Music Festival in the Old City of Jerusalem

I was in the Old City to do a haircut this week, and I had a big surprise as I was walking in!  There were lights and music coming from almost everyplace!  The municipality of Jerusalem is celebrating as we are cleaning for Pesach with music!

I don't know if the Rabbis of the Old City really agree with this . . .

It was a diversion from the scrubbing and scouring.

Have a Chag Ksher and most importantly, Sameach!

Rachael Alice  - The Traveling Hair Salon comes to you in Jerusalem!
 www.travelinghairsalon.weebly.net   052-750-0608

Medical Bill in the US can cost you! But not in Israel!

I just read an article by Dr. Mercola High cost of US medical treatment  But in contrast, if you are thinking of where to live, then take into account that medial bills are often much cheaper here.  Even drugs don't cost so much as they are regulated by the government.  

When I went to the hospital to give birth, not only did I not have to pay, but I came home with a check!  When my mother had to go to the hospital for kidney cancer, she didn't have to pay an agora (penny)  All the tests were covered by her regular monthly health payments to the Kupot Holim.  She had to pay a small amount (hithaivut) to get the kupat holim to pay the hospital fee.

If the US really wants to reduce health costs, then they should take a page out of Israel's book.  Socialized medicine does work.  Now, there are problems as with any large organization,  I have been waiting for authorization for my son's medication, . . . but when it comes through, I won't have to pay the original price of 500NIS for 30 pills, I'll pay just 50NIS.  That is a big difference, and one that is worth it for me to wait for.

Health care is important, but a trip to the ER shouldn't have to cost an arm and a leg.  The main focus should be the health of the patient, and ways to treat the patient, not on how much money the hospital is going to milk from the patient.

So, if you are on the fence where to live, and health care is one of your major concerns, come here to Israel!  There are many French, Russian and English speaking medical staff here as well.

Helping you to wend your way through the Aliyah process:  Rachael Alice



Rachael Orbach Certified Master Life Coach - American University of NLP Certified Master NLP Practitioner - American University of NLP B.A.- UCLA Los Angeles www.lifecoachjerusalem.weebly.com Blog: www.lifecoachjerusalem.blogspot.com Skype: life-coach-jerusalem 052-750-0608

Nachlaot framed window

This was caught in Nachlaot, two window front view to the backyard,  Looking into inner space, getting ready for Passover!

Rachael Alice

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Blogger for hire:  Rachael Alice rachaelalice@gmail.com 

Kosher for Passover

Most Jews in Israel are concerned with Kosher for Passover at this time of year.  We are cleaning furiously, I just did one of the two refrigerators, the one that we usually put drinks and leftovers.  It was a two hour job!  

I'm taking a rest by writing a blog post!

When I go to the store, I am now checking whether the products that I buy are Kosher for Passover.  This is important because if I don't finish it this week, then we can still eat them next week, provided that no bread or "chumutz" got inside.

Many people are also very careful about cleaning products.  This is because the Halacha is much stricter with "Chumutz" than with other things.  We are not allowed to own any bread products, even by a "Mashu" that is even a little bit!   We are also using the cleaning products to clean up and it would be a shame to leave "chumutz" when we have just spent two hours cleaning a fridge!

There are some products however that are labeled "Kosher for Passover" but really they have no practical use whatsoever.  I'm talking about an ad that I saw for cigarettes that are "Kosher for Passover."   At the bottom of the ad, there is a very strong warning, that the use of cigarettes can lead to health problems and death before your time.  I would think that this would be a very strong motivation for everyone to stop this habit.  People should use Passover as a unique opportunity to do "Tshuva" and not smoke, and after a week of no cigarettes, I would bet that there would be some people who would see that they don't need this crutch and stop smoking altogether.

Willpower is a very powerful tool that you can use to help yourself, I use it all the time.  I decide what I need to do for the day, outside of my work responsibilities, and then I use my time wisely.  The same goes for eating and not smoking.  When you feel the urge to light up, ask yourself.  "Do I want to die before my time?"  If the answer is no, like most people, then don't light up the cigarette.  Don't buy cigarettes.  If you have extra money, then give it to Tzdaka, Charity.  That would be a good use for the money, to support poor people who don't even have enough money to buy all their needs.  Passover is a big investment in time, energy and money, and if you can help others, instead of being selfish and smoking, then do the right thing.   Quit smoking.

Either you are a smoker or you aren't. There is no grey area in this part of life.  Be a non-smoker.

It doesn't matter if cigarettes are Kosher for Passover.  You shouldn't need to have to think about that.

Rachael Alice
lifecoachjerusalem@gmail.com

Master NLP and Life Coach at your service.