Dr. Gordis’s book ‘Saving Israel – How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End’.

 

“One of Israel’s most thoughtful observers – an American who made Israel his home, despite its imperfections and dangers.” Alan Dershowitz.

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of this book, please email us and we will call for payment and mailing details.

By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondent. January 12, 2010.

 

The water consumption of the average Israeli household declined by more than 9 percent over the past year, primarily due to efforts to encourage conservation, the Mekorot Water Company said in a new report.

The company also managed to reduce substantially the amount of water it draws from Lake Kinneret by drilling new wells and cleaning up polluted wells as alternatives.

New data on general water consumption have not been released by the state Water Authority, due to a prolonged strike by employees.

 

Mekorot supplies about 80 percent of Israel's water, while the rest comes primarily from water companies belonging to consortiums organized by local authorities.

Mekorot supplied 738 million cubic meters of water to Israeli households in 2009, 9.2 percent less than in 2008, reflecting reduced consumption following various conservation efforts. These efforts included public relations campaigns, restrictions on watering gardens and the drought tax.

A major aspect of Mekorot's activity over the past year has involved diversification of water sources to keep the Kinneret's water level from declining any further; it has been dropping for several years straight.

Mekorot drilled 15 emergency wells last year, which produced 25 million cubic meters of water, as opposed to three wells in a normal year.

Mekorot also cleaned up polluted wells. At one site in Jerusalem that had been polluted by a military plant, for instance, it installed coal filters. Recovered wells yielded an additional 45 million cubic meters of water.

Mekorot director general Ido Rosolio said that if enough funding is available, the company will be able to produce this amount of water from polluted wells this year as well, which would be equal to the production capacity of a large desalination plant.

Due to the alternative sources, last year Mekorot drew half the amount of Kinneret water that it used in 2008. The company also purchased 161 million cubic meters of desalinated water last year, more than a 10th of the total quantity it supplied. Much more desalinated water is expected to enter the market this year, as a large desalination plant begins operations in Haifa.

What's in store for the Israeli real estate market? Prices in the country's outskirts will rise, prices in Tel Aviv will fall, and, no, we're not in a bubble, said participants in a panel hosted by Ha'ir and TheMarker in Eilat.

"Apartment prices in the periphery will keep rising. An apartment that costs NIS 850,000 now will cost NIS 1 million in a year," said Yigal Damari, CEO and owner of Y.H. Damari, during a panel discussion entitled "Real estate or the capital market - where to invest?" The panel was hosted by TheMarker Web editor Eytan Avriel.

This year, prices will increase in areas including Ashkelon and Ashdod by 10% to 15%, Damari said. Other parts of the periphery will see sharp increases.

Israel needs an additional 30,000 housing units every year to meet demand, but only 25,000 are being built, he said.

Zvi Stepak, board director and head investment manager at the Meitav investment house, said that despite what people commonly believe, real estate isn't always a better investment than the capital market.

"Since the 1960s there were three to four years in every decade when prices decreased," he said. "Real estate prices shot up over the past decade due to a one-time correction, but we're not in a bubble. People aren't buying apartments in order to sell them immediately."

Stepak predicts that apartment prices in central Israel will remain stable or decrease slightly. "In Tel Aviv of all places - the Manhattan of Israel - prices are edging downward, " he said.

Benny Vaknin, mayor of Ashkelon - where prices increased by 55% in some areas - said improved transportation is a factor pushing up housing prices. "Now it takes 55 minutes to get to Ashkelon from Tel Aviv, and they're working on a direct [rail] line through Rishon Letzion that will make the trip in 35 minutes," he said.

A five-part series of film and discussion

Moderated by Amy Kronish

The series will be held in English

 

"The Name My Mother Gave Me" (56 min.)

A documentary about Russian and Ethiopian teenagers who travel together to Ethiopia in search of their roots.

Guest: Film Director, Eli Tal-El

Monday, 24 Shvat, February 8, 7:30 pm

 

"Until Tomorrow Comes" (60 min.)

Award-winning drama about three generations of women, all from the same family.

Guest: Film Director and Scriptwriter, David Deri

Monday, 1 Adar, February 15, 7:30 pm

 

"Foreign Sister" (90 min.)

Award-winning feature film about the world of foreign workers and how one woman's perspective is changed forever.

Guest: Film Director and Scriptwriter, Dan Wolman

Monday, 8 Adar, February 22, 7:30 pm

 

"The Rabbi's Daughter and the Midwife" by Ron Ofer and Yohai Hakak (60 min.)

A documentary look at the life work of two very accomplished women: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's daughter- Adina Bar-Shalom, and Bambi Shelkovski

Monday, 22 Adar, March 8, 7:30 pm

 

"Yolki Palki" by Alex Gentelev (55 min.)

A documentary look at the successes and personal stories of the Russian immigrant generation, told with humor and honesty.

Guest: Dr. Ze'ev Khanin, Chief Scientist, Ministry of Absorption

Monday, 29 Adar, March 15, 7:30 pm

 

Price: NIS 30 per session, Students: NIS 20, NIS 120 for the series