A Post to Jerusalem’s Mayor Barkat: Did Your Landlord Raise the Rent Too?
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
I Got My Hands All Over Israel’s Ethiopian Food!
I love eating with my hands. There’s no middleman fork or spoon in between my taste buds and the actual taste. My favorite food to stuff my face with is Ethiopian. And while this country may lack in Mexican food (my familiar angry rant) it almost makes up for it with Ethiopian food.
When it comes to Ethiopian restaurants you need to seek them out, they don’t find you. They’re hidden all over Jerusalem and I assume they take a similar pattern in other cities. They’re small and everyone is really friendly. Until you go to a place at least three or four times, you feel like you are actually walking into someone’s kitchen. In fact one place I went to was basically a home and when we walked in I felt like I had just become the uninvited guest that they always have an extra plate for, just in case.
I have found one restaurant where I go on a regular basis. Don’t ask me the name, because I am not sure if it even has one. But what’s in a name after all? The food is amazing and I’ll tell you how to get there. And then someone will read this and tell me the name and I’ll appreciate it but forget it and still refer to it as my yummy Ethiopian restaurant (thank you in advance).
How do you get to this hole in the wall? Get to King George and Agripas (the Felafel King place is right next to the light at the intersection). Walk up the hill keeping on the right hand side. There will be a few narrow alley entrances. Go down one of them and the Ethiopian restaurant will be on your left hand side with green doors and an Ethiopian flag. Which alley way? Now, why would I spoil all the fun of telling you exactly where it is? I want you to find it on your own. It’s a part of the experience!
Once you get there, you might get funny stares (the whole kitchen-uninvited-guess-thing) but they will warm up to you right away. Ask for a menu and take a seat. The menus are in Amharic (Semitic Ethiopian language), Hebrew and now in English-they know we are coming!
Me eating my yummy Ethiopian food
If it’s your first time eating this food, I would start with the basics and order injera (a large sourdough flatbread about 50cm or 20in in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour) with different types of salads and dips added right on top of it. This is the part where you use your hands. Just tear in and start dipping. Don’t question what’s on your plate just eat the colorful variety of veggies and beans and hope your stomach agrees with your choices.
Ali takes a chance on coffee
After your first tasting, you may want to venture out, but to tell you the truth I have remained a fan of the veggie option which seems to have new salads and dips every time I go there. Ethiopian food is healthy (probably) and decently priced (I think it was in the NIS 30-40 range the last time I was there). Add a strong coffee at the end of the meal to get the full effect. You don’t have to drink the coffee with your hands!
Here’s a list of other restaurants that Becca- my skinny co-blogger and friend- found online. And a voucher from Ethio-Israel Restaurant (I found that because I am cheap). Any additions would be great!
Shegar
Opening hours: 9:00 to 23:00
Address: Agripas St. 10, City Center, Jerusalem
Not Kosher
Ethio-Israel
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday, 12:00 to 1:00
Address: Elyashar St. 5, City Center, Jerusalem
Phone: 02.622.3992
Kosher
Eluna voucher
Ansara
Address: 17 Jaffa Rd., City Center, Jerusalem
Phone: 054.698.6664
Not Kosher
More in Tel Aviv: A list of Ethiopian Restaurants
Yom Hazikaron: Remember those that have fallen and those that lift us up
As we celebrate our fallen soldiers throughout the many wars and plights for the state of Israel, it’s important to remember, on this day of remembrance, not only our fallen soldiers but our everyday heroes as well.
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.
New Adrenaline Rush: Rock Climbing in Israel
If the distribution of gas masks or a planned emergency drill doesn’t get your heart pounding, then you’ve probably been living in Israel for quite a while and you might need a new dose of adrenaline to shake you up.
Maybe it’s time for climbing an extremely high wall and praying that your partner down below is paying attention to your every move.
I don’t mean to sound so cynical, but the point here is that despite the constant attempts to destroy Israel, daily life here goes on, and so does finding new exhilarating things to do.
I recently discovered the climbing wall in Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium and had such an amazing time that I’m looking for the next opportunity to do it again.
According to climbing.org.il, there are climbing walls all over Israel: in Kibbutz HaOgen, Ashdod, Eilat, and Jerusalem.
However, I found another website that has a more complete listing of all the rock climbing walls in Israel.
The hours at the Jerusalem branch are amazing – you can go after work and still have plenty of time to climb.
Sunday-Thursday: 4pm-10:45pm
Friday: 10am-hour and a half before Shabbat starts
Saturday night: hour and a half after Shabbat ends – 10:45pm (winter)/11:45pm(summer)
It costs 45 shekels last time I was there, but if you want to double check, call 02-6482264. For first-timers, a staff member will teach you and your partner how to climb.
The hours of each branch in Israel vary slightly so make sure to call or check here
Three Weeks of NIS 3 Coffee!
While it may seem like the holiday season is over, there is still much to celebrate. How about NIS 3 coffee? I don’t know about you, but I’m jumping up and down (and not just because I had three cups of pure caffeine joy!). What café finally got the memo that coffee doesn’t have to be expensive? Café Hillel on Emek Refaim right here in Jerusalem, that’s who!
Although I previously reported that Café Hillel would be opening at a new location on Emek, it turns out that they have changed their minds and decided to stay at their original location and renovate. The café itself is closed but for the next three weeks you 
can get NIS 3 coffee at the little side barista they opened up during the renovation process. The cheap coffee isn’t just hot; you can also get ice café for NIS 9. It isn’t as cheap as my all-time love of NIS 5 ice café at Marzipan in the shuk, but it’s a bigger cup and low fat (supposedly). In any case these are just some of the amazing deals worth pooping your pants over.
Good bargains don’t just happen. Either you or someone you know has hunted them down, passed them along or created them on their own. We cheap buggers have to stick together and look after each other to ensure the deals keep coming. That’s why I implore you to not only take advantage of the next three weeks while the coffee is NIS 3, but to tell the cashier, manager or owner to permanently keep the NIS 3 coffee as a part of the menu. I think in the long run they will end up making more money off the NIS 3 coffee than any of their ridiculously over-priced salads. Also, if the coffee is NIS 3 now, but after the renovations the price goes back up to NIS 15, we will all feel scammed — and nobody goes to a restaurant that rips them off.
Friends, drink and be merry, but don’t forget to be cheap and persuasive too!
Partial Passover Anxiety Relief: Collection of Chametz by Shachen Tov in Jerusalem
The Passover/Pesach frenzy has begun as I greedily relish bread (gasp!), cookies, cakes, and other leavened products (naughty!) before I have to give it up for a week.
What I have not been relishing, though, is the thought of cleaning my house. The anxiety for Pesach starts weeks before, as I second guess if I should buy one or two bags of pasta; 3 or 4 rolls; 1 or 2 packages of flour… you get the idea. But, no matter how much you try to space it out, thinking this year I’ll magically be chametz-free the day before the holiday, you know these attempts are futile.
So, instead of trying to fight it, this year I got an email from my friend Dena, who told me about Shachen Tov Organization (Good neighbor) who is collecting donations of chametz (closed packages, only), before Pesach. They will be selling all the contents of their warehouses, and after Pesach they will distribute it to the needy families they help. If you are interested, please contact the person in your area:
- Ramot – Ortal – 054-5868427
- Katamon – Sara – 052-5389994
- Nachlaot – Chagit – 050-7881007
- Gilo – Shalom – 054-3395419
- Baka – Yossi – 052-7203673
- Ramot Eshkol – Meno – 052-6674062
Further information – Matan – 052-5389996
And of course, for your viewing pleasure, The Matza Ball Rap
New Jerusalem nightlife blog – Luz Control
You could say that Jerusalem is not so famous for its nightlife scene. Museums, really old archeological finds, and awful drivers, fo’ sure. But nightlife… not so much. Jerusalem has only a handful of really happening clubs and recently, Jerusalem’s best known club, Haoman 17 shut down rebranded to “17″ and I heard Bonita in the city center did too. But, just when I thought it’s lights out for the holy city, I came across a new section in the weekend Jerusalem Post called Luz Control. Written by Luz Ofek, the section is a list of all the upcoming hottest clubs and parties in Jerusalem. Luz also updates his herblog frequently for those not interested in the now 14.90 NIS Friday Jpost paper (I don’t know what kind of addictive substance they’re putting in their paper, but I can’t live without it on Shabbat!)
The site is in hebrew, but let’s see how you do with this academic language of our forefathers:
דה קונסטנטין דה בסט דה ביגטיים דה לייק איט לייק אה טרק!!
uh… what?
Our ancestors would be so proud to know just how flexible the hebrew language has become. They certainly didn’t teach enough Hebrish in my ulpan.
Have fun out there! As for me, I’ll be sitting at home, devouring the opium-lined Jpost and coping with my denial that I’m not 21 anymore.
Yay Women!
I’m a woman everyday of the year (even if I don’t act like one). I bring up this fact because today is International Women’s Day where we celebrate women and their achievements! Yay team women! As we reflect on our progress, we step back and realize that there is still a hell of a lot more to conquer. Boo!
The Jerusalem Post published a depressing article about the long path ahead in Israel, pointing out that although a bunch of women became Knesset members in the last national elections, “data shows that the number of women in management positions in Israeli companies stands at 14.8 percent – five percent less than last year. A global average of women in management positions stands at 30%.”
The article’s data was collected from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, which somehow have stats for the high level of optimism women have despite their salaries being a third less than men in parallel positions. Does that sound right to you? Because frankly, I am pooping my pants knowing a man is doing the same job as me and making a lot more. So unless I am cheering for poopy pants, I can’t say I’m optimistic about the situation. No “yay poop!”
Friends, we women must stick together and recognize how awesome we are. And I have a way we can literally show our support. Sure it might be a cheap plug, but it is a worthy one. What is it? Show your support by purchasing a ticket to this year’s Vagina Monologues.
The Vagina Monologues is a part of an international movement to help stop violence against women. The monologues are being performed throughout Israel. The show will be presented March 26th and March 28th in Jerusalem and one performance on March 23rd in Tel Aviv (there are other performances, but I just don’t know the exact dates).
All three performances are being presented by BaMatMaBat Theater Company. The company seeks to utilize the stage as a platform to inspire dialogue about taboo social, religious, and political issues. They will definitely get their message across with the monologues. The show is open to both women and men, so encourage your male friends, partners, co-workers(anger!) and even the random males in your lives to come see the show.
A note about the Vagina Monologues Performances:
March 26, 2009 8pm
March 28, 2009 9pm
Performance held at the Merkaz Hamagshmin in the German Colony.
90% of the proceeds will go to the women’s organization COHI and the other 10% will go to V-Day. Tickets are NIS 60 after.
For more information or to order tickets contact vday.israel@gmail.com or see the event on Facebook.
Don’t Get Angry – Get Empowered about Consumer Rights in Israel!
As new immigrants, part of our induction into Israeli society is new rights, discounts, a bit of money and lots of customer service fights – whether it be at the bank, over the phone or just waiting in line. Most of us know about the money and rights part, but the fighting for basic consumer rights is something that even after you do it, even after several times of doing it, even after learning your lesson and never doing it again- you still feel surprised, annoyed and stressed out from each experience.
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
Indian food in Jerusalem
After 4 years in Israel, I think I’ve finally moved out of my obsessive pita and humus stage. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always save a special place in my heart for the quintessential Israeli snack that requires swift wrist action, but it’s time to move on and sample some other cuisines.
Recently, I discovered a little hole-in-the-wall Indian restaurant, Ichikidana איצ’יקדנה inside the Machane Yehuda outdoor shuk in Jerusalem. And … it was delicious! And cheap – the small platter of thali was 24NIS 35 NIS! And cute – tiny room with wooden tables covered with collages of pictures and mementos from the staff’s trips to India. And so… I’m hooked. I even went home and starting looking up Indian recipes for things I had never even heard of before like Chana Dal (Curried Chick-Peas), Tamatar Ki Chutney(tomato chutney) and Garam Masala. Apparently, other people have also discovered this yummy joint, so you can read more reviews from Jewlicious and Presentense’s latest issue.
Here’s a list of the kosher Indian restaurants in Jerusalem. If I missed any, please leave a comment and I’ll update the post.
Ichikidana איצ’יקדנה
Location: 4 Haeshkol St., makhane yehuda shuk/market
Phone: 050-224-7070
Hours: Sun-Thu: 08:00-20:00, Tri: 08:00- one hour before Shabbat
Almora
Location: Even Sapir, past the Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem
Phone: 02-643-1186
Hours: Open Sunday – Thursday 10:00am till 11:00pm. Friday till Shabbat. .Motzei Shabbat till midnight.
Kohinoor
Location: Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, by Binyanei HaUma and the Central Bus Station
Phone: 02-653-6667
Hours: Open for lunch, Sunday – Friday from 12:00 noon till 4:00pm. Open for dinner Sunday – Thursday 6pm till 11:30pm, and Saturday night after Shabbat.
In other Indian-related news, I went to see Slumdog Millionaire at Cinema City and it was incredible (both the VIP experience and the movie itself). Here’s some Indian music that I can’t get out of my head.
