Here’s all I’m saying: I have friends that I really like and friends that are in my circle but I’m not so close to. If my ‘fake friend’ in the circle does something that annoys me then it drives me crazy. I can’t stop thinking about it, it changes the whole way I look at the person and makes me want to push them further out of my circle. But if a good friend did the same thing that annoyed me, I really wouldn’t care or make a big deal out of it. They are a good friend and I know them so it really doesn’t affect me and we move on. 

Let’s cut the crap and call Israel and the US what they really are: Fake Friends. The US is always bashing Israel for making minor mistakes and even when we admit to the mistake, try to fix the mistake and move on there seems to be an endless amount of repercussions even leading to Israel’s ambassador to the US, Michael Oren stating that our relations are the worst in 35 years. This sounds like a case of fake friends and not just bad relations. 

Case in point: Hey didn’t the Palestinians just fire kassam rockets into Israel this past week? Why yes they did. And where was the US- were they condemning their actions and telling them how this destroys any chance for peace and the process? Well I certainly didn’t read about it in the news and it hasn’t been coming out of Hilary Clinton’s mouth or Obama’s so I’m guessing they’re ok with it. 

And that is because the US is playing favorites in their friend circle. I get it and it’s clear, Israel is a fake friend. You don’t want us to prosper, you don’t want us to build homes and you get us in trouble for doing the most minor of mistakes while the other side has blatantly begun violent attacks from kassam rockets to rioting in the Old City, a classic beginning-of-the-Intifada move. 

I think good relations or bad relations, what does it really matter? As a fake friend you will always remain inside the circle and when you are needed then you edge closer to the juicy middle where you are appreciated but just know you will always do something to piss off your fake friend and end up on the outskirts again. That’s not diplomacy it’s just obvious. 

If Israel and the US were Facebook friends, then we would need to create a status called fake friends (to tell you the truth this should already be an option since I clearly have ‘friends’ that I never talk to, like ever). 

Israel needs to accept this status and go with it. Let’s focus on our better friends, the ones that like us, even if they are few and far a part (and I can’t think of any right now). Let’s hang out with them, have slumber parties, girl talk, bake and roast marshmallows. And as for the US let’s keep our distance, and continue to build homes for our people, protect our children and enjoy the fruits of our country’s success. Cause if we don’t, no one will.

This is an open letter to Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat, the city council and young frustrated Jerusalem citizens who have waited for change long enough.

Dear Mayor Barkat,
What’s up? I’m sure you’re busy, but this is an urgent matter which affects the young population of Jerusalem. Six months ago you were elected into office promising great change for the city. But when it comes to your commitment to the young people of Jerusalem and the disastrous housing problem, you have yet to make a dent, submit a proposal or take action on the matter.

Once again, I know you are the mayor and dealing with a full plate, but I can’t help but feel neglected. And I am not alone. I also point my neglected finger at the party Hitorerut-Yerushalmim (Wake up-Jerusalem) that also made unfulfilled promises to young voters.

Although the economic situation is running on an empty tank of gas, landlords across Jerusalem continue to raise the price of rent. Almost every person I know has been informed by their landlord that their rent will be going up at least 10%. So, while your apartment ages and becomes more rundown you find yourself paying more to live there. Fair? No. Is our city council and mayor aware of the situation? Yes.

Mayor Barkat today is the day to make change. Why are there no proper consumer rights organizations to protect you from corrupt landlords? Why is their no proposition making its way to the Knesset floor demanding rent control? The stories I have heard from rent raising to threats of being kicked out, are endless yet there seems to be no beginning to your fight against this fraud.

There was so much talk about affordable housing before election day but come the day after and the day after that, I have yet to hear another word about it. While Israel and the international community debate about construction in settlements and outposts, no judgment is made on the housing catastrophe in the country’s capital.

Is asking for rent control such a far fetched concept? Isn’t it you who wants and needs people to stay put in your city? Students and young families belong in the heart of the country and are the key to the revitalization of this city, but you have yet to try to open the locked — bolted — doors. Soon the only doors left will be those of vacant apartments where the rent became more than a couple could budget, or a landlord that yelled at his tenants too many times or simply homes that are unsuitable to live in — leaving the young to move out of the city and out of their dreams.

Do not become like all the other politicians, representing their interests before concerning themselves with their citizens’ fears. Give the next generation what they rightly deserve, a home for the future at a reasonable price.

Yours truly,
Molly, a concerned young citizen of Jerusalem

As a new immigrant, the move to Israel is more turbulent than just the plane ride. In fact, that may be the easiest part. It’s like you are suddenly playing the board game of life, but you keep landing on the squares that screw you. You jump from bureaucratic offices stumbling through conversations in Hebrew and not understanding a word, to trying to open a bank account, contract a cell phone and maybe even get internet. All the while you are crying, pulling out your hair and wondering what the hell you are doing here.

So maybe you didn’t cry as much as me (my tears could fix the water drought!). And maybe you didn’t pull out as much hair (with the right tools I could create my very own shaitel – wig). And just maybe you are more of a Zionist than me, so you didn’t want to pack your bags and take the next plane back. But I know you have fought many a battle with one of the above mentioned. I know you have had small victories and bigger defeats. I know the man has gotten you down.

But do not give up. Do not lose faith. And do not move back. We are here to make a difference. Each one of us will find his or her calling. I now know mine is to fight for consumer rights in Israel. My battle with Pelefone is over and I am the victor. Me! Me! Me!

In a previous post I wrote two months ago I told you about my ensuing battle with Pelephone. My complaints seemed simple enough: stop charging me for internet since I don’t use it or want it. And where is my contract because I never agreed to pay NIS 50 for this phone! My complaints were met with yelling matches between the customer service agents who do not believe the customer is right and managers who would rather belittle you then admit their faults. I was angry and deflated like a shriveled balloon. But somehow rather than exploding I came to my senses and decided to fight for my rights

I searched the web for consumer rights organizations and filed complaints. I demanded Pelefone for my contract and told them I would sue if I was not heard. I wrote my post and through the gift of social media, found support and help from strangers that have also struggled like me. And finally I found my Israel Israeli that could give me the confidence and will to fight until the end.

Everyone needs an Israel Israeli on their side. Israel Israeli is the person that comes into your life just when you are about to throw in the towel. He or she will not only encourage you to fight, but to fight hard. And they will even get on the phone and speak on your behalf, write letters and give you a high five for the small triumphs along the way. They will be there for you and never ask for more than a thank you for their efforts on your behalf. They will never give up. They will restore your faith. And you will not want to move back.

My fight with Pelefone is a not just a victory for me but a victory for all new immigrants who don’t believe the system works. Ok, so most of the time it doesn’t, but if you just commit to the fight and hold on to your Israel Israeli then you have a chance.

At the beginning of my battle with Pelefone, the manager told me I would never be able to cancel my internet charges. Not only have I successfully cancelled them, but Pelefone is refunding the last several months of charges. Also, my fight against paying NIS 50 a month for a phone that I remembered the customer service agent telling me would cost NIS 15—which at the time was a big deal for me since I was paying NIS 5 a month before that—was an accomplishment. Since Pelefone does not keep contracts (a standard practice for all cell phone companies) they had no proof of the original agreement. They told me they had given me a copy, which they did not, and said it was my responsibility to keep it safe. And what about them? Why didn’t they properly file a hard copy of the agreement? Well, after several letters, emails and phone calls (all with the help of my Israel Israeli) I stand before you today the proud owner of a phone that I now pay NIS 15 for!

Get empowered! Get help! And get an Israel Israeli! If you have issues, write them here and you will find that others will come to your aid. And since I believe this is my calling, I too will help you (and hopefully my Israel Israeli will be by my side).

Just like the heroes on the battlefield, there are also our everyday heroes that make a difference when it comes to the field of life. I thank my Israel Israeli for giving me the strength and knowledge to fight and win my rights as a consumer. I thank all those that have let me cut in line at the supermarket, slowed down their car to let me cross the street, gave me directions when I was lost, or just smiled when there was no reason to even make eye contact. Our country has survived because of the fallen soldiers that died for our right to live and because of our everyday heroes that give us the strength to battle on.

Most immigrants will tell you that after a while you just get used to the new way of customer service and accept it. You try not to let things get under your skin because you’ll go nuts. And besides, the bureaucratic system is the way it is and no one is going to change that.

Friends and fellow immigrants, change is not only for Obama, the time for consumer rights to exist in Israel has come. Or at least for me it has, and I’m on your team, so whether you like it or not, we are about to fight the battle of consumer rights culture in Israel.

Two weeks ago, I went to Pelephone headquarters in Jerusalem to fight a NIS 17 monthly internet charge that they added to my phone bill. After waiting almost a half hour for a customer service representative, I was told that I had to pay the fee according to their new rule which they state is: Any phone that can access internet will pay an access charge for internet. So what does this mean? Well, even though I feel that having internet at work and at home is enough for me and I would rather spend the NIS 17 a month on chocolate bars, that’s just too bad because I am forced to pay the fee.

This ridiculous charge is added on to another outrageous charge that I only found out about while fighting the internet issue; which is, that I am still paying for a phone that broke months ago. Yes, it turns out that if your phone breaks and you get a new phone, you still have to pay for the old, broken phone as well as your new phone. And, even if I went to another cell phone company, since clearly I hate Pelefone at this point, it wouldn’t matter because I would have to continue to pay for the two phones, so they still get my money.

After arguing and even using tears as a weapon (didn’t work), I left angrier then I have ever been, and that is hard to do. I wanted to leave Israel and never come back. Yes, I am used to fighting with customer service. And yes, I am aware that there is no customer service in Israel. But that does not explain or justify charges for a product I don’t want.

Once the anger subsided and I thought about the situation it occurred to me that this was actually happening for a great reason. I am not going to get pooped on any longer. I am going to fight for consumer rights because they can and do exist…somewhere. If I allow the internet fee to continue today, then tomorrow it’s a TV fee on my phone for NIS 100 (and that obviously includes the TV tax, another point of anger). And that trend does exist, how else could you explain the internet tax in the first place?

I have already informed Pelephone that I plan to sue them or start a class action suit. While they believe that I am angry, I’m not sure how much they believe in my fight. I am writing this post to ensure that I plan to fight this until the end. And I don’t know exactly what the end is. It could be reversing the forced internet fee for all Pelephone customers or all cell phone holders in general (since this fee exists with several companies). The end may be a fight for consumer rights against big companies, monopolies and the general bureaucratic system. But no matter what I am fighting it.

And I already have support. Through my research, Janglo posts and joining consumer rights groups that I never knew existed; I have found helpful people that unfortunately have also gone through this awful process. They have given me their contact info and advice and for that I thank them.

I have created a list below (please feel free to add), of ways to fight your own battles. And keep in mind, don’t get angry, get empowered. We can only create change if we believe change will come.

Consumer Rights Organizations, Councils, Groups and more:

The Israel Consumer Council:76 Mzah St., Tel Aviv 65789; Tel: 03-560-4671/72

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor – Department of Consumer Affairs: Yitzchak Kimchi, Esq. is in charge. His number is: 02- 6662590 His assistant: 02- 6662593 and 02-6662596

The Israeli Council for Consumerism: Fax number: 03- 6241035

Jerusalem Consumers Rights:  02-666-2034

Websites and online resources:

• consumers.org.il
• The Israel Consumer Council
• Public Trust
• Consumer Protection
• Service Report
• State Comptroller – Complaint Form

Groups:

• Consumer Rights in Israel – Yahoo Group
• Israel Consumer Rights -Yahoo Group
• Survival During Hard Times
  

Stone throwing. Civilian rebellions. Riots. This is the Hebron the world has come to know in the past weeks. However, my words come from a source about the first Intifada, the Palestinian uprising that took place over 20 years ago. Forget why each group is fighting and instead focus on the methods they use. The method of violence. And the method works.

On March 19, 2007, according to the Hebron website, Beit HaShalom (The House of Peace) was purchased by the Jewish community to house hundreds of Hebron and Kiryat Arba residents, yeshiva students, youth and adults. The house was purchased from its previous Arab owner through a Jordanian office. And they have the legal documents to prove it.

But documents or no documents, The House of Peace, never really came to fruition. Fast forward to November 2008 and you can throw that word peace, along with the stones. Defense Minister Ehud Barak focused on evacuating the settlers and protesters out of the area. Using his power, he brought in the IDF and police to get the job done. The residents and protesters didn’t just hang around the disputed building until the troops came for them, this time they fought back.

The Palestinians have used the fighting method to get what they want. And look, they got it. From the First Intifada to Sderot, terrorism and violence is a message that Israel hears loud and clear. We moved out of Gush Katif because of the violence that pursued. We fenced ourselves in to keep the terrorism out. The residents of Sderot packed up and moved out as Kassam rockets moved in. And Palestinian President Abu Mazen can put all the Peace advertisements he wants in every newspaper from here to China, but as long as Hamas is in power, then violence is the national anthem, government agenda and what’s for dinner.

Those fighting in Hebron want to be heard. And now they too have our attention. It’s awful and I hope that it ends soon, but it does work. I know what some of you are thinking: Look at how the Jews are being portrayed in the news, we look like animals (some of you are saying, we look like them). But does it really matter? We never really have the news on our side, or the International community for that matter. Our good intentions, legal documents, quiet peace talks, don’t seem to make us look any better then images of Jews throwing rocks or lighting houses on fire.

The stone throwing, Civilian rebellions, riots and possible uprising is not a problem of twenty years ago, it is an issue of today. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Abu Mazen and Condoleezza Rice predicted peace by the end of 2008. I think the rest of us predicted that they would be wrong and only wished we had made a huge bet on it. But while I laugh at just how right I am, there is nothing funny about the situation. The fighting in Hebron shows us just how far away peace is. After all The House of Peace can’t be called a home if no one is living in it.

Lesson 239: Don’t be a Tough Guy…Just be a Cry Baby

My parents taught me to always stand up for myself. However, it is difficult to keep that goal in Israel. Whether it is at the municipality, tax authority, social services or at the bank, it seems like everyone is out to screw me.

Case in point is my most recent battle with Bank Leumi. In November my improv group performed for a Jewish Agency Internship group. We were told we would be paid as long as we provided an invoice to the sponsor of the night’s event, Bank Leumi. We gave the invoice to the Jewish Agency before the show and they informed us it would be passed along to Bank Leumi and we should be paid two weeks after the show.

Of course you and I both know that two weeks came and went and we were not paid. After another two weeks I was in contact with the Jewish Agency to check up on our payment. And that is when I went from ripe banana to black mush. I was bounced back and forth between the Jewish Agency, Bank Leumi and our bank, Discount, for the next two months. First the Jewish Agency said we still needed an accountant number and then Bank Leumi told us that we needed another document. When we would go to Bank Discount they insisted we had already given the proper information and it was ridiculous for Bank Leumi (or any client) to insist for more info in order to pay us.

Back and forth it went. I made all the phone calls since the Jewish Agency and Bank Leumi didn’t care if our group was paid or not. I would call the Jewish Agency and they would say all the papers are fine and we should receive payment by the end of the week. But the end of the week became early next week which turned into improper paperwork-again. In fact I was once informed that the check was in the mail and after a week I called only to find out they had never mailed it due to do another missing document.

Then the payment went from a check to a wire transfer. This meant…more documents. We gave Bank Leumi every document in our filing system. At this point we were worried more about being robbed than being paid. On Tuesday a manager at Bank Leumi called to say there was a problem with the bank accountant number. After that was fixed (we told him he was looking at the wrong number), we expected to finally get paid.

But we know that didn’t happen. I realized that speaking with the Jewish Agency rep had become a complete waste of time. I called the manager I had spoken with the other day-on his cell phone at 8pm at night. He again insisted there was a wrong number to which I asked, “How is it that Bank Leumi cannot figure out how to make a wire transfer…I just don’t get it.” I decided it wasn’t worthwhile to talk to this manager and from previous fights (and lessons) in Israel I knew that I would need to speak to someone above him.

I got the cell phone number of his supervisor. And then to further ruin my night I called him. Well he didn’t like that I was yelling at him and he hung up on me. I called him back and told him I had every right to be upset and once again I couldn’t understand how Bank Leumi couldn’t just figure out how to pay us. He yelled back at me, “We are Bank Leumi. We have money. But since you screamed at me we are not going to pay you anymore.”

I couldn’t believe it. I was yelling to be heard but no one was listening, stuck in their deaf egos. This is where the breakthrough and breakdown moment occurred. While I normally win these types of battles with a confident and fierce voice-it was painfully obvious that in this situation my only way to pay day was crying.

So that is what I did. I just cried and in between my sobs I managed to say, “I am just not used to being treated like this. We did our job and we just want to be paid. We worked with the Jewish Agency and we are all olim. Why do you have to treat us like dirt? I don’t know what to do. I just know the treatment makes me want to pack my bags and get out of Israel.”

My cry baby tears turned the situation completely around. He told me not to take it personally and there was just a communication problem. He promised me my money by tomorrow (which would be today as I write this). He said I just needed to send one last document and then the money would be transferred by the end of the day. He also told me, “Don’t be upset. Get a good night of sleep. Don’t worry.” He turned me into a baby and now he was treating me like one.

And that is the lesson. I have realized that while Israel may look like a society of equality, it is very much a machismo land. The men like to know they still have power so breaking a woman down into tears is that taste of satisfaction they are looking for. In fact after I made this realization I looked back on other dreadful situations and realized that most of them went my way after I cried.

I think it is completely humiliating to cry to get your way and once more it is worse that I am advising you to do the same. But these are the painful lessons in life-or at least life in Israel. So now I am a smashed banana. Still, I am trying to find something positive out of this awful experience.

I have decided to file a complaint with Bank Leumi and try to expose this story as high up as I can go. And that makes this smashed banana ready to be turned into a delicious banana cake.

Every time I go to the supermarket (usually Super Sol Deal) and nervously approach the soymilk, unsure of how much it will cost, it turns out that sure enough the price is higher than the previous week. Same with cheese, charif, teas, wine, and I’m sure plenty of other stuff. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can even spot a higher sticker price slapped on over the previous one, the cheaper one sticking out just enough to taunt you and say haha. My salary isn’t tied to the escalating price of soy milk and tea and I have a feeling that other people’s aren’t either- so how do people afford to feed their families?

I really don’t know much about how the economy works, but my own logic would say that since the dollar is so low (~3.7) , prices would stay the same since people are getting less for their dollar and our economy is pretty strong. Recently however, I heard it explained so eloquently, “In Israel, the prices go up in a good economy and the prices go up in a bad economy. ” So true.

Let’s go back to discussing Super Sol or shall I say ShuferSal, which is how it’s spelled on their website and sounds quite ridiculous. It turns out that SuperSol Deal has been fined for ‘price gouging’ or manipulating and cheating their customers.

Haarretz says:

A Haifa court has fined the Super-Sol supermarket chain NIS 471,000 for misleading consumers and for 17 other offenses, including using prices at the cash register that didn’t match price labeling on products. The offenses were discovered throughout northern Israel, at several Super-Sol outlets. It was the highest fine ever imposed in the country for these types of offenses. Five top Super-Sol executives were personally fined a combined NIS 9,000 in the case. This chain may have problems learning its lesson: It was fined NIS 450,000 for misleading consumers in October 2006.

So when it says on their website “Everyone is looking to save” I think they are referring to upper management and how they can save more money for the company – by making more money off of us. At least now I understand why the prices at the supermarket keep rising – someone has to pay for all their customer manipulation fines and who better to take the burden than… the customers! Keep your eye out as you bag.

While I’m on the subject of supermarkets, I see that someone is posting organized tours of supermarkets on Janglo to alleviate frustrating shopping experiences. I’m not even sure what to make of this. I don’t really think it’s possible to avoid a frustrating supermarket experience, especially now that there is proof that the supermarket intentionally wants to fool you.

But, if these tours turn into an Israeli Supermarket Sweep. I’m in.

If you’re interested in an 80 shekel tour (seems a little steep) :

The “Welcome to Israel-Supermarket Savvy Tour” will make your grocery shopping a pleasant experience rather than a totally frustrating one. Guided by a registered dietitian (olah vatika),the Welcome to Israel-Supermarket Savvy tour provides clear explanations and translations of unfamiliar foods, aisle by aisle, with nutrition tips, written handouts, recipes and other surprises.Start feeling really at home in your grocery store! The one time tour lasts approximately 2 hrs and includes a printed booklet with translations, recipes, and other helpful guides. All this for only NIS 80! A minimum of 3 people is required for the tour to take place. For maximum benefit and enjoyment for the participants group size is limited to 5 per tour, so register today!

Sorry for such a long rant. Maybe I should open a supermarket…

It appears that a man was neglected by Egged at a Kiryat Ye’arim station. Awww… Next thing you know, that guy is getting 18,000 shekels from Egged! Still feel sorry for him?

Is Israel turning into America? Will people be suing Cafe Hillel over too-hot coffee that accidentally spilled in their lap? I find this story unbelievable for so many reasons. Let’s try to break down why.

First of all, the fact that Egged is actually paying is almost more miraculous than Chanukah itself.

Second, that somebody actually took a stand against the bureaucracy and unaccountability that is Israel.

Third of all, that they actually won!

My only conclusion can be this. Protexia. This guy definitely knows someone who knows someone’s mom who helped him throughout this process. I just think to myself, if the Egged bus that I wanted to take to Tel Aviv never came, it seems more likely that I would get blamed and yelled at by other passengers and the next bus driver at than the possibility , the sheer possibility, that I would ever be awarded money for the oversight.

This has to be the most ridiculous/amazing/heroic thing that has ever happened. Bravo Mr. Bus Misser.

Now, if only they took our advice about having a ticket machine at the central bus station. People would have assigned seats and all chaos would disappear. But maybe it’s the chaos that people cling to for security. I wouldn’t want to take that away from anyone…

If you need me, I’ll be at an obscure bus stop in Kfar Yomama, hoping to G-d that the bus doesn’t show up.

Here’s a screenshot of the article, just in case the link to the jpost breaks at some point in the future. This one’s a keeper.

And when it is my turn to host a meal, I too make sure that there are plenty of dipping options at my table. That’s why I go to the Shuk to buy all my salatim products. The Shuk sells salatim in little containers just the right size for your Shabbat table needs.

However the once bargain salatim at NIS 5 each are no longer. That’s right, it appears that all the salatim vendors in the Shuk got together and decided to raise the price to NIS 6. I don’t care if it is only one shekel more- what I want to know is why.

And the answer I got to my burning question went something like this.

Me: Hi I want to know why the price for salatim went up.

Vendor dude: Because of Shmita (The Torah commands that the land not be harvested and rests every seven years. But we have loop holed this law so that we can sell the land and have someone else harvest it which in turn raises the prices on vegetables and fruit).

Me: So then next year they will be NIS 5 again?

Vendor dude: ______. Oh ha ha ha.

Me: _____________________. (I walk away) Not funny.

Bottom line: I’m angry and I better start saving my shekels.

Once you get your ticket, you figure, I’ll go into the theater and have a little snack before the movie starts. Ha! The ticket-tearer looks at your ticket, then looks at you, and then says, Mah Pitom (What are you thinking!) Your movie doesn’t start for another 3 minutes, you can’t come in early!

Oh, I’m so sorry Mr. Ticket Man and Mr. Globus Movie Theater, I didn’t mean to spend money on your overpriced candy and help your business.

That’s right, you can’t go into the theater until your movie has already started! This part reminds me of the Gauntlet that I used to watch on American Gladiators. Herds and herds just push and shove their way in and run to the appropriate theater and once inside, fumble around in the dark trying to find their seat.

We’ll pretend it ends there and that the actual movie experience is pleasurable. It would be a shame to mention how the 12 year olds manage to ruin every part of every minute by letting their phones ring and shouting to each other from across the theater. Or how they have a hafsaka (halfway break for a smoke, candy, or pee-pee) at the best part of the movie.

Phew. Had to get that out. Only Rav Chen in Talpiot from now on.