Going to Israel this week!

Home Forums Eretz Yisroel Going to Israel this week!

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  • #618806
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Who wants to hang out?

    Phone questions please:

    How do I get a temporary cell phone? Do I get an Israeli SIM card? Will my cell still have internet access? Should I just email instead of taking phone calls?

    Is there an inexpensive and reliable temporary phone plan, that doesn’t charge extra per outbound calls?

    What do you do when you’re in Israel? What are my cell phone options?

    Thanks 🙂

    #1206509
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    I’d love to! Please come visit me while you are here!

    That’s so exciting! When are you coming? There are places in the US that rent phones for use in EY. I got a good deal in Lakewood, but since you’re not in Lakewood, that probably wouldn’t help you.

    #1206510
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    This Wed for two weeks 🙂

    How do I visit you? (Without having the entire world know and etc.)

    Moderators will you please email LU my email address? I just updated it on my profile.

    Yes I’m not in Lakewood. Maybe there is something that I can get in EY? I wonder if duty free sells something like a travel SIM card.

    #1206511
    kapusta
    Participant

    You can try TravelCell. I think they ship.

    Have a great time!

    #1206512
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    LB – I was half-joking. I would really love to meet with you, but I don’t think the moderators let people be in touch with each other.

    It could be dangerous since neither of us knows that the other is what she claims to be.

    In theory, I would think there could be safe ways to do it. Like you could give me references and I could “check you out” (and vice versa) and we could make sure to meet in a safe public place.

    But I still don’t think the moderators will let. If they do, I think I would be fine with it if it were done the way I just suggested.

    #1206513
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Haha well here is a perfect example of a woman taking a joke literally 🙂

    True true… Thanks I needed to hear that for sometimes I am trusting to a fault. At the same time, amazing things happen and I met amazing people by openly trusting.

    I guess it’s easier for me because I am just visiting too. And obviously it would only be in a public place.

    Then again, that is a good point because I wouldn’t want just anybody being able to find my family. I want to keep them safe. So yea, dunno.

    All is good 🙂

    Anyway…

    kapusta: Thanks and thanks for the TravelCell suggestion!

    #1206514
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    LB: “Haha well here is a perfect example of a woman taking a joke literally :)”

    Well, it was really only partially a joke. I really would love to meet with you if the moderators allow it!

    #1206516

    Perhaps both of you could e-mail the mods a video of

    yourselves to verify that you are as you say you are?

    #1206517
    takahmamash
    Participant

    Can you please bring me a can of Old Bay? We’re almost out, and I use it all the time. Thanks.

    As far as cell phones, you have several options:

    1. You can rent a cell phone or SIM card at Ben Gurion airport. There’s a booth in the arrivals hall. If you choose to rent a SIM card, you MUST call your cell provider BEFORE you leave the U.S. to verify that your phone is unlocked!

    2. You can stick with using your phone only when there’s WiFi. This option won’t let you make or receive calls, unless you have WhatsApp.

    3. You can contact your cell provider in the U.S. and see if they have a reasonably priced international plan that includes calls and data.

    If you’re here for 2 weeks, make sure you do things outside of Yerushalayim. Despite what most tourists think, there is life outside the Holy City!

    #1206518
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Old Bay? They sell that at the grocery store in the US. I can send you some from here 🙂

    What is the Mods email address? Wait maybe I will let this idea pass for now. Two weeks is really shorter than I imagine it being now.

    Between jet lag, unpacking, packing, commuting, and planning, there is limited time to see mishpacha, all over EY, for real. Which is my priority. So yea.

    Thank you about the phone thing in Ben Gurion. It is too late for TravelCell.

    Whatsapp does phone calls?! Omgosh maybe I should just do that.

    If I am using my phone then isn’t it unlocked? Okay I will check to be sure.

    Thank you!

    #1206519
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    For the past five years my mother has been trying to convince me to get Whatsapp. For my defense, the app used up so much battery and I get distracted by texts. Yet now I have a new phone thank you Hashem and may it be good always, and have a greater need (free phone calls in EY).

    Anyway it is amazing that someone in the CR changed the course of history in one post.

    I just installed WhatsApp. Maybe it was an answer to my mom’s prayers. And mine too. Worth a try 🙂

    Thank you!!!

    #1206520
    takahmamash
    Participant

    If I am using my phone then isn’t it unlocked? Okay I will check to be sure.

    A “locked” phone means you can only use the SIM card that’s in there now. If you try a different SIM card, it will not work. An “unlocked” phone means you can use any SIM card that fits.

    Call your carrier, and ask them to unlock your phone, or how you can unlock it. Sometimes they can do it, other times you may need to download an app. It all depends on the carrier.

    As far as the Old Bay – my wife just returned from the states, and she forgot to pick up more. I use it on everything – fish, chicken, vegetables, rice, tuna patties . . . Not having more will put a crimp in my cooking.

    #1206521
    Ephraim
    Participant

    If am going this week Wednesday for a long weekend. My cellphone plan is on Verizon. They have a new travel plan that allows you to use your own phone number. My plan here in NY follows me to Israel. All local calls in Israel as well as all calls back to the US are free. My data allowance here follows me there. It costs $10 per 24 hours. Works in a large number of countries around the world for the same price. Obviously not worth it if your going on a long trip.

    #1206522
    kapusta
    Participant

    Based on my limited experience, your phone will probably not work in Israel because service will be coming from a different carrier. However, if you let your regular carrier know, you will also be subject to any fees for calls/texts long distance. If you are ok with Whatsapp only, then you probably wouldn’t need to do that,

    #1206523
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Comlink – how would they know it’s really me?

    Really, I don’t see why it’s different than a shidduch where you check the guy out first. In fact it’s even safer because we’re both girls.

    #1206524
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    takahmamash: Oh no wonder. Just realized you’re in Israel.

    Liberation from importation, aka Old Bay recipes from epicurious 🙂

    Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe

    Ingredients

    ? 1 tablespoon celery salt

    ? 1/4 teaspoon paprika

    ? 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

    ? 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

    ? 1 pinch ground dry mustard

    ? 1 pinch ground mace (may substitute a teensy pinch nutmeg)

    ? 1 pinch ground cinnamon

    ? 1 pinch ground cardamom

    ? 1 pinch ground allspice

    ? 1 pinch ground cloves

    ? 1 pinch ground ginger

    OR

    Old Bay Seasoning (Copycat) From FOOD.COM

    Yield: 0.5 cup

    2 tablespoons bay leaf powder

    2 tablespoons celery salt (or 1 tbls. ground celery seed and 1 tbls. salt)

    1 tablespoon dry mustard

    2 teaspoons ground black pepper

    2 teaspoons ground ginger

    2 teaspoons sweet paprika (smoked paprika is even better if you can find it!)

    1 teaspoon white pepper

    1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

    1 teaspoon ground cloves

    1 teaspoon ground allspice

    1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

    1/2 teaspoon ground mace

    1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

    1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Preparation

    Combine thoroughly and store in sealed container

    #1206525
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    takahmamash: Thanks for the info and heads up. Based on your explanation, my phone is prob locked.

    #1206526
    lesschumras
    Participant

    If you have Verizon, you can use its Travel Pass. For $10 a day you use your phone exactly as you would at home, so no charges for calls, texts or email. For long trips it’s expensive but worth it if using it less than two weeks

    #1206527
    Meno
    Participant

    If you have T-Mobile, you can use your cell phone in Israel. I think it’s pretty much free with maybe one or two exceptions.

    Data and texting only

    #1206528
    mw13
    Participant

    I seem to remember a meeting between two CRers being arraigned in the past… Joseph and the Wolf maybe? Anyways I think they just chose a time a public place (a restaurant, if I’m not mistaken) to meet without exchanging any personal info.

    #1206529
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    I saw something like that once when I was looking at past threads. Someone asked the moderators about it, and they said “don’t worry; it’s just a joke”. Truthfully, I was wondering how they could know that they wouldn’t really meet for real.

    Well, we could try that, LB. But I wonder if that’s safe. The whole world would know when I would be where. And I really would have no way of knowing who LB is, because anyone in the world could pretend to be her.

    #1206530
    Meno
    Participant

    “Data and texting only”

    Isn’t that what phones are for?

    I thought phones were for calling…

    #1206531
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Kosher phones don’t even have texting or data. I actually have no idea what data is. Is that internet?

    #1206532
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Data includes internet, yes.

    Also sending photos via text. Here’s an explanation regarding iPhone data usage:

    “Preventing Cellular Data Use

    You would need to send thousands of 160 character messages to use a megabyte of data, but photos and videos consume data much more quickly.

    from the Houston Chronicle

    #1206533
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Yes LU, that would be a huge safety risk.

    Unless we film it as an educational video on “What Not to Do,” sponsored by the Modesty Police on their coffee break, it’s prob best to let the universe happen as it will.

    It’s interesting though because there was one poster not too long ago that I think publicized his trip to daven at the kotel.

    Even doing that though would be risky. Plus I would probably think that everyone was you. Which would make for awkward introductions.

    It would be cool though to play Where’s Waldo IRL

    #1206534
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    It was Yomtov time when the poster publicized going to the Kosel. I think it was Erev Y”K. There were so many people there then – I think my friend even mentioned that her son tried going that day and turned back because it was impossible to get there.

    With the whole world there, it’s not really a safety risk. It’s like your telling me that you are going to EY today. There are probably less people on planes flying to EY today than there were at the Kosel that day.

    #1206535
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Geniuses!!! Baruch Hashem for CR

    Yay I made a phone call to Israel using Whatsapp using WiFi 🙂

    Thank you this is so awesome!

    #1206536
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Wow – people really get practical info from the CR! Amazing!

    #1206537
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Omgosh yes!!!! Best thing ever.

    Confession please::: Sorry sorry sorry. I lied about my layover location. I wanted to protect my anonymity so I said another common layover city from the US to EY. The moderators may know where I really was based on my IP address. Dunno.

    Whatsapp was the biggest bracha.

    Yes Hashem provides through CR histadulus 🙂

    #1206538
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Lightbrite, just want to wish you a great Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh! I don’t know if you will get this message before you’re mekabel Shabbos, but just in case you do –

    Have an amazing Shabbos!

    #1206539
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    LB: “Confession please::: Sorry sorry sorry. I lied about my layover location. I wanted to protect my anonymity so I said another common layover city from the US to EY.”

    Well, I guess it’s a good thing that Rebbetzin Joseph and I cancelled our tickets to London at the last minute…. 🙂

    #1206540
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Gut Voch LB! How was Shabbos in Eretz HaKodesh?

    #1206542
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Thank you thank you and Shavua tov ?

    #1206543
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    It was good B”H 🙂

    #1206545
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Takahmamash +100

    I’m freezing in bed with my Ema and she just asked how it came to be that I finally got Whatsapp.

    So I just showed her the CR and read her your post.

    Thank you thank you 🙂

    #1206546
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    lol. I guessed you’re not embarrassed to tell your mother about the CR 🙂

    The other day when I was in the CR, I accidentally clicked on something that I didn’t want there and I couldn’t get rid of it, so I had to ask my mother for help. As soon as she figured out enough steps that all that was needed was to click on the “x” to make it go off, I was like, “it’s fine, I’ll do the rest, you can leave”.

    I was super-embarrassed for her to log off of the other site and see the CR underneath.

    #1206547
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Haha LU!!! Yes I am really open with my mom. The physical distance makes it easier to do so.

    I don’t know whether or not keeping it secret is best.

    But I do know that I want her to be part of my world, so I gave her the chance to see for herself ?

    #1206548
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Three things:

    1) Thanks Mods for not kicking me out and being patient when I was asking about sharing my email (SooOOooo smart of you to avoid those risks!)

    “2 – Personal email addresses or websites will not be published. Posts that ask others to meet them at “Plonis” will not be approved. Should a blogger continuously try to pry personal information from others, he/she will be booted from YWN

    One user name per person. Period! If there is a need to drop an existing user name and adopt a new user name (e.g. personal information has been compromised), let us know so that we do not unitentionally “out” you.” (MODS)

    http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/rules-of-the-ywn-coffee-room-please-read

    2) Yay for Mod’s 2 on Personal info!

    What a relief! I seriously felt guilty about not bringing Old Bay.

    Last night I even had a dream that I walked by a giant container of Old Bay in a store (think Costco mayonnaise on steroids) and didn’t buy it. Gueasing it was so big because it bottled up other recent guilts.

    3) Thank you Israel I ? You!!!

    #1206549
    takahmamash
    Participant

    lightbrite:

    First of all, shavua tov and Chanukah samayach!

    Takahmamash +100

    I’m freezing in bed with my Ema and she just asked how it came to be that I finally got Whatsapp.

    So I just showed her the CR and read her your post.

    Thank you thank you 🙂

    My pleasure! I’m very happy it worked out for you!

    I seriously felt guilty about not bringing Old Bay.

    No need to feel guilty. As it turns out, my wife DID remember to buy the Old Bay – evidently, one of the girls was putting stuff away, and put the new Old Bay in the back of the spice cabinet where it was hidden from sight. It’s a good thing we found it, because the old can is just about finished!

    When do we get to hear more about your trip? What did you do that was exciting?

    #1206550
    Lilmod Ulelamaid
    Participant

    Takamamash: I’m still waiting for your response to this. You disagreed with my limud zchus on the settlers, so what is yours?

    http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/destruction-of-illegal-construction-in-israel#post-638866

    #1206551
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    takahmamash: Yay to your wife!!! Yay for Old Bay 🙂

    About my trip: I don’t know what to say. It was satisfying. Beyond satisfying. I needed it so much and I feel so good and more whole now B”H.

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