Progress towards a Fair Rent Law

Fair Rent Law – Proposed Legislation

Recent years have seen several attempts to incorporate a Fair Rent Law into the Israeli housing sector. The most recent attempt passed the Ministerial Legislation Committee in late July 2015. The proposed legislation will now be placed before the Knesset, and could become law before the end of 2015.

The main provisions of the proposal include:

Read more

How to save thousands when negotiating to buy a property

Recently a client called to discuss an offer he’d had for his apartment. He thought the property was worth more, and asked for my opinion about negotiating the price. During our conversation I remembered some fascinating research conducted by a friend, a professor of economics. When discussing prices, we unconsciously perceive things relatively. So, if you’re negotiating for a … Read more

Of Scotland, Jews, Palestine, and an excellent Glasgow Novelist

Several months ago I wrote a post about J. David Simons highly-acclaimed books, The Credit Draper and The Liberation of Celia Khan – describing the lives of Jewish immigrants to Scotland at the turn of last century. Back then, I mentioned they were the first two books of a trilogy, the last of which – The Land Agent – was due out in October.

The Land AgentLittle did I realise that by writing the blog, I’d find myself a few months later, the proud recipient of an advance copy of The Land Agent, forwarded to me by the author “solely for the purpose of providing an online review of the book to coincide with its launch on 22nd October 2014.” (Even my request to share it with Significant Other was politely declined).

I’m apparently “under no obligation to provide a positive review.” 🙂

Read more

Brilliant novels set in Jewish Glasgow

A few months ago I wrote about the publication of Jewish Glasgow and to my great surprise, the post was read by more than 1,000 people (probably expat. Scottish Jews) around the world. I’m hoping this post will reach the same audience, as the work I’m about to describe deserves at least the same praise.

“David Simons has become a famous author,” declared an old friend at the dinner table during my recent visit to Glasgow.

I’m always interested in a good read – irresistible if the author is someone I know.

That evening, I powered up my Kindle and searched for J. David Simons.

For the bargain price of only $4, I downloaded The Credit Draper – and was hooked by the end of page one.

Read more

My Community of Jews in Kilts

I would never have imagined myself sitting in the darkened carriage of a late-night Haifa-bound train, peering excitedly at old photographs through the dull glow of a tiny illuminated magnifying glass. But there we were, hunched over, heads together, Significant Other and myself (two ex-Glaswegians) poring over faces and places, looking for something familiar, or a family likeness among the crowds.

Launch of Jewish Glasgow, Tel Aviv November 2013
Launch of Jewish Glasgow, Tel Aviv November 2013

We had just attended the launch in the Diaspora Museum at Tel Aviv University of “Jewish Glasgow – an Illustrated History” published by the Scottish Jewish Archive Centre in Glasgow.

Read more