Avney Yerushalayim, the first-ever Guide to Living in Jerusalem, is an initiative of The Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) in cooperation with the Klitah Authority of the Jerusalem Municipality. This publication has been designed to help potential, new and veteran olim - any one with an interest in making Jerusalem their home! 

 

The information within Avney Yerushalayim can help readers make intelligent decisions about living in Israel's capital city. A huge variety of information about life and living in Jerusalem is in this 80 page handbook. Detailed information on everything from schools to local shopping services, health clinics to average home prices, transportation and local chat lists and websites, shiurim and synagogues to population demographics in 40 individual communities, the book is a cooperative venture involving AACI's many members and friends around Jerusalem who, along with the advertisers and the Municipality of Jerusalem are dedicated to helping veteran and new olim settle into the city that they themselves love. 

 

In addition, Avney Yerushalayim provides information on Jerusalem's colorful cultural life, municipal services and offices, employment opportunities, new business development, universities and other institutions of higher learning, children’s activities and much more. And, with every community comes an AACI contact -- someone who is willing and ready to help answer your questions. 

 

AACI members of the Jerusalem branch will receive Avney Yerushalayim by mail. Others are invited to drop into the office to receive a copy. If you are a member and did not receive your copy in the mail, please contact our membership secretary Sara Kalker.
AACI welcomes opportunities to distribute this publication!

 

 

As an American who has lived in Israel for the past 36 years I wrote to you a few weeks ago at the AACI with regard to assistance in finding somebody who could help me with my genealogical research.

 

I knew absolutely nothing about my family, only having old pieces of paper with names dating back to 1845 in Pennsylvania, which meant nothing to me,I knew of no Aunts, Uncles or cousins.

 

I am thrilled to be able to tell you that your recommendation of Patricia Wilson in Ra'anana has enabled me to find not only my direct family, my grandmother's siblings (I never knew she had any) but in addition 4 complete separate branches of my family, each one not knowing the other!

Yet we are all descended from the same grt-grt-grandfather.

 

The excitement has been almost unbelievable, with e-mails abounding, but perhaps the most bizarre fact is that one of my new cousins lives literally 'round the corner' from my brother in New York.

 

I hope to be able to make a visit to the States in the Spring when a re-union of family members will take place.

 

Thank you and the AACI again for taking the time to answer my request and for suggesting that we get in touch with Patricia. Her knowledge, diligence, dedication and enthusiasm has enabled me and my children to have contact with family - something I have dreamed about my whole life.

 

Best wishes,

Carolyn Moalem - Kfar Tabor.

 

 

January. 4, 2010 - Judy Siegel-Itzkovich , THE JERUSALEM POST

 

A private member's bill presented by MK Aryeh Eldad that would give exemption for a set time for health tax to a person donating an organ - usually kidney or liver lobe - was passed on its second and third reading on Monday evening (January 4, 2010).

 

Eldad said the bonus would not constitute the selling of an organ, and the amount of time of tax suspension would be determined by the health minister, with approval from the finance minister.

 

The bill is an amendment to the 2008 Organ Transplant Law that in another year and a half will give those who register as a potential organ donor high priority on the list if he needs an organ. The Israel Transplant center said it was not involved in the bill. However, the Treasury, which was previously opposed, now supported it.

On 30th December, the Finance Ministry issued an order to decrease the VAT (Value Added Tax) from 16½% to 16%, effective as of 1st January, 2010 until 31 December, 2010.

 

For those of you in business charging VAT to your clients/customers, please be sure to charge VAT at 16% as of 1st January. Those of you with a cash register in your business premises must contact your service provider to change the VAT percentage as of 1st January.

January. 5, 2010
Ron Friedman , THE JERUSALEM POST

 

Those who want to switch their multi-channel television service provider or simply want to reduce their expenditure on entertainment have a week to take advantage of a regulatory allowance that lets them disconnect from their service without having to pay a cancellation fine.

 

In December, both providers, HOT cable and YES satellite, announced they would be canceling their broadcasts of the family-friendly - but largely unpopular - drama film channel Hallmark after NBC Universal, which owns Hallmark, decided to pull it off the airwaves due to lack of revenue.

 

According to the regulations of the Council for Cable TV and Satellite Broadcasting, any time a service provider decides to remove a channel from their listings, customers have the right to cancel their subscription, provided they cite the removal of the channel as the reason.

 

The channel went off the air on December 28, and HOT and YES customer service representatives suddenly started receiving thousands of calls from customers asking to cancel their subscription because of the so-called "Hallmark clause."

 

Now customers have until January 9 or 12 to cancel their subscriptions to YES or HOT, respectively. The losses to both companies are expected to be in the millions.

Both have come out sharply against the Council for Cable TV and Satellite Broadcasting, saying its head, Nitzan Chen, has robbed them of business. Though the companies are refusing to comment on the move, industry insiders say they are considering filing for damages.

 

The turmoil comes at a critical time for both firms. With competition rife and the market nearly saturated, they would much rather focus on producing content and attracting new customers than spending resources on cancellations.

 

HOT is currently adjusting to a shift of power in the ranks of its ownership. Over the course of 2009, French investor Patrick Derhi bought up shares of the cable television provider and with 45 percent of the stock, is now the largest shareholder, ahead of Yediot Aharonot owner Arnon Mozes (17%) and media and real estate tycoon Eliezer Fishman (15%).

 

Derhi has said he wants to see HOT reduce expenses in the engineering and content departments and has brought in several of his own people to sit on the board of directors. The firing of HOT's vice president in charge of content, Karni Ziv, is only the most high profile of a long list of expected terminations.

 

At YES, things are slightly better and 2009 ended on an optimistic note, with the announcement that the company had passed the 570,000-subscriber mark. But YES is still struggling to balance its books and once again finished the year in the red.

 

Both companies are dreading the prospect of the long-awaited state reform of the industry ending up being canceled, denying them the right to broadcast advertising on their channels. The reform, which is meant to better regulate the volatile television sector, is currently in danger of falling apart as Finance Ministry officials are tangling with lawmakers who want to introduce changes to the reform.

 

Late last month, Knesset Economic Affairs Committee Chairman Ophir Akunis (Likud) said he wanted to remove the clause that allows HOT and YES to broadcast commercials because of the effect it might have on the commercial television networks, Channels 2 and 10.

For those who feel they don't need hundreds of channels and interactive services on their television, a new service is now available. Using Digital Terrestrial Television technology, consumers can now receive Channels 1, 2, 10, 33 and 99 (The Knesset Channel) in digital quality for free after a one-time purchase of a special converter.

 

Television companies are also threatened by the Internet, with more and more shows being streamed online, viewable on personal computers and even on mobile phones.

 

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 65% of Israeli households own subscriptions to cable television or satellite service providers. In a study compiled to mark the International Day of the Child, the bureau discovered that households with children were 15% less likely to have a multi-channel television provider than those without.