Yehuda Lave, Spiritual Advisor and Counselor | | | | Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money, and spiritual engagement Love Yehuda Lave | | | Some people sleep until morning. Others know they have to bring the morning. Shlomo Carlebach There are three kinds of friends in the world. An ordinary person sees only who you are; for that you don't need a friend. Then there's a friend who sees in you what you can be. And then there's the real holy Friend, and the presence of this Friend you are already. Shlomo Carlebach There is no tears without joy; there is no joy without tears. Shlomo Carlebach | | Israel Performs World's First Successful 'Artificial Meniscus' Transplant The world's first successful "artificial meniscus" transplant was just performed in Israel, i24News reported on Monday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Gabriel Agar from the Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center in Be'er Ya'akov and Dr. Ron Arbel from Ramat Aviv Medical Center in Tel Aviv, who were both involved in the development of the "NUsurface Implant," which passed clinical trials in Israel and is made from medical-grade plastic in Israel by Active Implants LLC. Advertisement It was given a Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The implant is inserted into the knee joint with a small incision and made to mimic the movement of the body's natural meniscus. It does not require any fixation on the bones or soft tissues, which allows patients to return home not long after the operation is complete. Patients with damaged or torn menisci can have the transplant surgery as a replacement for previous treatments, such as pain management and physical therapy, according to i24News. The Jerusalem Post noted that the implant is "intended for people who have regular knee pain following medial meniscus surgery; have failed meniscus repair; are not suitable candidates for a meniscus allograft transplant; or are too young for knee replacement." Agar said "this is an exciting time to finally put the NUsurface implant at the disposal of Israeli patients. Persistent pain after repair of meniscus tears is a very common orthopedic problem and, until now, we did not have effective treatment options." | | Shopping Online: The Essential Guide to TAXES for Israelis shopping online from abroad!
Shopping online and wondering what to expect regarding taxes and fees? This guide will help you understand the basics that apply to residents of Israel when shopping online from overseas. Most of us shop this way to save money, so who wants a tax bill surprise when the order gets here? This post will help you avoid a tax bill (legally, of course!).
Note: the same regulations apply to packages sent from abroad, even if they are gifts!
Here's the rundown (the full regulations can be found on the Israel tax authority's site)
Your purchase or package, no matter what currency it was in, will be translated into US Dollars by the tax authority (using the exchange rate of the day they process it) to determine if it's taxable:
Purchases up to $75/Packages with a declared value up to $75 - no taxes
Purchases or packages with a declared value above $75, up to $500 - no customs taxes, but VAT will apply in most cases (17% currently), and Purchase Tax (variable rates) may apply (purchase tax applies to very few items at this point!)
Purchases or packages with a declared value over $500 - subject to all taxes (VAT , Purchase Tax (if applicable), and Customs Tax)
Please take note that purchases and packages (even gifts) of up to $75 in value will be subject to customs clearance fees if they arrive using an EMS service* (about 35 shekels), and if the value of the purchase is higher, the customs clearance fee can be higher as well. Other fees are often added on by shipping companies, as there is really not much oversight! I recently saw a bill that included the following fees: Handling fees, Import approval fee, VAT, Computer fee, Unloading fee, Storage fee. Watch out for these fees from shipping companies/courier services. I recommend you always try to get your packages via a service that guarantees your fees have all been prepaid.
Please be aware that the purchase price only (not purchase + shipping) will determine whether an item will be taxed. Once it is found to be taxable, however, applicable taxes will be calculated on the purchase price + the shipping price.
One more important point: If you order multiple orders addressed to the same person, with the same address & phone number listed, from the same seller and they arrive within 72 hours of each other, customs may combine the orders and treat them as one purchase for tax purposes. They may not. But it is a possibility you should be aware of before you place multiple orders. I recommend ordering at least 3 days apart, or ordering with different names and contact info (including the tax ID number you provide for clearing customs).
If your order is stuck in customs, or if you feel like you were charged tax by mistake, you will need to contact the customs office nearest you.
Here's the contact info for the various offices, taken from the meches website. I couldn't find any email addresses, sorry.
Tel Aviv
Derech HaHagana 137, Yad Eliyahu, Tel Aviv
Tel: 03-942-1730
Fax: 03-942-1733
Jerusalem
Mercaz Shatner, Givat Shaul B, Jerusalem 91999
Tel: 02-652-6193
Fax: 02-651-1589
Haifa
Sderot Pal Yam 19, Shakmona, POB 245, Haifa 31999
Tel: 04-866-4130
Fax: 04-666-9803
Eilat
Central Post Office, The Red Mall, Eilat 83100
Tel: 08-632-6476
Fax: 08-866-9702
Some of these regulations are different from what some people seem to believe, so please refer back to this guide if you are about to place an order and you're not sure what to expect from the tax-man.
If you're not sure where to start shopping online, I've compiled a list of websites that offer low cost shipping to Israel! Please be sure to check it out! Let's help open Israel's marketplace and bring down our cost of living without bringing down our standard of living!
Some of my favorite websites to shop from are:
Amazon ~ BetterWorldBooks.com ~ iHerb ~ AliExpress ~ eBay ~ Book Depository
(Amazon is particularly good because they collect taxes up front and basically guarantee that you won't be charged anything more than what they've collected!)
Be sure to check out the whole list!
Follow this link to join my WhatsApp group where I'll be posting my favorite deals: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jo89nipNix34yY9UpPRf2E
*Examples of EMS services - Express Mail, Fedex, UPS and other express delivery services. Sometimes DHL is EMS and sometimes it is not.
| | Watch: Rabbi Mordechai Machlis Says 'What's Happening Now in Israel is Unparalleled in World History' By Hana Levi Julian Rabbi Machlis is one of a group of rabbis and rebbetzins from English-speaking countries who have already fulfilled the mitzvah of returning to the Land of Israel, and are participating in a project called "Bring Them Home," in which they each have recorded a brief video to discuss this mitzvah, and the importance of actually living here in Israel. "We are hoping in our prayers, please, God, give us the opportunity to be alive at the time of the Redemption," notes Rabbi Machlis. "That's the simple interpretation. "However, on the extended level, perhaps we can suggest the following," he continues. "God, I know it's going to happen. Yes, there will be this time. With God's help, that's what's happening right now. But … "You know what's happening in Eretz Israel? You know what's happening in Jerusalem? Just walk the streets of Jerusalem, just walk the streets of Eretz Israel! "But unfortunately, we're not always in a position to see it. We don't see it sometimes. We recognize it to be a very interesting phenomenon, we recognize it to be wonderful place to be, Eretz Israel, we recognize the fact that this is the most flourishing — thank God — Jewish community in the world. "But do we see our return to Zion? So our prayer every day is, God please? Help us see it? It's happening. Help us recognize the miracle. Help us recognize the fact that that which is happening right now is unparalleled in world history." And then the rabbi smiled. "I look forward to celebrating it here together with you." | | How Israelis Respond to Terror and News (my new humor article about the scare that happened last week in Israel, and what happens every year and a half): We Go Out...Israelis are a strong people. We hear about an attack and we are out that night. That's how we fight terror. You ask any Israeli, "What did you do when you heard about the attack?" You will hear toughness with an answer like, "We went out. Had a beer. Took down a shwarma. Bring it on. If they attack us again, I'll do a double shwarma wrap. I'll even put on some cabbage salad. This is what I'm doing for our country. Tonight. I'm eating more." We don't give in. We live.
You have tourists who come in support of Israel. A supporter in the shuk, drinking a beer, told me, "I came to Israel because of terrorism." Terrorism has turned into a tourist attraction for us.
That's how we fight the negative news and attacks on our people. With good times. And we don't pay attention to anything south of Tel Aviv.) ***To share more laughs from Israel, show your love and like David Kilimnick comedian דוד קילימניק הסטנדאפיסט | | The number 7 In Judaism the number seven - 7 שבע represents the spiritual presence and its influence on the material "Space-Time" world, which is represented by the number six - 6: six directions in this material world: forward - back right – left up - down These material dimensions in time (6 days) are inspired by the spiritual dimension of the seventh day – Shabbat. The influence of the seventh day, Shabbat is represented by the Magen David - Star of David
(lit. David's shield), in which the inner central part (Shabbat) influences the six surrounding triangles (six days of the week). In Space-Time world, according to Kabbalah, each Shabbat's influence expands its influence forward until the following Tuesday and backward to the preceding Wednesday. Listen now to a nice song for Shabbat, EL MISTATER -
אל מסתתר (Hiding G-d), performed by Yonatan Razel. It is based on Kabbalistic liturgy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhCvL98R53A | | See you tomorrow bli neder Love Yehuda Lave | | | |
