Podcasts

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President Obama visits Israel this week while trouble in the region brews as Syria continues to implode and the battles get closer to Israel's bottlers. Baruch Widen, Middle East expert, joins Yishai to shine a light on international forces pressing on Israel.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai and Malkah share their adventures preparing for Pesach - don't miss it! An annual treat on the Yishai Fleisher Show - experience the pre-Pesach special feeling in Jerusalem 5773.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

What can you say about banks? While ATMs and online banking mean that you can do transactions and watch your account 24 hours a day, most people have never met their bank manager and the cozy feeling of having a local bank has been lost. This week, Doug speaks to Anat Admati, author of The Bankers’ New Clothes and a professor of economics at Stanford University, who explains the ins and outs of the banking system today.

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Yishai makes his way back to Florida to speak to Hadassah of Valencia Reserve about "Guns & Society in Israel: How We Make It Work" Yishai is a highly trained IDF soldier (he is active in battlefield unit in the reserves and has trained on various high tech weapons) he also carries a handgun on a regular basis as a private citizen and speaks on this topic from the perspective of both Israeli and American law (as a graduate of an American law school), as well as Israeli culture and day to day norms in regard to guns in society.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

What could be wrong with Congress trying to catch the bad guys, in this case, folks who use offshore tax havens to avoid paying their fair share of taxes?

It seems as if the legislation meant to catch tax evaders caught a lot of other folks in its net, too.

While it seems like a law designed to catch tax cheaters is a good idea, it’s implementation is making life difficult for the tens of thousands tax-abiding Americans residing abroad (including Israel) who now are facing difficulties at banks and foreign investment houses.

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2010 (FATCA), imposed upon foreign banks and financial institutions the obligation to identify American account holders or face a 30% tax penalty.

Backdrop to FATCA

The U.S. government needed to raise revenues, and thought it had a good target: levying taxes on money hidden in accounts in foreign banks and financial institutions.

In order to go after these concealed assets, America needed to go after the banks and financial institutions that help hide them. Who would have thought it possible that America could flex its muscles overseas and force foreign banks to report their customers to a foreign government? Apparently the threat of extracting taxes and fines on the foreign institutions itself was a great motivator and Uncle Sam managed to remove the veil of secrecy on Swiss accounts when it successfully negotiated a settlement with UBS. In order to avoid criminal prosecution by the Justice Department, UBS paid a large fine and disclosed details about thousands of the bank’s American depositors.

The FATCA Legislation

FATCA imposes an obligation on foreign financial institutions to register with the IRS if they have depositors or conduct financial transactions with U.S. citizens or businesses. Registration includes an agreement to identify and report information about American-held accounts directly to the IRS.

Critics of the legislation, and particularly the foreign financial institutions, view it as an improper extension of the enforcement powers of the IRS into foreign countries. However, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Great Britain were the first nations to lend legitimacy to FATCA by agreeing to comply with the legislation’s mandates.

Impact of FATCA on Americans Living Abroad

Foreign banks are concerned about the additional costs to them associated with complying with FATCA disclosure rules. Rather than incur these expenses, foreign financial institutions are closing their doors to Americans living abroad.

As a result, it’s difficult for many American expatriates to find a bank or financial institution that is willing to do business with them. Americans living in foreign countries for legitimate reasons are being lumped with tax evaders and tax cheats by foreign banks that are wary of subjecting their institution to FATCA disclosure requirements. These Americans are being treated as criminals by foreign banks seeking to avoid FATCA.

In the end, the law-abiding American expats and foreign financial institutions are the biggest losers from the FATCA legislation, since the bad guys will probably find a way around the system anyway.

American expatriates (olim included) are being subjected to many new regulatory requirements by Uncle Sam. My new book, The Expatriates Guide to Handling Money and Taxes, discusses how expats can become compliant with the IRS and gives strategies for dealing with common financial problems faced by expats. Jewish Press readers can get the book at a discount by using the discount code JPRESS.

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Yishai presents a riveting talk he recently attended at Yeshiva University given by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Listen in to this segment and get inspired!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Are you thinking of moving abroad? If so, you’ve got a lot to think about. Moving to another country isn’t only about booking a one-way ticket. What about taxes, work permits, and other legal considerations? In the second part of this week's Goldsteinon Gelt podcast, Doug finds out what you need to know when he interviews Darlene Hart, chairwoman of the U.S. Tax & Financial Services Group.

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Yishai presents a portion of the talk he gave at The Shtiebel in Brooklyn during his winter 2013 North American speaking tour. He talks about the mitzvah of Eretz Yisrael and how important it is for all Jews to realize the difference they can make by taking small steps such as purchasing Israeli wine on Shabbat or making a commitment to visit Israel for one week a year.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Broadcasting from the departure terminal of Newark Liberty International Airport while waiting for his flight home to Israel, Yishai talks about his experiences during his recently finished North American tour. He specifically talks about the difference between living a Jewish life in the United States and in Israel and how although he enjoyed spending time with his family while in New Jersey, Israel truly is home. Be sure to listen in!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

What will the world’s economy be like in 10 years’ time? On this week’s Goldstein on Gelt podcast, Doug interviews Nobel Prize winner Professor Christopher A. Sims. Professor Sims explains his award-winning theories, for which he received the Nobel Prize for economics in 2011 with Thomas Sargent, and shares his predictions for the world’s economic future. Find out more about Professor Sims' fascinating economic theories by listening to his interview in Part 1 of the Goldstein on Geltshow.

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Yishai is joined by Rachamim Clement Soffer, who describes his personal experience of the destruction of the ancient Jewish community in Egypt.  Rachamim lived an idyllic life as a young teenager in Egypt until dark and difficult times descended on his world. He was evicted from Egypt at the age of 15 because he was helping the effort to rescue Jews from ghettos slated for annihilation. Years later, Rachamim (Clement) was able to use his political connections in the American government to save the Jewish cemetery in Egypt. Be sure to listen to this touching and inspiring segment. (This is the continuation of segment #3)

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai is joined by Rachamim Clement Soffer, who describes his personal experience of the destruction of the ancient Jewish community in Egypt.  Rachamim lived an idyllic life as a young teenager in Egypt until dark and difficult times descended on his world. He was evicted from Egypt at the age of 15 because he was helping the effort to rescue Jews from ghettos slated for annihilation. Years later, Rachamim (Clement) was able to use his political connections in the American government to save the Jewish cemetery in Egypt. Be sure to listen to this touching and inspiring segment (and the continuation in segment #4)

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai makes his way back to Florida to speak to Hadassah of Valencia Reserve. Yishai kicks off by talking about how American Jews need to look past any fear that they see regarding Israel and see the truth. He talks and ends discussing having famed journalist Christiane Amanpour visit his Mount of Olives home and the true reason why Amanpour did not use the footage that was filmed.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

In the second part of this week's Goldstein on Gelt podcast, Doug gives important information about retirement, insurance, and pensions in Israel. If you’re an oleh or you are considering moving to Israel, find out which kinds of insurance would be most suitable for you and your family. Don’t miss out on these vital facts. Listen to this part of the podcast for more.

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Yishai and Malkah bring us up to date on what they have learned during their month in the USA. Yishai talks about the large amount of driving he has been doing since beginning his tour in the US and how the music that he played while driving affected his mood and spirit. Malkah talks about the huge differences between shopping in the US and in Israel and how the huge amount of packaging for both products and businesses in the US are really nothing more than a façade for the same products. Yishai ends the segment discussing the importance of family in Israel.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Americans earning income in the USA have to file taxes on or before April 15th, but what about Americans earning and living abroad? With the implementation of the Patriot Act as well as other laws, expatriate Americans face a whole slew of new reporting regulations. These laws make it necessary for Americans abroad to file reports…even if they don’t owe any taxes.

Unfortunately, many U.S. citizens living overseas are unaware of their reporting obligations towards to America. If they just fill in a basic tax form, they may think they’re done.

But they’re not. (There’s a lot more to do. At the bottom of this article, find out how to get a discount on The Expatriate’s Guide to Handling Money and Taxes.)

If you have more than $10,000 in assets overseas (on any single day of the year…if you transfer funds to buy real estate, or if you have a foreign bank account, or if you have a foreign pension fund, etc.) Uncle Sam wants to know about it. While the intentions behind filing the FBAR form were to make it more difficult to launder money and increase tax revenue, the real result has been to make life a nightmare for Americans living abroad.

Even honest folks who are unaware of their filing obligations are committing a criminal offense if they don’t file this report correctly by June 30of every year for the preceding tax year.

I discussed the issue of U.S. expats’ tax obligations with international tax specialist Ron Zalben, of Don Shrensky & Co, Jerusalem, to find out what U.S. olim need to know.

“Why are FBAR (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) and FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) forms causing so much trouble?” I asked.

Ron explained, “Since so many U.S. citizens living abroad have never filed a U.S. tax return (for legitimate or other reasons), it’s scary for them to now begin a relationship with the IRS.  They’re scared because of the uncertainty of dealing with the IRS - something they never have dealt with previously. This uncertainty causes panic and fear.  Starting shortly with FATCA, foreign banks will start sharing information of U.S. citizens’ bank accounts with the IRS.”

I asked Ron for specific tips on how to file the FBAR and he gave me these three ideas:

1. Don’t panic.

2. Seek professional advice.

3. Organize the details of your income and foreign accounts for each tax year.

Indeed, although the idea of filling in a very long, complex tax form might seem rather daunting, approaching it in a systematic manner is helpful. Make sure to include all bank and savings accounts in your name, as well as any accounts you have authority over or a financial interest in (business accounts, non-profit organization treasurers, children’s accounts, etc.)

To further awareness of American expatriates’ reporting requirements both Ron and I contributed chapters to a new book, called The Expatriate’s Guide to Handling Money and Taxes. The idea behind the book is to spread the awareness of new tax legislation that has already had a profound effect on expats everywhere.

If you want to make sure that you fulfill your legal obligation to the U.S. government properly, download this book and be sure to implement the easy-to-follow checklist of things to do. For Jewish Press readers, get half off the regular price of the book by using the discount code JPRESS. Go to www.ExpatGuideToMoney.com and order now. The discount will expire on tax day, April 15th.

Did you know that America is about the only country in the world that taxes its expatriate citizens, even if they haven’t lived or worked in the States for many years, and even if they haven’t lived or worked there at all? So what do U.S. citizens need to know about taxation before they consider living abroad? And what is Residence-Based Taxation (RBT)? On this week’'s Goldstein on Gelt show, Doug speaks to Jackie Bugnion of the ACA, who heads the tax team of the organization’s executive committee, to find out more.

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Yishai presents the audio from a speech he gave last week at Ohab Zedek on New York’s Upper West Side. In the second half, he takes questions from audience members and also talks about alternatives to the two-state solution.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai presents the audio from a speech he gave last week at Ohab Zedek on New York’s Upper West Side. In the first half, he talks about post-election government coalition building.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai is joined by Rabbi Mendy Gurkov of Chabad of Upper Passaic. Together, they discuss the efforts taken by the Gurkovs to create a flourishing Jewish community in an area that is traditionally thought of as not particularly Jewish.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Meet Rony Hadid, who has been an insurance agent for the past 12 years. Rony has lived in Israel for the past two decades after making aliyah from his native Brazil. Rony explains the various retirement funds that exist in Israel, what they mean, their tax benefits, and more. So if you’re either living in Israel, or contemplating making aliyah, listen to this informative interview on the Goldstein on Gelt show.

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Malkah and Yishai kick off with their humorous and inspiring reflections on a month in the USA with family and their first Purim away from Israel in many years (they were in Teaneck!). Yishai moves on to present audio he recently recorded at an event for newly minted Member of Knesset Moshe Feiglin. Be sure to listen in!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Is there anything dramatic or exciting about being an expat? On the first part of this week's Goldstein on Gelt show, Doug meets Chris Pavone, author of The Expats, a novel that he wrote while living in Luxembourg. Chris had worked as a book editor in New York City for 20 years until his wife was offered a job in Luxembourg, and he became a stay-at-home dad to their young children while living in Europe. This experience became the backdrop to his book The Expats, a best-selling thriller. Find out more on this week’s show.

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Yishai presents a fascinating interview with Joseph Sabag, Florida Region Exec Director of the ZOA on the real story of anti-Israel groups on campus and their efforts to delegitimize the Jewish State in young people’s eyes. Be sure to listen in!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Mike Mayo, finance analyst and author of Exile on Wall Street, has been named on Worth Magazine’s list of the most powerful people in finance. On the Goldstein on Gelt show, Mike talks about the changes that need to be made in the world of finance, the recent world finance crisis, and what’s happening on Wall Street today.

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Yishai and Malkah kick off this week’s show as they continue their US road trip from Florida to New Jersey. Listen in as they share reflections on Jewish reality from Israeli politics as it looks from America to keeping family connected across the great divide between Israel and the Diaspora communities.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Meet Joe Carlen, who has written an intriguing biography of Benjamin Graham, the economist who influenced Warren Buffet, Irving Kahn, and other famous financial figures. Carlen, author of The Einstein of Money, and a business consultant himself, speaks to Doug on this week’s episode of the Goldstein on Geltshow about Benjamin Graham and his philosophy. How do Graham’'s theories affect investors and the financial world today? Find out by listening to this fascinating interview.

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Yishai interviews Malkah’s grandfather Michael Bernath on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Bernath discusses his past, including his experiences in Europe during World War II, surviving the Holocaust, and having his family with him in Florida to celebrate his birthday.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
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Yishai is joined by Abe Lubinsky to talk about the preservation of the Mount of Olives and the importance of keeping Diaspora Jews connected today the story of Israel. They discuss the current state of the Mount of Olives and how there are big plans for it in the future.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai is joined by activist and professor Dr. Mordechai Kedar. Together, they discuss the Muslim world, changes in Africa in Mali and Libya, Europe's low birthrate, and the real wish of Arabs in Israel. Be sure to listen in to catch this segment where Kedar gives his frank and matter of fact view on the Middle East and what could happen in the future!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Tax attorney Dave Wolf, a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Tax Section and a member of the appeal committee for Maror monies in Israel, tells Doug how to deal with U.S. tax laws when living abroad, which tax amnesties are available, and what would happen if you tried to renounce your American citizenship.

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Yishai and Malkah broadcast away from our Mt. of Olives studio and start off by talking about the major differences between life in the US and in Israel. They discuss celebrating Purim in the US and end the segment with a discussion about American President Barack Obama’s upcoming trip to Israel.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Are you an American citizen now living in Israel or any other country? If so,have you been paying all your U.S. taxes? You might not be aware that you still have tax obligations to the IRS, even though you are paying taxes to your current country of residence. On this week’s Goldstein on Gelt show, Doug speaks to CPA Ron Zalben, who talks about the FBAR and FATCA tax forms, what they are, and why it is so important to file them.

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Yishai is joined by Israeli basketball star Tamir Goodman. Goodman and Yishai talk about Goodman’s background and how he has managed to be both a professional athlete and an observant Jew without the need to compromise his values in order to be successful on the court. Goodman talks about the background behind his newest project, Sport Strings, which are a high-performance tzitzit made for athletes and being tested by the IDF.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai is joined by Knesset expert Jeremy Man Saltan to discuss the Israeli election results and the potential outcome of coalition building that is going on right now within the Israeli government. They move on to talk about how the Likud-Beiteinu coalition ran without a central platform, driving many voters to vote for parties on both the left and right of the coalition. They end the segment by discussing the stance of the Ultra-Orthodox in the coming government and how they could potentially have to make compromises due to the makeup of the upcoming government.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai and Malkah discuss a recent marriage proposal, which involved all aspects of the Israeli security apparatus including the IDF. They move on to provide audio from NPR about coming concerts and album from famed violinist Itzhak Pearlman and Cantor Yitchak Meir Helfgot. They move on to provide audio from Rabbi Chaim Richman about the resurgence of Anti-Semitism throughout the world. The segment ends with audio from PBS about the hardships that exist on the Syrian/Jordanian border.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

When should you start planning for retirement? In your twenties, or in your fifties? In the second part of this week's Goldstein on Gelt show, Doug meets Terry Savage, a well-known expert on personal finance. Terry, author of The New Savage Number: How Much Money Do Really You Need to Retire? tells us why time is more important than money and why you need to start planning for retirement even when you’re still young. Find out more about what you need for your golden years and when you should start teaching your kids about money.

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Yishai and Malkah read a moving letter from a listener in Poland and consider how Israel should look towards other countries in the world including Canada and India. Then a debate is revealed in the Fleisher household over how to enjoy the Superbowl or NOT! Do you have a Sports Illustrated Football Phone? What kind of recreation will best help us recharge in a healthy way? On that note, the Fleishers consider if it is really possible to have Sunday become a day off in Israel. Momemtum toward this policy is increasing with encouragement from Naftali Bennett.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

In the internet and cellphone age, it's hard to remember that not too long ago, people made all of their calculations in their heads. Has mental arithmetic become a thing of the past? On this week’s Goldstein on Gelt show, Dr. Arthur Benjamin, a professor of mathematics proves that this really isn'’t the case, and that making calculations in your head is not beyond the reach of the ordinary person. On this week's podcast, you will find out how to play the numbers game and  apply mathematics to everyday life.

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Yishai presents audio from an event he recently attended in Maale Adumim which was sponsored by Rabbi Elan Adler, where six new Olim to Israel present the five most significant things they’ve learned since making Aliyah. To kick off this segment, we hear Rebbetzin Yael Kaner. Following the Rebbetzin is Annie Orenstein. We end this week’s show with Maklah Shrybman along with a musical number from Andy Gross.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
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Yishai presents audio from an event he recently attended in Maale Adumim which was sponsored by Rabbi Elan Adler, where six new Olim to Israel present the five most significant things they’ve learned since making Aliyah. To kick off this segment, we hear Rebbetzin Rivkah Adler. Following the Rebbetzin is Yoni Buzelan. The segment ends with Andy Gross discussing his Aliyah experiences.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai is joined by alternative peace activist Baruch Widen to discuss the outcome of last week’s elections in Israel. They start by contrasting the results of the election to what many were expecting due to polls that were carried out. They move on to talk about and compare Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid, both new parties that broke out during the campaign. Are they more same than different? Listen in to find out!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Meet Julie Deane, who managed to fulfill her dreams when she opened The Cambridge Satchel Company. Julie and her mother originally founded the company in order to reach the goal of sending Julie’s children to a good, private school, and they became more successful than they ever imagined. Julie shares with Doug how she managed to run a company from her kitchen at home, eventually getting listed as one of the 100 most influential figures in fashion. Don’t miss this inspiring interview on the Goldstein on Gelt show.

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Yishai and Malkah discuss the recent passing of Yishai’s grandfather, Moredechai Ben Rosa, who passed away at the age of 92. Yishai talks gives some background about his grandfather including his experience in Leningrad during World War II and also mentions the interesting yet Halachic situation in which his grandfather was buried. They move on and end the segment talking about the importance of finding unity within the Jewish people in order to build a strong nation and people.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

Do you have any secret funds or debts that your spouse doesn’t know about? I’m referring here to a hidden bank account or an unknown credit card or debt that you have never told anyone about.

If you do, then you are definitely not alone, as a recent Prudential Insurance company survey showed. When the British newspaper The Telegraph published the results of the survey at the end of November, it revealed that around 20 percent of British citizens have debts that they have not disclosed to their partners. Additionally, a slightly smaller number of people admitted that they had hidden investments and savings that were totally unknown to their spouses.

Those asked gave several reasons for concealing their debts. Many times, the underlying cause was a combination of bad monetary habits and embarrassment – over borrowing money to cover everyday living costs, or needing to pay off debts that shouldn’t have arisen. Some said their overspending had been caused by emotional distress, leading to financial problems. In many cases (22 percent), the reason for hiding savings was the fear of a breakup and making sure that there would be some money if this would occur. Eight percent even said that they hide these funds because they simply don’t trust the way their spouse handles money.

As a financial adviser, I often work with couples who argue with each other about money or who don’t trust each other when it comes to financial matters. Indeed, I noticed that attitudes to money are a huge cause of domestic disharmony. The statistics above definitely bear this out; they certainly don’t provide a very positive view of money or relationships.

The best way to combat these difficulties is to meet them head-on and prevent them from happening right from the beginning. If you have a son or daughter who is about to get married, sit down with the young couple and discuss financial habits, such as budgeting and saving. At the same time, emphasize openness and good communication in marriage. Trust and honesty are not only good values with regard to money, but also for marriage in general.

I recently discussed these issues with Sherrie Miller, co-founder of Choice of the Heart, an organization that prepares couples for marriage. And even if you have been married for twenty-five years, it certainly does no harm to review your financial habits with your spouse and to listen to some good and useful advice. Watch the video of my interview with Sherrie to learn more about financial fidelity and other tips for creating (and improving) a strong marriage.

Do you know what motivates your investment decisions? Is there a general rationale behind people's financial behavior? On this week’s Goldstein on Geltshow, Doug welcomes back Meir Statman, the Glenn Klimek Professor of Finance at the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University and Visiting Professor at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. He is also the author of What Investors Really Want. Professor Statman talks about what drives investor behavior and lies behind financial decision-making.

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Yishai presents audio from the Candidate Round-up at Jerusalem Great Synagogue (Pt. 2): Hosted by Jerusalem Post & Assoc. of Americans & Canadians in Israel (AACI)

Remarks during presentations: Rabbi Dov Lipman (Yesh Atid), Prof Alon Tal (Hatnua), Laura Wharton (Meretz), Prof. Aryeh Eldad (Otzma LeYisrael), Shemtov Menachem (Shas)

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
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Yishai broadcasts from the Candidate Round-up at Jerusalem Great Synagogue (Pt. 1): Hosted by Jerusalem Post & Assoc. of Americans & Canadians in Israel (AACI)

Interview: Ashley Perry (Deputy Dir. of Communications, Yisrael Beiteinu) Remarks during presentations: Yuli Edelstein (Likud/Beitenu) Isaac Herzog (Labor) Naftali Bennett (Bayit HaYehudi)

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

John Kraft of D.A. Davidson explains the future of banking and finance in the modern world. John has been researching banking technologies for a number of years, and he talks about what lies ahead for the consumer in the current world of developing technology and know-how. So are today's banking practices soon to become a thing of the past? Find out more by tuning into tonight’s show.

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This segment is broadcast during a gorgeous Jerusalem from a park in the Gei Ben Hinnom Valley. Malkah and alternative peace activist and dialoguer Baruch Widen join Yishai to further discuss why the results of the Israeli election can be seen as a freeing experience for the Jewish People as it could be the end of ideas such as the Oslo Accord. They move on to talk about the extremely low voter turnout among Israeli Arabs and how a lack of representation affects life for them. Yishai and the others switch gears completely and talk about the situation with the left and center-left parties including the potential demise of both Kadima and Tzipi Livni’s party and also how the election of Yair Lapid could affect Israeli politics. Malkah talks about her thoughts behind her polling decision and Widen gives his thoughts also on his decision in the voting booth.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

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Yishai kicks off this week’s show with a group of American Olim during an Election Day barbeque in an Armon Ha-Natziv park. To discuss the election and potential results, Yishai put together a panel of residents to discuss feelings and thoughts after voting in the Israeli election, some for the first time. Thoughts include personal reasons for choosing specific parties and also why those interviewed have chosen to live in Israel. Be sure to tune into this insightful and inspiring segment!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
Yishai on Facebook

What are bio-fuels? How are they made? And do you think they are a viable solution to the oil crisis? On this week’s Goldstein on Gelt show, Jonathan Trent of the NASA Ames Research Center and an adjunct professor in biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz introduces the Omega project and discusses other natural sources of fuel. Find out more by tuning into a very natural podcast this week.

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Yishai interviews Jamal Khori, an accountant that studies at Hebrew University and is also number seven on the party list for the Hope for Change, which is an alternative Arab party running in the upcoming elections. Yishai and Khori discuss how his party is one that is comprised of Arabs but also dedicated to the State of Israel.

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
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Yishai is joined by Yechezkel Stelzer, who is the leader of the Etid Echad (One Future) party. Together, they discuss the issue of pornography among Israelis and how an organization he is involved in, Guard Your Eyes is committed to assisting those who are struggling with this addiction. This is a segment not to be missed!

Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
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A few weeks ago, I received a telephone call from a well-meaning young woman. She was making cold calls from a list of members of the local community to ask for donations for a poor family. “The parents have no money. Both of them are working, but they can’t make ends meet. Right now, they and their five children are living in a very small rented apartment with no beds and debts that are impossible to pay,” she told me.

But while I felt very sorry for this family, I wondered if the answer was to simply raise money and hand them a check. (Before you read any further, don’t think I am suggesting that charity is a bad idea. Quite the opposite! I encourage everyone to try to give 20% of their income to charity. See this great example of kids giving charity.)

As I don’t know the particular circumstances of this individual family, I can’t say too much about their specific situation. However, many times I’ve noticed how families enter the cycle of debt because they have never been taught how to use their money properly. Even if both parents are working, they can drown in debts that may have started right from the beginning of their life together. Perhaps when they first got married, they were so sure of their new independence and life together that they didn’t stop to think how much money they were spending. Right at the beginning, they wanted a new dining room set, or they decided that as a young couple they should eat out at restaurants twice a week. They wanted to start out with an easy lifestyle. Perhaps they wanted to live higher than their parents who had nothing, or maybe they didn’t want to face a drop in the high standards that they enjoyed while living at home during their single years until they could make enough money to be able to maintain that kind of lifestyle themselves.

There could be so many reasons, but the underlying cause of the problems of many families is insufficient financial education and learned negative spending habits. If you grow up in a home where there is no concept of saving, and borrowing from one loan fund to pay off enough is considered as standard financial behavior, it’s very likely that you will end up inheriting the same bad fiscal habits unless you make an effort to learn differently.

The greatest gift that you can give to someone who needs your financial assistance because they are overwhelmed with debts is to encourage them to help themselves. While your check can pay off their current debt, it will only act as a Band-Aid, keeping them out of trouble until the next time. But if you can encourage them to look for a better-paid job, take a course on budgeting and money management, and to open a savings plan at the bank, you are giving them something that is a lot more valuable than any money.

Of course, charity doesn’t only mean giving to others. Sometimes, you need to be the recipient of your own tzedakah because the bottom line is that you are the only person who can really help yourself. So if you want to know more about planning for retirement, saving, and running your personal finances more effectively, start by reading self-help articles, attending budgeting courses, and adopting better monetary habits.

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Yishai is joined by Aryeh King, founder of the Israel Land Fund and number four on the candidate list for the Otzma LeYisrael (Strength to Israel) Party. Together, they discuss King’s association with E1, a large plot of land adjacent to Eastern Jerusalem that connects Jerusalem to Ma’ale Adumim. King talks about the background behind the area and how it is essential in connecting Jerusalem to the Dead Sea and also how he is actively purchasing land in the area to ensure it remains Jewish. Be sure to listen in to get the full scoop on this situation!

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Whether in terms of relationships, business, or parenting, the secret of positive communication is an ongoing subject of discussion. On this week’s Goldstein on Gelt show, Doug meets Dalton Kehoe, who has been a teacher, trainer and organizational change practitioner for over 40 years. Recently retired from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, after a 41-year career, he is now a Senior Scholar of Communication Studies. Listen to this week’s interview to find out more about how to talk to each other and how this affects our everyday lives.

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Yishai and Malkah kick off this week’s show by talking about the recent blizzard in Israel and the fun the Fleishers had in the Gush Etzion town of Neve Daniel. Reflecting on the Jewish world for the week, Malkah let's us in on the hippest word in the Netherlands and what it might really mean. Yishai shares the powerful experience of his recent visit up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem including a personal conversation he had with an official of the Muslim Wakf on potential projects Jews and Arabs can agree on (pictured in the photo). Improving heritage sites is an increasing focus of the Israeli government and may be an area for collaboration and widespread internatioal support. The segment ends with a report from Netivot by Uriah Mosby, on the yahrtzeit of the revered Moroccan sage Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, popularly known as the Baba Sali.

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Has the government overreached itself when it comes to the criminal justice system? When do the  laws for protecting natural resources cause more damage than good? This week, on the Goldstein on Gelt show,  we meet Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of the Gibson Guitar Corp. Henry speaks about the Lacey Act, originally enacted to protect natural resources, and its effects on his company, world peace, and the very products that it is supposed to protect.

• Israel’s sovereignty in Judea and Samaria has become mainstream and this year's Sovereignty Conference was bigger than ever and abuzz with excitement.
• The Likud has moved into a more nationalistic frame of mind. Why?
• Naftali Bennett and Benyamin Netanyahu have a lot in common.  What are the critical differences? What do they tell us about Israeli voters today?

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Yishai broadcasts the third segment of this week’s show from the third annual Conference on the Application of Israeli Sovereignty Over Judea and Samaria, a conference held on January 1, 2013 in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Bayit Vegan.

Yishai gets brief interviews during the conference from many leading thinkers including Yisrael Medad of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, former Jerusalem city council person Nina Fenton, Jerusalem Post columnist and fellow radio host Josh Hasten, Director of the Israel office of the Zionist Organization of America Jeff Daube, Creator of Dapei Katom business directory Elisheva Bloom, Former Israeli Ambassador Yoram Ettinger, Alternative Peace Activist Yehuda Hakohen, and Co-founder of Women in Green along with co-organizer of the conference Nadia Matar. Don’t miss this segment!

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What do anorexia nervosa and financial planning have in common?

The answer is found in one of the most dangerous household items known to mankind – otherwise known as the bathroom scales. How many people, and especially teenage girls, have the compulsion to weigh themselves and then, panicking at the numbers that appear, decide to go on a drastic diet?Sometimes, of course, a person may be suffering from a real weight or health problem and they need to go on a diet. However, many times, these diets are unnecessary. Yet people are so obsessed by the ideal of “thin is beautiful” that they will put themselves through the most awful tortures to achieve it, sometimes to a life-threatening extent.

A few months ago, Israel led the world in the war on anorexia and other eating disorders by enacting a law banning models with a BMI of 18.5 or less from the fashion world. The idea is to stop young women from aspiring to be too thin and even endangering their lives in the pursuit of an unhealthy ideal. This idea has been widely applauded throughout the globe and not only in the fashion industry. It is hoped that more countries will jump on the bandwagon, encouraging people to be healthy rather than painfully skinny.

The healthiest diet is the balanced diet

There’s no need to either starve yourself or overindulge. The same idea applies to your financial plan. Sometimes, you might look at the figures (think bathroom scales!) and feel so overwhelmed that you think you need to slim down your expenses drastically. But is that really what you need to do? Conversely, just as you may suddenly get an urge to eat an entire chocolate cake, you may sometimes find yourself spending excessively without any restraint.

In the world of finance, neither approach is ideal. You’re earning money and investing it so that you can live a good life, both now and later on when you retire. If you “starve” yourself, depriving yourself of essentials that you need and are still able to afford, your quality of life will suffer. And if you spend with abandon, you will soon find yourself “overweight” with debt.

What is the best financial diet?

In order to find the best financial “diet,” create an effective financial plan. As they say, “information is power,” and just as you learned about nutrition to fuel your body properly, learn about budgeting and investing to fuel your finances.

Start by reading some informative personal finance articles.  Once you mastered the balance between “starving” and “overindulging” your finances, you can look forward to a healthier life and retirement.

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Yishai is joined by MK Danny Danon of the Likud and Rabbi Jeremy Gimpel of the Bayit Yehudi parties. First, Yishai interviews MK Danon and the kick off discussing Danon’s thoughts on the leadership of Prime Minister of Benjamin Netanyahu and how he needs to ensure that a two-state solution does not happen. Danon moves on to give his alternate view of the concept of settlement and also talk about Danon’s harsh criticism of MK Haneen Zoabi for choosing to be a crewmember of an anti-Israeli flotilla. They end by discussing the changing relationship between Israel and the United States.

Following the interview with MK Danon, Yishai presents a recent interview with Knesset hopeful Rabbi Jeremy Gimpel of the Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) party. Gimpel discusses how his party is not only considered by many to be the up and coming party within the Knesset, especially among younger voters but also is the youngest party in regards to the age of the members running for office. Yishai and Gimpel end by talking about the need for a true Zionist party in Israel and why Bayit Yehudi is exactly that.

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This week, we meet Jerry Sanders, a a former Navy SEAL, Intelligence Officer, and Senior Counsel and Adviser to foreign (non-U.S.) governments. He is also the founder and managing director of San Francisco Science™, a storied technology company and chairman and CEO of SkyTran Inc., a NASA Space Act Company. At present, SkyTran is working on connecting the Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv to the Atidim high tech area. It will be the first such transportation system in the world. Find out more by listening to this week’s show.

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Meteorologist Yaakov Consor joins Yishai in order to discuss the deluge of rain that Israel has experienced in recent days. Yishai and Consor talk about how the rainfall is beneficial for the Israeli water supply but also how it can actually cause harm for agricultural uses. They move on to talk about the water level in the Kinneret and how we are rapidly reaching record levels. They end the segment by talking about the possibility of snow in Israel in coming days and what to look forward to.

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How does moving abroad affect your financial rights? And who will help you settle into your new country when you might not yet know the language? On the first part of this week’s Goldstein on Gelt show, you will meet Peter Anstis, founder of Expatsradio.com, a resource for reliable information and entertainment for expats, would-be expats, and frequent travelers. Tune into this week’s show to find out what happens to your voting and pension rights when you decide to make the move.

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Rabbi Danny Cohen (Director of Chabad of Hebron) joins Yishai in honor of the 200th year anniversary of the yarhzeit of the founder of the Chabad movement, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (known in Chabad as the Alter Rebbe and around the world as the Baal HaTanya).  Together, Cohen and Yishai start off by discussing Cohen’s background and how his unique experience helps bring IDF soldiers to Judaism. They move on to talk about the history of the Avraham Avinu synagogue in Hebron.  The synagogue at one point was used as a pen to hold goats until it was lovingly restored by Professor Ben-Tzion Tavger and other great Jews. The segment ends with a focus on the history of Chabad’s presence in the city and the importance of Hebron to Chabad.

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Yishai broadcasts from the Jewish holy city of Hebron. He is joined by long-time Hebron resident, activist, and politician Baruch Marzel. Marzel describes the ideology of the new party, Otzma L'Yisrael (Power to Israel) in which he is #3 (#4 is Aryeh King, #2 is Michael Ben-Ari, and #1 is Aryeh Eldad).  Polls indicate that Marzel may enter the Knesset after the elections in late January.  Marzel explains his political philosophy to Yishai and how Otzma L'Yisrael contrasts to other parties within the Israeli system.  He feels that a strong, unwavering, Knesset with some principled anchor members is essential to having a strong Jewish nation.They move on to discuss the regular stream of Israeli soldiers passing through Marzel's house not for security reasons but for a good hot meal and a rest.

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Yishai broadcasts from the campus of the Ariel University of Samaria, Israel’s newest university.  The institution was accorded new status against significant objection due to its location in Samaria but the high level of academic excellence and research conducted at by Ariel faculty and students won out in the end. Yishai is joined in this segment by Ariel U's Vice President Eldad Halachmi to discuss the history and future of the school. The segment ends with a discussion of how the secular New Year is celebrated in Israel. Don’t miss this segment!

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This week, Anne Hornung-Soukup, finance director of the ACA (American Citzens Abroad), comes back to Goldstein on Gelt to tell us more about the American government’s taxation policy and how it relates to U.S. expats. Taxation for American citizens abroad is a complicated story. Listen to this week’s show to find out how U.S. taxes still affect you, even if you haven't been back to the States for years or have never been there but have American parents...

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Yishai and Malkah kick off the first show of the year by discussing the struggle of the Knesset Central Election Committee to ban MK Haneen Zoabi from running for an additional term due to her direct participation in the flotilla intended to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.  Find out why the Israeli Supreme Court did not uphold the decision of the Knesset Committee to ban MK Zoabi from the election. Malkah brings the segment around to some positive news with her report on an inspiring drama performance she recently attended put on by Raise Your Spirits Theatre (here is the website). She suggests everyone consider it as a way to deepen connection with Israel and have fun! The drama company was formed in Gush Etzion to combat stress from terror attacks and is doing very special work.  Yishai closes off the segment with several letters from listeners including one from a friend of the show,  Dominican Monk Erik Ross. Father Erik writes comments on last week's presentation from Rabbi Keleman on the history of X-Mas.

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Gail Reynolds, “the "Six Million-Pound Mum,”" shares more of her insights on how to build a business while being a full-time mother. Gail tells us more about how she worked her way up through Avon to become a successful woman entrepreneur who has addressed the European Union on the subject of women in business. How did she do it? And can it work for you? Listen to this week’s show to find out.

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Yishai presents a talk from the London School of Economics given by Lina Khatib, Program Manager for the Program on Arab Reform and Democracy at Stanford Univeristy. Khatib speaks of visual images that representative in the Arab world and how this affects the world’s view of Arabs and also encourages free speech for the Arabs themselves. Yishai ends the segment by giving the use of visual expression in the Jewish world.

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Yishai presents, as he does every year, a class given by Rabbi Lawrence Keleman about the origins of Christmas. Be sure to listen in to this segment for all of our listeners, it is certainly eye opening!

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Are you thinking of making aliya?

It’s a big decision, and I can understand your hesitation to board the next Nefesh B’Nefesh flight.  However, with proper planning, most "unsurmountable" problems can be solved.

If you follow the five-point plan below, you may find that your aliyah dream can actually become a reality.

1. Create a target deadline. Let’s say that you want to make aliya in two years. Now, write it down on your calendar and tell all your friends and relatives when the good-bye party will be. Even if this date changes, having a target date adds an air of resolve to your decision that makes it far less vague than “one of these days, I’d like to move to Israel.”

2.  Create a work plan. In the internet age, you might find that you can telecommute, working for your current employer via Skype and email and making the occasional trip abroad. Perhaps your company has an Israeli branch that would employ you. Alternatively, do you want to start your own business when you move, or make a complete career change? Find out what Israel’s tax laws are in all of these situations and others that may arise.

3.  Think ahead. Are you planning on retiring to Israel? If so, what should you do about your pensions? You may be pleased to know that your social security payments can go directly into your U.S. brokerage account which you can then easily access from Israel. Some folks even have their social security payments deposited directly into their Israeli bank accounts… in shekels, no less!

4. Consider which assets you may leave in the United States and what you might transfer to Israel with you. This is a subject that I have written about previously.

5. My Book. Email me at doug@profile-financial.com for a coupon code to buy my book Building Wealth in Israel at a special discount for the readers of this blog. This book contains detailed explanations of the options that are open to people who are planning on making aliya so that they can continue to manage their finances well while living in Israel.

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Yishai presents his exclusive interview with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon. Yishai interviewed Minister Ya’alon during his visit to the Mount of Olives Jewish community in Jerusalem. They discuss the rocket threat to all of Israel from South Lebanon and how Tzipi Livni’s claim to have a solution for peace is nothing more than a deception. They move on to talk about the need to strengthen Zionist and Jewish identity among Israelis. Ya’alon gives a personal message to all Jews about the centrality of Israel. Yishai ends the segment with his reaction to Minister Ya’alon’s views and some ideas on how to infuse Israeli society with Jewish culture using practical steps that will improve everyone's lives.

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Are you overwhelmed by seeing too many numbers? If so, help is at hand. Professor Michael Starbird comes back to Goldstein on Gelt to speak about statistics. Many times, statistics seem overwhelming and incomprehensible. How do we apply them to our decisions, whether financial or not? Find out by tuning into this week’s episode of the Goldstein on Gelt show.

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Yishai and Malkah talk about the exciting new Olim to Israel from India and their historical connection to Israel. They move on to discuss the recognition of Arial University Center in Samaria as a recognized Israeli university and also talk about observant women becoming pilots in the Israeli Air Force. The importance of Havdalah to the end of Shabbat and how it is essential in the raising of children with a strong Jewish identity is also thoroughly mentioned. The segment ends with a discussion of how Christmas is related to the Jewish calendar and how non-Jews should look inside when celebrating the holiday.

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Professor Robert Aumann, winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2005, returns to Goldstein on Gelt to share more of his insights on pairwise matching, what this means, and how to apply its logic to making everyday decisions.

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Yishai broadcasts from the headquarters of Nefesh B’Nefesh in Jerusalem. He is joined by Dov Newmark who is the director of UK Aliyah at NBN to discuss Aliyah to Israel from the United Kingdom and the specific cultural advantages and challenges for new immigrants from the UK. Don’t miss this segment!

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Yishai is joined by Baruch Widen.  Together, they discuss recent issues between Arabs and Jews in Hebron and how the rules behind the use of weapons among Israeli Border Guards and IDF soldiers has made a change for the better.  They move on to talk about the civil war in Syria and how this could affect Israel and end the segment by discussing potential resolutions for the situation between Jews and Arabs in Judea and Samaria.

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When you make a charitable donation, do you just mail a check and forget about it, or do you care how the organization uses your donation?

How can you best ensure your hard-earned funds are being properly used by a charitable organization? While it seems to make sense that organizations use their money wisely, how can the donor be sure the organization is putting donations to the best possible use?

Rabbi Uziel Admoni of Charity Safebox spoke with me on the Goldstein on Gelt show about some of the challenges donors face when they wish to help a specific organization.

First of all, it’s always a good idea to check the credentials of a charity before you give and make sure it is really genuine.  Is it important to you if the organization has a tax-deductible status?

However, even when the charitable cause is genuine, the money that you are donating may still not necessarily go to the right place due to downright inefficiency. Charities are run by idealistic people, but are they also business-minded?  Even though the directors may be honest and hardworking, they may still not be putting the donations to the best use. They may be doing great work – but with a little business or financial guidance they could be doing even better.

I was once involved with a donor who sponsored the purchase of several hundred library books for a school in Israel.  Months later, the donor arrived at the school expecting to see a fully-stocked library (or at least the empty shelves if the students checked out all the books).  They were disappointed to find cartons of books sitting in the corner.  They were told, “We bought the books with the money you gave, but had no money to build bookcases.”  Needless to say, the donor was shocked that they hadn’t approached him earlier, for he surely would have sponsored bookcases too!  After all, without them, his donation was useless.

For this reason, if you are thinking of making a significant donation to a particular organization, consider employing the services of a family office to oversee the donation. A family office carries out due diligence into the activities of non-profit organizations on behalf of the philanthropist. This work is extremely useful to both the donor and the recipient. The donor has peace of mind of knowing that the money given is being used for the intended cause in the best possible way, while the charity gets a chance to efficiently further its mission.

Indeed, this was the happy ending of the library story.  The donor hired a family office to oversee the library, from the construction of bookcases until the books reached the hands of the students.

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Yishai and Malkah discuss the end of Chanukah and the feelings the holiday’s end leaves behind.  They move on to talk about the ever-tense situation between Arabs and Jews in the city of Hebron along with an update on the herd of goats that Malkah tends to in the Fleisher’s neighborhood petting zoo and they end the segment by discussing the capture of American journalists and Syria.  Don’t miss this segment!

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Stress and money often go together, especially during the winter months. This week, therapist, educator, and life coach Diane Lang returns to the Goldstein on Gelt show to share her insights on stress and money. Why is money such a cause of tension in the home? And does it really need to be? According to Diane, positive psychology and optimism are important skills that can turn your life around. Listen to her interview on this week’s show to find out how to develop them.

How do business owners plan? Is there a specific set of thinking skills that you need to make your enterprise a success? And can strategic thinking be applied to everyday life? This week, Doug interviews Professor Stanley Ridgley, Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business. Professor Ridgley is the author of The Complete Guide to Business School Presentations: What your professors don’t tell you...what you absolutely must know. Professor Ridgley tells Doug which skills you need to make the most of your business.

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Yishai presents audio from PBS talking about the threat of chemical weapons from Syria and how this threat has caused alarm worldwide.  Following the PBS segment, Yishai presents an additional segment from PBS discussing the effects of chemical weapons on people which where witnessed during Iraq’s attacks on the Kurds in the north of the country.

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Yishai kicks off by presenting audio from Rabbi David Stav discussing the Tzohar rabbinical organization, an organization looking to make reforms within the Israel Chief Rabbinate. Yishai moves on to an interview he recently held in a Jerusalem café Nachum Rosenberg, a representative from the Tzohar organization to specifically discuss the reforms.

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Yishai is joined by Knesset Jeremy Man Saltan to talk about the upcoming Knesset elections and including outcomes of the new Likud-Beiteinu coalition. They move on and end the segment by talking about huge changes in the nationalist parties.

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In today's world, with spiraling divorce rates, it's time to take a look at how finances affect domestic harmony. On this week's Goldstein on Gelt show, Sherrie Miller of Choices of the Heart, a non-profit organization that provides preparatory education to young couples on the verge of marriage, discusses the financial angle to having a happy home.

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Yishai and Malkah wishing our listeners a Happy Chanukah and talking about a Brit milah that the Fleisher family attended along with witnessing the lighting of the Menorah at the Kotel. They move on to talk how Chanukah is needed to encourage not only a strong Israel but also a strong Jewish People. They end the segment by talking about American deliveries of fighter aircraft to the Egyptian Government and presenting a special musical piece from Shlomo Katz.

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U.S. News and World Report advises that if you want a “hot career,” you should become a registered nurse, software developer, or pharmacist. But they’re wrong. They are missing what America needs the most today, and will need even more tomorrow.

Which job will always be in demand, assure job satisfaction, impact the world, and may even make you rich?

To answer that question, look at the job market the same way an entrepreneur examines the commercial situation. Look for the biggest hole and then find the tools needed to fill it. Look around your workplace, look at your colleagues, and even at your bosses. What do you see?

The demise of leadership.

Leadership is a job

Sadly, people today, especially those just entering the workforce, lack the skills to lead their fellow workers. Having grown up in a society of entitlement, they learned that someone else is responsible for fixing every problem.

No job? The government should fix it. No health insurance? Other taxpayers should pay. Child fails in school? Blame the teacher. Declaring bankruptcy? It’s the bank’s fault for lending you the money.

The list goes on and on. We have a crisis of leadership because today’s young adults grew up in a society where they watched their parents blame others for every problem, and where they themselves never had to work hard. Without mentors and examples to lead the path of leadership, how will today’s youth grow into leaders?

What is a leader?

A leader is a dreamer. He must believe in himself and in others. He must love to teach and learn. He listens and speaks sparingly. He sets standards for himself and he values character. He’s a giver, not a taker.

The demise of leadership in the past 25 years has created fabulous job opportunities. Companies without visionary leaders will eventually fail. So don’t train yourself for a job qualification, because all you will do is work for one of the destined-to-fail firms. Rather, learn how to become a leader and you will find companies not looking to give you a job, but begging you to guide them.

Countless books have been written about how to become a leader. Others have been written about the benefits of having great leaders. Two of my favorites are Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman and Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... And Others Don’t  by Jim Collins.

I can tell you that as a financial adviser on Wall Street for over 20 years, I have witnessed the decline of quality leaders both in business and politics. If you can fill the shoes of the great men and women who led us in the previous generation, then you will change the world.

And that’s not a job. It’s a life.

Optimism is not just about feeling good. It is a far deeper concept that involves your entire attitude of mind. On this week’s Goldstein on Gelt show, Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and author of The Art of Possibility, returns to the Goldstein on Gelt show to share his observations on optimism and to explain how looking on the bright side of life is actually an art.

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Yishai presents an audio piece from the BBC entitled “Tehrangeles”, which talks about the Iranian and Persian existence in Los Angeles. This audio presents a unique perspective on Iranians in LA, especially those that are members of the Persian Jewish community. Be sure to listen in!

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Yishai is joined by Rabbi Shimshon Nadel in a busy Jerusalem restaurant to discuss Chanukah in Eretz Yisrael. Together they discuss reaching out to Jews worldwide from Israel during the holiday and also ways one can find the light of the menorah at year round. Don’t miss this insightful segment!

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Yishai is joined by alternative peace activist and thinker Baruch Widen.  Together, they discuss recent reports of Jews moving Jabul Mukaber, a neighborhood in Jerusalem that is predominately Arab and Yishai’s own experience with a reporter looking to report on this situation. They move on to talk about the Palestinian Authority’s bid for statehood in the UN and end the segment by further discussing Palestinian identity and how it contrasts to Israel’s identity.

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David Shenk, author of Data Smog and The Immortal Game, among other bestsellers, talks about the way that the world of data and information has changed in recent years. Are we now overwhelmed with information? And if so, how do we deal with it? Find out from this fascinating interview on the Goldstein on Gelt show.

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Yishai and Malkah discuss the tenth yahrzeit of Yishai’s father, Alexander Fleisher.  Yishai shares some memories of his father along with talking about the get together that was recently held in his honor.  They move on to talk about the announcement by the Israeli government to approve additional housing units in Jerusalem and what good news this is, including presenting a piece from PBS about construction in section E-1.  They end the segment by talking about Alanis Morissette’s visit to Israel and how more around the world should feel for the current situation in Syria.

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How does modern technology help to solve the water crisis? How does it solve the lack of efficiency in the water sector around the world? On this week's Goldstein on Gelt show, Amir Peleg of TaKaDu returns to tell us more.

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Yishai and Malkah present the third segment from a crowded Jerusalem café to introduce Yosef and Emuna Murray, a couple from the United States that are in the process of finishing their conversion to Judaism and visiting Jerusalem. Yosef is the Hebrew name of Calvin Murray, an American football player (retired) who was a star college player for the legendary Ohio Buckeyes under Coach Woody Hayes and went on to play in the NFL (Philadelphia Eagles) and USFL (Chicago Blitz). The Murrays tell their beautiful story of spiritual journey from being youth leaders in a Christian church to choosing Torah and Judaism and visiting Israel.  Don’t miss this interesting and insightful segment!

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