One of the stories making the rounds in Israel on Wednesday is the tale an immigrant couple from North America, Rochelle and Ricky Eissenstadt, survivors of the 2nd bulldozer terror attack in Yerushalayim.
The couple’s Mazda 5 van was destroyed in the attack, but b’chasdei Hashem they emerged without physical injuries. Their vehicle was towed from the scene, and they later were told they are compelled to pay NIS 685 for the police-ordered tow. Below is the story as it was told in an email by Rochelle on 14 July, less than two weeks following the attack.
Shalom and Shavua Tov.
After surviving the terror attack which totaled our car, we have started getting amazing demands from the govt.
First of all, the police had the car towed to the lot of their choice – Grar Danny on Givat HaMatos. They demanded 685 shekels – REALLY. They said the govt will get around to paying us back, maybe. The govt inspector there objected to the fee, said we had to pay it, but maybe the govt would not reimburse us for all of it.
Then he insisted that we sign a form turning over ownership of the car to the govt. He said we would get a check for whatever they consider the value of the 3 year old car in about 3 months. Then we got a call from some govt office demanding that we pay immediately the tax on the car that we had avoided as an olim benefit.
This amount BTW (by the way) is more than they will pay us for the car’s worth unless they pay 100% of the car blue book value and they really demand that money now, well before they get around to paying us for the car.
Should we contact a lawyer to deal with this?
Can we repudiate the papers and take possession of our car back? I am willing to let it sit in our driveway as a decoration since we will not be able to afford a replacement car anytime soon. BTW of course the next car we get will not have that olim tax discount allowed. So we have to pay tax twice.
And so Israel’s tax authorities deal with victims of a terror attack.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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9 Responses
Unfortunately, the Israeli bureaucracy is notorious for these things. Try speaking to your congressman (Israeli equivalent)
that is the problem with the Israeli government they are more accomodating to the araba then they are to their own people. I think besides getting a lawyer and suing the Israel government for all their worth (Olmert is worth millions HA HA!)this should also be reported to the American Embassy since you are after all an American and they still have an obligation to protect you even though you are overseas. The I sraeli government wont even do that at home forget about abroad. If you are frum you are just lucky that they keep you alive. They dont realize that as soon as the one above determines that there should be a terror attack in any shape or form no security in the world could stop it
Beautiful story, I love Israel
I would leave and never go back untill moshiach comes. and i LOVE eretz yisroel, but not like this. uh uh. no way. its sick and theres a damented govt. run away from the tumah there! the govt is tumah!
this is why i left israel after 5 years, i’ve never been happier. dont mean to bash but the attitude of israeli workers from the grocery clerk to the postal worker to the government agent is awful. im sorry you work for 25 shekel an hour, im sorry your relative was killed in war or attack, but to have to prove your superiority to everyone else on a daily basis because you feel so frustrated in life is just childish, grow up you israelis!
#6. one thing has nothing to do with the other, listing 3 fundamental torah laws and equating them next to a discussion on living in israel isnt making sense
To: Comment by NeveAliza — July 30, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
PLEASE Re-read – RE-think – RE-trackt from your posted statement…. ITS THE GREATEST PRIVILIGE TO BE A “JEW” IN “EVERY” WAY. You should NOT being posted such comments.
I am shocked! Yes this couple is having an “unfair” ordeal.
but this is not why or why not we live in Eret YIsrael haKedosha!
I can’t beleive that yidden wrote these comments! (especially someone who calls themselves stopbashing)
Our grandparents cried for centries for the zechos to live in Eretz Yisrael under ruthless goverments (turks and GB) What we have today is gan eden, we pay relativly a small price for the zechus of breathing and walking in Eretz Yisrael.
Eretz Yisrael is not just a nice place to think about once a year or to sing pretty songs about, it’s an opprotunity to live in the kings palace. If you live in chutz laEretz, you have to know why you are there and not here (I am writng from EY incase youcan’t tell) not the other way around. (IF your Satmar that answers it) The Satamar Rav had great ahavas EY and I don’t think he would approve of this kind of talk.
Thank you to Israeliyid and Neve Aliza for thier comments.
Hi all i am a Survivor of the 1st Tractor Attack (was on the #13 bus that was flipped over, and took all the pictures that were posted here)
and i agree that the GOV. got to go and the israeli flag needs Tzitzit
but in my case (i am a tourist/student) they really wanted to help me (as a Victim of Terror) they told me to come in to their office (P’Tuach Lumi) for the paper work/red tape on a Monday
when i asked the bus driver to let me off nearest their office he told me that they are closed on Mondays!!! but when i got there the guard had my name and let me into an Empty office!!! Wow they let me in, with no waiting and they did help me.
so i would try pushing a little
you can read my story at http://drop.io/terrorattack the password is wewantmoshiachnow
BYW
There will be an Azkara for Lily Goren HY”D on Thursday July 31, 28 Tammuz in the Banquet Hall of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue at 8:15 PM.
Aliyah lakever and gilui matzeva on Friday August 1, 29 Tammuz, at Har Hamenuchot at 10:30 AM.
Shenishma Besorot Tovot.