. We look forward to continuing to be the source for everything in English in the Modiin area.

Correction: In last month’s reference to the article, “Fascinating People” featuring the Schokett family, it was inadvertently left out that the author was Ora Blank. We apologize for the error.

Daniella Hellerstein and Caryn Meltz, 052-6404-414, 052-3868-768 [email protected]

Graphics by Ellen Perlis 08-971-6012

www.modiinfo.com

To the Editors,What a joy it was to discover ModiInfo on the Internet!

It is a beautifully written, fun, informative, and creative publication. Kol HaKavod on your first anniversary.

Looking through some of the archives, I was delighted to learn about Modiin’s first Simchat Torah celebration for women. As a seasoned Torah reader and teacher, I know the very special thrill women experience both during their skill-acquiring process and during that amazing moment when they first touch the yad to the parchment. It was a sensitively written article, and I commend you on it.

Another great part about the magazine, is that for those of us who choose remain in the US, it makes us feel closer to the place where many of our hearts reside.

Lastly, thank you, especially, for the beautiful article about your neighbor and my passion, Neot Kedumim, The Biblical Landscape Reserve. It is my honor to serve this magical place, and to try to encourage as many people as possible to partake in its bountiful light. May both Neot Kedumim and Modiin continue to flourish for generations to come.

Warm regards,

Paula Tobenfeld

President, American Friends of Neot KedumimNorth Potomac, Maryland, USA



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Coping with Transition … In a City in TransitionBy: Jodi Wachspress

Transition (tran zishen) 1. a) a passing from one condition, form, stage, activity, place, etc. to another b) the period of such a passing (Websters New World Dictionary, Second Edition).

When people hear the word transition, various associations and experiences come to mind. Whether you think about one of the stages of labor (visualizing that all too familiar graphic of a not so smiley face with its mouth contorted and eyes popping out), or a move to a new school, city, country, change of job, etc., transition is by definition a state of limbo. People find themselves suspended between the familiar past and an uncertain future.

Modiin is currently in a state of transition. While it officially transitioned from “town” to “city” last year, Modiin continues to undergo tremendous growth and change every day. The ongoing construction of new neighborhoods, and with that the influx of new residents, is changing the face of Modiin. Whether you have been living in Modiin for years, are relocating within Modiin or are newcomers to the city or country, you are no doubt experiencing these changes.

There are many definitions of the word change in the dictionary. It’s not a simple word to understand. Here is my favorite:

Change (chanj): 1. to pass from one phase to another; 2. absence of monotony; variety.

The one sure thing about change, or transition is that things are not going to be the same anymore. If our surroundings are changing, we are forced to change ourselves, to adapt to our new environment. Many of us seek change. As we go through life we strive to expand our horizons to learn and grow through new experiences. At other times we take comfort in our stable and familiar lives. Then, there are the times when whether we like it or not, change happens, but how we deal with it is the question.

Jean Piaget (1896-1980) explored the cognitive development of children. In his work, he taught the world of psychology how to understand the stages human beings go through from birth until early

Continued on pge 10

ModiInfo is an independently owned, advertiser supported publication distributed monthly to Modiin and the surrounding neighborhoods. ModiInfo welcomes all articles and ads but reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The views expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of ModiInfo. ModiInfo is not responsible for facts or claims made by ads or authors, nor for any typographical errors. Work produced by ModiInfo is the property of ModiInfo and may not be reproduced without consent.

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Around the City, Continued from page 1

eight years are abundant in and around the city including such treasures as ancient synagogues, mikvaot, olive presses, first and second Temple burial sites, water cisterns, two Byzantine churches and a Crusader castle, to flaunt a few.

Last Tuesday, I guided an organized bus tour arranged through the OU Center in Jerusalem, occupying both American Olim and French tourists. The tour was conducted in English and lasted from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in Modiin alone! We set out in search of the land of the Macabees in Park Dan past Tzomet Shilat. Guided with source material and maps, we followed in the footsteps of archeologists and historians before us to pinpoint ancient Modiin. We then stepped into modern Modiin where Rabbi Haim Dovrat, active community member, head behind the local Lahav magazine, organizer of the Union of Synagogues in Modiin as well as the inspiration behind the Modiin gemach, spoke to my group. He talked about the initial conflicts between the religious and non-religious communities in Modiin and how they were resolved. Deputy Mayor, Alex Weinreb, also enthusiastically addressed the packed meeting room at City Hall with a comprehensive explanation of the planned city of Modiin, his prospects for its future and a question and answer period. We then proceeded to the beautiful Edmond Safra Synagogue on Nahal Faran Street for lunch and Mincha services. From there we ascended great heights to gorgeous panoramic views of Nahal Anava, Kaiser and Shimshoni. We took a peek at the train tunnel in the making as well as the neighborhoods of Givah C and Buchman, where I relayed all that city architect, Gadi Barkai, taught me about the plan of the City of the Future, modern Modiin.

The group, intelligent and well versed in Tanach and Jewish history, loved all they saw and heard about Modiin. I received one call that evening after the tour

and another the next morning, both complimenting me on the informative, entertaining and professional tour I gave them of our city. I felt more like a guru than a guide as some curious souls clung to my side to sap up just a little bit more information about Modiin.

The tour was a product of all I had learned in a fabulous course, initiated by Alex Weinreb, called Moreshet Modiin, which took place at the Cathedra. The course was open to teachers and tour guides living in Modiin. It was taught in conjunction with Bar Ilan University by various archeologists, geographers, and historians. The final course project was a field study and to compile a guide book of hiking trails and archeological sites in Modiin. The purpose was to pass on knowledge of Modiin to those who could further share it through informal teaching in Modiin schools, through conducting a five-session, five-trip course for adults at the Cathedra and by bringing tourists to our city and leading them on guided tours.

The tour that I guided last Tuesday was the second of its kind (and the first in English) since the completion of Moreshet Modiin. We can proudly look forward to many like it in the future. So, if others are choosing Modiin as their vacation getaway, why don’t we? The next time you step out of your house in Modiin, enjoy the panoramic mountains and shoreline and remember: you’re in Modiin, not Switzerland!

Refuah Shelema to Deputy Mayor, Alex Weinreb, who will return with his regular column next month.

Jolie Schokett is a tour guide fluent in Hebrew and English. She guides individual families and groups. Jolie also does tours which are child friendly and for those seniors who are young at heart. Your family or group can enjoy a unique camping experience as Jolie guides you to the Golan with all the camping equipment supplied. Reach her at [email protected].

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Parent’s Committee, Continued from page 1

raise safety issues with the educational institutions. Independent surveys have been conducted to determine where there have been breakdowns in safety. This year many problematic areas were fixed for example, in Netiv Zevulun, HaYovel, Idanim and other schools that were previously not invested in. A solution is being worked on to improve the safety situations on all levels. The security guards were supplied with communication equipment, and metal detectors. The committee is working in tandem with the police, and the Ministry of Education.

The committee is also involved in the decision of whether to move to a five-day learning week (Sunday through Thursday until 4:00 pm). There is also talk about serving lunch at schools.

The committee is involved in lowering the maximum number of students in a classroom to 35 despite the national level’s figure. There are schools that still have higher numbers. The committee is also trying to increase the number of assistants in ganim, and to integrate more special education into regular ganim.

The committee is also pleased to report that they are represented in the budget decision process.

In spite of all the activities, it’s important to note that the processes are slow and complex and many issues have yet to be resolved. The city is busy building new establishments rather than dealing with the existing problems. The committee has mandated and prioritized many goals. Each period we try to accomplish these

goals such as finding resources for special education. Also on the agenda is dealing with issues such as drugs, violence and alcohol.

In sum, there are many issues that need to be dealt with and it’s with parent involvement that we can make it happen. It is up to us, the parents, to take the time and deal with these hard but important issues to improve the education for our children. I encourage all parents to join and contribute to our community and together we can be the strong force to bring about change for our children.

Kooti Farkash is the Yoshev Rosh of the Parent’s Committee. He has been a member since the inception of the committee eight years ago.



By: Sammy Fejbusch

Very often we are being asked if we wish to pay in installments (“tashlumim”) for a purchase by credit card.

Paying in installments is equivalent to getting an interest-free loan. This loan will be paid back in installments over the next few months or even years. In economics, the proposition of paying tomorrow is always better than paying today if it has no costs attached to it.

The financial value of paying in installments (free of interest) depends on one’s individual financial situation. For someone with cash in the bank who earns some 2%-3% interest per year (in the best case) on any extra cash, the financial value of such interest-free loan is limited. On the other hand, for someone with an overdraft at the bank, the interest rate charged can climb up to 15% per year (in case the overdraft exceeds the authorized limit). In this situation, the financial value of such a loan is significant. In some cases such a person would not even be able to make the transaction without this loan in the form of installments.

The only extra cost incurred by paying in installments is the small (but upsetting) charge of up to half a shekel per installment. This charge has been recently introduced

Take it – it’s (almost) free!

The Consumer Cornerby the credit card companies as a way of increasing their revenues due to the high popularity of paying in installments. However, it does not significantly affect the advantages of paying in installments.

The psychological considerations on this issue should be addressed as well. Some people prefer to buy only what they can afford to pay for immediately. Others worry that they would lose control over their expenses by paying in installments since it makes goods look cheaper and more affordable than they really are. It is true that even an interest-free loan has to be paid back in the future.

The bottom line is that if you feel comfortable postponing payment on your purchases through interest-free installments you should do so. Those who are in overdraft at the bank (and therefore need it most) will reap the biggest financial benefit from such action.

If you would like this column to address a specific topic or answer your questions, feel free to e-mail Sammy at: [email protected].

Sammy Fejbusch is the founder of New Insight Consulting Ltd. advising corporate and private clients on financial issues. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has an MBA in Finance from Hebrew University.



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On the 29th of December some 1500 people gathered in the Nof Yerushalayim halls in Jerusalem to hear a packed 12-hour program of talks on the medical and halachic aspects of genetics and the psychological aspects of infertility. They were attending the annual conference of the Puah Institute, a Jerusalem based organization dedicated to Fertility and Medicine in Accordance with the Halacha. This conference has become a popular event and is widely regarded as one of the top conferences in Israel, not only due to the large number of people who attend, but also as a result of the high quality of lectures presented by the top medical experts in the field and the leading rabbis in Israel and abroad.

The conference is always held the Wednesday before Shabbat Shemot as it is here in the Torah that Puah is mentioned. She was the midwife who assisted in the birth of the Jewish children in Egypt, and today the Puah Institute assists couples to have children and fulfill both the mitzvah of pru u’rvu, to be fruitful and multiply, and their deep desire to have their own children.

This year’s conference dealt with the medical and halachic aspects of stem cells, the project to map the human genome, and prenatal testing to reveal genetic abnormalities, as well as many other fascinating and informative subjects. One of the highlights was the presentation by Rabbi Rafi Fuerstein who spoke about his own personal experience as the father of a son with Down’s Syndrome, about the heartache and the satisfaction. He spoke from the heart and his talk showed the complex emotions facing parents of children with special needs, but he also presented the medical findings and an educational model to teach such children.

The Puah Institute was founded some 14 years ago by Rabbi Menachem Burstein under the guidance of the former Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu.

It was originally housed in Rabbi Burstein’s living room, and has grown immensely from these humble beginnings. Today the Institute is located in a four-story building in Jerusalem, in a quiet street in Givat Shaul, especially chosen to be accessible yet discreet.

The Institute works in three areas: Consultation, Supervision and Education. While being a non-clinical organization, the 10 rabbis employed by the Puah Institute all have intense knowledge both of halacha and medicine, and have a connection with doctors and rabbis all over the world. They are therefore able to guide the 120 people(!) who turn to the Institute each day and to advise them as to appropriate treatment and to the best doctors in the field. There is no cost for the consultation and couples can turn to Puah in English, French, Spanish, Yiddish, and, of course, Hebrew. The questions and requests for help and advice come by telephone, meetings in the Institute, e-mail, and fax. Today couples turn to the Puah Institute from all over

Puah InstituteBy: Rabbi Gideon Weitzman

the world: all over America, Canada, South America, Britain, France, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

In addition, the Puah Institute supervises fertility treatment throughout Israel and in various centers overseas. This is both a halachic requirement and an essential element in the couple’s confidence in the system. During the years that the Institute has been supervising such treatment they have prevented some 32 mistakes, not a huge number, but each one of them could have huge ramifications for the couples involved and could have been a disaster.

The Institute also has a wide variety of educational programs for rabbis, doctors, and the public. Currently the Institute has on-going classes for women who will

Continued on page 9





Puah, Continued from page 7

become advisers and guides in their own communities, for nurses who are trained to help with certain aspects of the laws of family purity, and for young American rabbis who are planning to take up rabbinical positions in the US and want to be better informed about fertility and gynecology in order to serve their communities better. All this in addition to the regular day to day activities of the Institute, consulting, supervising and helping couples who are experiencing fertility problems.

Some 15-20% of couples do have problems conceiving and many of them complain that not only are they suffering, but they have nowhere to turn to. They do not want to share their emotions and the details of their situation with family members or friends, and they are at a loss to really know how much of the information available, particularly on the Internet is reliable. Thus to have a place like the Puah Institute where they can vent their frustrations and be accepted and supported and can be guided to the right treatment and way to cope, is a beacon of light.

Each year the Puah Institute is involved in over 1500 births, and our prayers are for many more.

The Puah Institute can be visited on the Web at www.puah.org.il or by telephone 02-651-5050. Rabbi Weitzman can be contacted with Puah related questions

at [email protected] or at home 08-975-2218.

The Puah Institute is a non-for-profit organization, an Amutah, tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Institute at 19 Azriel, Jerusalem, 95477.

Rabbi Weitzman is the Head of the English Speaking Section of the Puah Institute, he lives and teaches various classes in Modiin. He also writes on Rav Kook, and his latest book is Light of Redemption, a Haggadah with English commentary based on the writings of Rav Kook.



Transition, Continued from page 3

adulthood. These formative years are packed with changes and transitions. A child who grows into a well adjusted adult has in fact successfully mastered and built upon each of Piaget’s stages of development. In order to develop (successful transition) we must look behind us, learn from past experiences and use them as our support to move onto the next stage.

We still have to answer the question of HOW?? It can be hard to change, scary unsettling and unfamiliar. What can we do to help ourselves and our families (and even our community) accomplish this feat?

The first step is to take a deep breath (that’s what I tell my kids to do), the second is to understand (and this can be tricky) that everybody experiences the same change differently. It may help to try to put yourself in your children’s, spouses’, or neighbors’ shoes once in a while. Imagine yourself as a first-time parent with your little baby learning to crawl. It’s time to baby-proof the house. The best advice I was ever given was to get down on the floor myself. View the world from the baby’s eyes, on the baby’s level. All of a sudden you will see a wealth of little tiny choking hazards that as an adult walking on two feet, you did not see. Try to see the transition through their eyes, I assure you, you will gain a new and enlightening understanding of those around you.

Next, find the CONSTANTS. These are the things that remain the same throughout the transition period. For a child it may be a special doll or teddy bear. For an adult it may be a hobby, such as knitting, exercising, or a warm and cozy sweatshirt that always makes you feel safe. It could be less concrete (although for a child the more concrete the better), such as a time of day that you reserve for yourself. For this purpose, a constant must not be a person. It should be neutral and particularly special only to you.

Finally, depend on those around you. Depend on your nuclear family, they are the true constants in you life. They are going through this transition with you, whether directly, or indirectly. Find time to share your experiences, grow together and develop together.

Depend on our community. You will be amazed to learn how many others are going through or have gone through similar transitions. You are not alone.

One last note. Good Luck, Modiin is a great place to live and with all of our help, it’s only getting better.

Jodi Wachspress is a licensed Creative Arts Therapist with an MA from Hofstra University. She currently has a private practice in Modiin and is on the therapeutic arts staff at the Koby Mandell Foundation. For more information please call: 08-970-8979; 054-530-0297.

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Most kids go through life without ever spending time in a hospital. But for countless others, a hospital stay is required at some point in their childhood. Sometimes it is for a scheduled routine surgery but it may also be for an unforeseen emergency room visit. Children with a chronic illness spend lots of time in the hospital and become experts themselves on what to expect. Knowing in advance what to expect, or at least knowing what to ask will likely be useful at some point since so many parents find themselves in a situation with a child that needs hospital care.

If you know your child is scheduled for a procedure, such as surgery, there are steps you can take to prepare yourself and your child to help things go as smoothly as possible. As the parent, it is your job to find out as much information as possible about the procedure. Questions you may want to ask include: what will happen; how long it will take; how long a stay is required; what you need to do to prepare beforehand; and what to expect afterwards. Once you have the information, you need to decide exactly what and how to relay it to your child. This will depend mostly on your child’s age. For example, a toddler does not need to know more than a few hours in advance of going to the hospital whereas an older child might be told several days beforehand. Choose what information is relevant to the child without overloading him with details.

When Tamar and Shlomo Weiss’s three and a half-year old son, Elisha, went in for a scheduled procedure at Boston Childrens’ Hospital, they felt very prepared. The hospital had given them a pamphlet in advance so they could acquaint themselves with what was to be expected. They were also given the opportunity to ask questions and tour the facility. Tamar says that this allowed her to confront the situation feeling calm and prepared. In addition, a parent was allowed to accompany Elisha into the operating room. This policy, adopted now by many Israeli hospitals including Schneider’s Childrens Hospital in Petach Tikvah, benefits all parties involved including the child, parent and surgical team. Children take their cues from their parents. Therefore, when parents feel calm and in control children tend to relax too.

Once at the hospital, a nurse or Child Life Specialist (a trained therapist who helps children understand and cope with hospitalization) can spend time with you and your child to help explain what will happen. Using props is very beneficial. A mask, bandages and other equipment may be available to touch and explore. Using dolls to role-play with helps give the child a feeling of empowerment and allows them to become familiar with what may happen. Post-procedural play is important as

well. Toy doctor kits may be very useful with this when at home after the procedure.

It is important to encourage your child to ask questions and to be honest with the answers. Fear of the unknown is often worse than knowing the truth. When children feel information is being kept from them it creates more anxiety and creates an environment of secrecy that is very frightening. Realize that children can sense when there is more going on than what is being told to them. Maintaining a relationship of trust with your child is critical.

Psychiatrists have written extensively about the emotional impact of illness on a child. Often the psychological trauma may be longer lasting than the physical. Even in emergency situations, children benefit from on the spot explanations and preparation. When Ruth Rose’s eight-year-old son, Shimon, was hospitalized for a knee injury, a painful procedure involving a needle was required. The doctor told him that the procedure would not hurt but was, in fact, extremely painful, even by adult standards. As a result, his mother says that Shimon has a huge fear of needles and is untrusting of doctors. His father, who was with him at the time, also suffers from the trauma of feeling misled and unprepared.

Rachel Berger says the most important thing she learned from her son Noam’s (then two and a half) hospitalization is to trust your maternal instincts. She believes in being an advocate for your child and not being afraid to speak up when you suspect something may not be right. Parents should also insist on being

Continued on page 12

When Your Child Needs Hospital CareBy: Daniella Hellerstein



Hospital, Continued from page 11

with their child as much as possible, both before a procedure and in the recovery room. Separation is a key fear, even with older children. In one study, children who had to undergo frequent painful procedures said that what helped them most was having their parents with them – even though they knew their parents could not releive the pain.

One way of helping your child through the hospital experience is to take pictures and make a book that tells the story of what happened. Then your child has a memento he can share with friends and refer back to in order to internalize the event. I did this with my daughter when she went to the hospital for a routine surgery. To this day she enjoys looking at the pictures and remembering her experience. Other ideas include drawing pictures after the procedure that could be made into a book based on his memories and perspective or if old enough, writing the story. Of course the best way to help your child through any difficult experience is with lots of love and support. Hugs and kisses don’t hurt either.

Daniella Hellerstein is a Certified Child Life Specialist who worked at New York University Hospital and for Chai Lifeline before moving to Modiin.

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Why We Live in IsraelBy: Moshe and Nessie Fisher

As we reflect back to the years before moving to Israel we are reminded of the many fond memories of Tu’ B’shvat in America: shoveling snow, feeling the pinch of frostbite, donating money to the JNF for trees and receiving bags of stale dried fruit from the school P.T.A. Somehow, it just did not feel like the birthday for the blossoming fruit trees of the very distant Eretz Yisrael.

Since our Aliyah two years ago, Tu’ B’shvat has taken on a whole new meaning. From the sights of rolling green hills to the smells of budding almond trees, Tu’ B’shvat is alive with beauty and feeling. Even a quick trip to the supermarket this time of year tantalizes the senses with vibrant colors and smells that are unique to this fantastic land.

In honor of Tu’ B’shvat this year, our family set out to plant trees in a Keren Kayemet park near Modiin. The hills were teaming with children holding tiny saplings and delighting in the planting of a new forest on a barren hillside. Our children marked our planting spot with a flag and a mound of rocks. They were already planning return visits to their precious tree in the years to come.

As we headed down the mountain, a young woman stopped us and asked us to take a picture of her planting a tree. Ironically, she was planning to send the photo to a friend in America as a passionate reminder of how lucky she is to be living in this magnificent land. Her words captured our hearts and echoed our feelings of why we, too, love living in Israel.

When David Landau moved to Israel in 1977 he didn’t envision himself working with chickens for a living. It was something he fell into by accident after making Aliyah. David moved to Israel for idealistic reasons and because his parents were living here, and he adds, his wife’s parents were living in Brooklyn. But, as he says, G-d has a sense of humor because soon after his move, his in-laws came on Aliyah to an apartment in his building in Kiryat Arba (I hope his in-laws have a sense of humor too).

David lived in Kiryat Arba for 27 years and has since moved to Efrat where he was able to build a house big enough to accommodate his large family. Why Kiryat Arba? According to David, his wife felt if she was going to spend her days hanging laundry it might as well be in a meaningful place. They also felt it was an important place that needed Jews.

Ten years ago David founded Voices, an English publication for the Gush Etzion area. The concept was simple and original (and maybe a bit familiar): to provide a publication for the English speaking community to read and receive information about what was happening around them, in a language they could understand and relate to. The magazine comes out on a regular basis and features personal stories from local residents and highlights individuals in the area.

Selling the idea to businesses was challenging at first but they soon came to realize the truth in what David was telling them, that there was a large and growing English speaking community that the advertisers weren’t reaching through Hebrew publications. After getting Voices off the ground, David passed it on to Sharon Katz, a talented journalist and writer and her husband, Izzy who manages the advertising. Due to their hard work, what began as a 12-page black and white newsletter is now a 40-page full color glossy magazine. According to David, success breeds more success. The more popular the magazine, the more people want to be a part of it and contribute to it. Now they have several regular features including a question and answer column by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin of Efrat.

David continues to provide another service to the Anglo community that he feels was desperately missing: clean chickens, actually super clean chickens. He has been marketing this novelty item in Israel for the past 18 years with much success. His success is due to his incredibly high standards of kashruth, cleanliness and quality. He offers a full range of poultry and meats including many hard to find items in Israel. The business is based in Kiryat Arba and runs only through home delivery.

From a magazine to clean chickens, David continues to run businesses to better serve the community.

What Do Voices and Clean Chickens Have in Common?By: Caryn Meltz



Classifieds • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Kids Corner

FOR SALE IN NOF AYALONReligious Yishuv located near Modiin

For Sale: Apartment, second floor, 4 rooms, $148,000

For Sale: Du-Mishpachti, 7 rooms, $266,000

For Sale: Large House, 8 roomsBack entrance to the upper floor, a/c

$295,000 (flexible)For Sale: Large house, 9 rooms

with a view$370,000 (flexible)

For Sale: Jerusalem Stone House9 rooms, large kitchen, a/c,

double-glazed windows, separate entrance to the lower floor.

Flexible occupancy and price, $390,000.Please call: Arnon, Nof Ayalon Realty,

0522-750-350

I Am Not Yet Born By: Elad Yania, 5th Grade, Netiv Zevulun

I am not yet born, O hear meLet not the terrorism, or the warOr the guns, or any punishmentCome near me.I am not yet born, provide meWith presents to make me happy, With friends to play with, With a nice world to be in,And with fresh water andGood food to live from.

If Only If Only By: Nadav Meyer, 4th Grade, Netiv Zevulun

If only, if only, I had a million pounds,Oh what a wonderful joy would be found!If only, if only, my sister were in bed,I could finally have an acheless head!If only, if only, I could have a dog,I would be happy and there’d be no fog!If only, if only, I could go to space,The moon would be mine to chase!If only, if only, I would get a wife,I’d be happy all my life!

If I Had Three Wishes By: Elad Yania, 5th Grade, Netiv Zevulun

I am a mouse. I live in a cage, in the house of my owner.

If I had three wishes, I would wish for a hole, a big warm hole, not like my little cold cage.

I would wish for cheese, a lot of cheese, a treasure of cheese, not just a little piece of cheese every day.

And I also would wish for freedom, of course, all these things aren’t good without freedom!

So I can do what I want to do, and go where I want to go and eat when I want to eat.

If I had three wishes!

DALIA’S DESIGNSProfessional DressmakerAlterations on men’s and

women’s clothingBy appointment, not on Shabbat

08-970-7194

KAREN SHACHAR, MSWPsychotherapy – Individual, Couple

Trauma TherapyEnglish/Hebrew

Tel: 050-5636-073

Constipation? Diarrhea? Intestinal Disorders?

Call: THE JERUSALEM COLON HYDROTHERAPY CLINIC02-581-9318, 0522-870-183

www.jerusalem-colonics.com

Seeking business people/entrepreneursfor young proven international project

052-2574176

Off The Wall Comedy@ParKafe-Modiin

February 8, March 8, April 12Doors open at 20:30, Showtime 21:00

30 shekel entrance (one drink minimum)

FOR SALEMaytag washing machine

0523-665-808



Recipe Corner

Candle Lighting

It’s as Easy as Apple PieBy: Ayelet Raab

I’ve been making this since I was 15. It’s easy, delicious, and a wonderful way to finish off a great Friday night dinner.

Ingredients for filling: Ingredients for crust:4 large green apples 1 egg

3 Tbls. lemon juice 100 gr. melted margarine

3 Tbls. Brandy 1 1/4 cup flour

2 Tbls. Sugar 3/4 cup sugar

Cinnamon

Instructions:Spray Pam into a large round pie dish.

Peel, core and slice apples and put them in dish.

On top of the apples put the lemon juice, brandy, sugar and sprinkle a

little bit of cinnamon.

Combine all the ingredients for the crust and mix in a mixer. Spread the crust (using your hands) over the apples. (If the crust is too sticky for you to hold in your hand then add more flour into the mixer for a few more seconds.) Bake on 180 C for 45 minutes (or until golden).

That’s it! Enjoy!

January 28/18 ShevatParshat YitroCandle lighting 16:50Shabbat ends 17:49

February 4/25 ShevatParshat Mishpatim/ShekalimShabbat MevarchimCandle lighting 16:56Shabbat ends 17:55

February 11/2 Adar AlephParshat TerumaCandle lighting 17:03Shabbat ends 18:00

February 18/9 Adar AlephParshat TetzavehCandle lighting 17:08Shabbat ends 18:06


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