There are 130 participating museums - - there's something for everyone!!
Find the full list here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OODjyjgAIf9xdgrTIHhYdroiLXFda6wb/htmlview
Let me know where you decide to go!
Have fun!
We all know that Israel is expensive! Here you’ll find ways to save, important announcements, and frugal food ideas. (Please note: ALL posts may contain affiliate links)
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Free Museum Day May 2025
Sorry for the late post, but you need to know that TODAY, Thursday, May 15, 2025 is FREE Museum Day in Israel!!
Sunday, May 11, 2025
Getting Travel Ready? Save Some Money!
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.
Shoppers in Israel, and many other non-US locations, this is for you! If you're getting ready to travel, you might have noticed that it's not always easy to find travel size products here. It was always pretty easy in the USA when I lived there (though it's been a while), so I was checking for options from there that ship here.
And guess what? I found that the best deals are bulk deals - so either stock up for several trips at a time, or split this order with a friend or two!
I found these toothbrush/toothpaste packages, or ones that are similar and also have a flosser, and also little mouthwashes! These make traveling easy - I never want to get stuck without a toothbrush, you know?
If you want, you can even get Cetaphil face cleanser in travel size, and antiperspirant/deodorants for both men and women.
OR, if you don't want to buy in bulk, you could choose this convenient 10-piece convenience kit for traveling, which has lots of essentials.
I also highly recommend you get lightweight luggage so you can maximize your packing space.
Let me know if this is helpful!
Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!
If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook:
I'm also on WhatsApp with an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Replace your old 2G/3G "dumbphone" now - before it stops working!
This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission, but never at any additional cost to you.
Image from the public domain
This is important for people who use older non-smartphones in Israel. The older cell networks (2G and 3G as far as I understood), are being RETIRED and will stop working. This means your phone will stop working if it uses those cell networks and not the newer ones. The bitter truth here is that means you will need to get a new phone if you want to have cell service.
So if you're set on keeping your status as a "non-smartphone user", I'm happy to share that you can currently get a "dumbphone" that works on the 4G network for under 200 NIS! If you prefer a flip-phone that can be had for under 225 NIS right now! Go get them now before they run out!
Of course, you can take this opportunity to upgrade to a smartphone if you prefer.
There are so many options, you can even find a Samsung phone in any price range starting at about 350 NIS! Hope this helps someone out there!
Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!
If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook:
I'm also on WhatsApp with an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
FREE help with your Israeli taxes! (for tax year 2024)
Every year, many of us have to file a yearly tax report with the Israel Tax Authority.
Many, many people pay an accountant to handle this report, but did you know that in some cases you can also get FREE help?
Here's the deal:
The Israel Tax Authority runs Free Clinics for filing yearly tax reports: this year, assistance is available for Atzmaim (freelancers/self employed people) with income up to 60,000 NIS using Form 137, people who need to file a tax report using Form 1301, and employed individuals requested a refund using Form 135.
Find this help at all regional tax offices:
Regional Tax Offices will operate these services between May 4, 2025 and June 25, 2024, Sundays and Wednesdays from 1pm - 6:00pm.
Some offices may be closed on certain days of the week. I recommend calling before you go to verify they are open!
In Eilat, the service will be available only on Mondays and Wednesdays. In Um Al Fahem and Holon, the service is only available on Sundays.
NOTE: These clinics are for getting help filing your yearly tax report if you're self-employed, or to request a refund for employed people (only forms 1301 and 137).
Bring ALL your relevant paperwork with you so you can get the most accurate assistance.
Good luck!
Follow me on Facebook for more tips and info!
Please share this with anyone who will appreciate this info!
Thursday, March 27, 2025
FREE on Pesach 2025
I just HAD to take a break from Pesach cleaning to share this with you all!
Here's the list of Bank Hapoalim's free attractions for Pesach 2025. I have linked to websites in English, whenever possible. I hope you find this list helpful, and that you get to have some super-frugal fun over Pesach!
*Please note that I put a lot of effort into this post, tracking down websites in English for your convenience. I know the Bank Hapoalim info and other info is available to the public in Hebrew, but this blog post has added benefits for the English-speaking community. Because it was so much work, I request that you link back to this post if you share this information. Thank you!*
Please leave a comment with your favorite place to visit!
If you haven't already, go ahead and like my Facebook page so you don't miss out on deals and great info all year round!
Please leave a comment with your favorite place to visit!
If you haven't already, go ahead and like my Facebook page so you don't miss out on deals and great info all year round!
The following are free to the public (April 14-18) courtesy of Bank HaPoalim. Pre-registration is required, and will open on Sunday, April 9. Click here to register
Ancient Katzrin Park
Have a great time!
Please share this with your friends, so everyone can plan a fun and frugal Pesach!
North:
Ancient Katzrin Park
The Wilfrid Museum
Mishkan Museum of Art, Ein Harod
The Ghetto Fighters' House Museum
The Golan Archaeological Museum
Mishkan Museum of Art, Ein Harod
The Ghetto Fighters' House Museum
The Golan Archaeological Museum
Central Israel & The Sharon Region:
Hasmonean Aqueduct in Armon Hanetziv
Beit HaGalgalim - House of Wheels
The Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art
Yaacov Agam Museum of Art
The Yemenite Jewry Heritage Museum
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art
The Nachum Gutman Museum of Art
Anu Museum of the Jewish People
Yaacov Agam Museum of Art
The Yemenite Jewry Heritage Museum
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art
The Nachum Gutman Museum of Art
Anu Museum of the Jewish People
The Rabin Center Israeli Museum
The Israeli Cartoon Museum
The Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art
The Rubin Museum
Bialik House
The Israeli Cartoon Museum
The Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art
The Rubin Museum
Bialik House
Jerusalem Area:
South:
Meshek 77 (Strawberry picking and more)
Kibbutz Chatzerim Visitors Center
The Tzon Barzel Heritage Museum
Meshek 77 (Strawberry picking and more)
Kibbutz Chatzerim Visitors Center
The Tzon Barzel Heritage Museum
Other venues that are also FREE:
April 15-16, 10:00AM - 3:00PM: Register in advance
Israel Parks and Nature: free guided tours at various sites. Register HERE
More coming soon, as I find them!
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Have a great time!
Please share this with your friends, so everyone can plan a fun and frugal Pesach!
If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook:
I'm also on WhatsApp with an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
US expats: tax season is here and I have a discount for you
this post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Americans in Israel, this is for you!
If you're an American ex-pat like me, you probably get an annual headache when thinking about filing your US tax return. What an absolute pain, am I right?
Currently, this is something most of us MUST do, even if we don't like it. There's just no getting around it for now - no matter how much we complain (maybe one day it will change!). And because of the complexity of navigating tax documents issued to comply with Israeli tax law (as opposed to US tax law), it is usually NOT recommended to use automated software for filing your overseas tax return.
But now there's SimpleTax, have you heard of them? I've had a long chat with the founder of the company, and they've worked so hard to make this service available (it's designed to work in a way that standard tax software doesn't). Basically, you upload files and answer questions, and their team will put your tax return together for you for your approval.
SimpleTax will usually save you money on fees - I've gotten multiple quotes for taxes and almost all were much higher than Simpletax.
If your taxes are complicated, you will still pay a higher rate than the lowest one listed on their site, but it will most likely still be MUCH lower than the quotes I've gotten from accountants recently.
This is a game changer.
I invite you to find more details at SimpleTax. If you use my referral link (the links to SimpleTax on this site are referral links), you'll get 10% off your first tax return! If for some reason you can't open the link, simply copy-paste this link to go to their site: https://simpletax.co.il/register?referral=KOFRU. Or go to their site on your own and be sure to enter my referral code (KOFRU).
So spread the word that in 2025 we'll be doing our taxes smarter and cheaper! Use my referral code to get a great 10% discount:
MY-CODE: KOFRU
OR CLICK HERE
SimpleTax is also on Facebook and has plans to help US citizens in Israel navigate financial issues better. You can be sure I'll be following them and waiting for more helpful developments.
מידע חשוב עבור אזרחים אמריקאים שגרים בארץ: הגיע פתרון שיחסוך לנו הרבה כסך!
גם השנה, אפשר למלא דו"ח מס אמריקני עם חברת סימפלטקס - ותראו חסכון אמיתי!
אפשר לחסוך עוד יותר עם הקוד שלי בעת ההרשמה. ההרשמה ללא עלות - רק תצטרכו לשלם עם משתמשים במערכת לדווח. השתמשו בקוד KOFRU ותקבלו 10% הנחה.
או הקליקו כאן: https://simpletax.co.il/register?referral=KOFRU
Monday, March 24, 2025
Love to read? Find and support Israeli authors!
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
You've probably stumbled across this blog post because you love Israel, and I'm so glad you're here! Welcome to my little blog/website!
I'm currently trying to give a boost to Israeli authors - it turns out the world has been less and less likely to make space for Israeli authors on their shelves! Totally not cool. So please help support Israeli authors, and buy their books! This list is for people who can make purchases on Amazon US. Happy reading!
If you love to read, check out books by these Israeli authors that you can find on Amazon:
Hebrew Edition, by The Layers Press (Author), Rachel Sharansky Danziger (Author), Anne Gordon (Author), Shira Lankin Sheps (Editor)
101 Treasures from the National Library of Israel, by Raquel Ukeles (Author), Hezi Amiur (Author), Yoel Finkelman (Author)
by A. E. Hayoun (available as a Kindle book)
By Light of Hidden Candles, by Daniella Levy (Author)
Disengagement: Leaving home, finding home, and encounters along the way, by Daniella Levy (Author)
Letters to Josep: An Introduction to Judaism, by Daniella Levy (Author)
The 36: A Modern Quest in the Ancient Holy Land, by Josh Even-Chen (Author) (a long-time friend of mine!)
The Scrolls of Deborah (Desert Songs Trilogy), by Esther Goldenberg (Author)
The House of Lost Spirits, by Einat Shimshoni
Harei At M'guyeset Li, by Segulah Levi (Hebrew novel)
Tully and the Pellmells (Tully Grows Up), by Leona Samson (Author), Idan Ben Simon (Illustrator)
Tales of Brooklyn, by Stan Fischler (Author)
Behind the Net: 106 Incredible Hockey Stories, by Stan Fischler (Author)
Community of Ones:The Search for Self after Devastating Loss, by Leona Samson
A Life Inherited: Unraveling the Trauma of a Second-Generation Holocaust Survivor, by Rena Lipiner Katz (Author)
Weekly Habits for Extraordinary Leaders (How to Master Your Mindset, Inspire Your Team and Elevate Your Business), by Daphna Horowitz
Searching for Heather Dean: My Extraordinary Career as a Celebrity Interviewer and Why I Left It, by Heather Dean
Angels & Tahina: 18 Lessons From Hiking the Israel Trail, by Tzippi Moss
Target Tehran: How Israel Is Using Sabotage, Cyberwarfare, Assassination – and Secret Diplomacy – to Stop a Nuclear Iran and Create a New Middle East, by Yonah Jeremy Bob (Author), Ilan Evyatar (Author)
Organized Jewish Life: The Essential Guide for Planning Jewish Holidays, Events and Every Day, by Rebekah Chaifetz Saltzman
Organized Jewish Life Shabbat and Holiday Planner: The Ultimate Organizational Shabbat and Jewish Holiday Checklist and Planning Workbook, by Rebekah Chaifetz Saltzman
A Warrior's Guide to Fibromyalgia, by Sara Halevi
Everything Tracker - The Ultimate Comprehensive CBT Tool Kit, by Sara Halevi MA (Author), Liora Sophie (Illustrator)
The Breast Cancer Checklist, by Fern Reiss
The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days, by Fern Reiss
30 Jewish Superheroes: An Amazing Collection of Jewish Superheroes (Coloring book), by Hillel Penrod (Author), Ayelet Hashachar Penrod (Editor)
15 B'nei Noah Superheroes Coloring & Activity Book: Heroes from Around the World! | Color, Read, and Learn to Draw Your Own Hero, Torah Comics Paperback by Hillel Penrod (Author), Ayelet HaShachar Penrod (Editor)
Inner World (Kindle book) by Hillel Penrod (Author, Illustrator), Ayelet HaShachar Penrod (Editor)
Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land, by Joel Chasnoff & Benji Lovitt
Nehama Leibowitz: Teacher and Bible Scholar (Modern Jewish Lives), by Yael Unterman
The Hidden of Things: Twelve Stories of Love & Longing, by Yael Unterman
The Street Cats of Nahariya by Jennifer Pyatt (Author), Aya Navot (Illustrator)
White Zion, by Gila Green (see all of her books here, and pre-order the newest one!)
Iconic Jewish Women: Fifty-Nine Inspiring, Courageous, Revolutionary Role Models for Young Girls, by Aliza Lavie (Author)
Getting Ready for Shabbat! Let's Make Soup! (Getting Ready for Jewish Holy Days), by Chaya Bluma Gadenyan
Girls' Names from the Hebrew Bible: A Children's Bilingual (Hebrew-English) Coloring Book, by Chaya Bluma Gadenyan
The Adventures of Incredi-Wheels & Triple S: The Mysterious Missing Book, by Rebecca Rubin Seligson
Storky's Journey Home, by Nachshon Meir Spiegelman
Barnaby Stump and the Soul Thief, by Ezra Snukal
The Lazy Investor: How to Set a Profitable & Hassle-free Investment Portfolio, by David Mann (Author)
Tribal Lands: The Twelve Tribes of Israel in Their Ancestral Territories, by Tamar Weissman (Author)
The Koren Tanakh: Esther (English and Hebrew Edition) (Graphic Novel Format) by Jordan Gorfinkel (Creator), Yael Nathan (Illustrator), Jessica Sacks (Translator)
Not in the Sky: A Collection of Modern Midrash or Biblical Spoken Word, by Rose Isabel Tempest (Author)
THE CAVE OF THE HEART (Kuntres Maarat Ha-Lev): A Treatise on Jewish Contemplative Prayer, by Nachman Davies (Author)
Ascending, by Mimi Tanaman
Lost & Found: The person I was. The discovery of adoption. The person I've become, by Mimi Tanaman
The Messianic Mechanic: a comic tale of the end-of-days, by Reva Mann
Want to buy books in Israel? Check if you can find what you want at Eva's Used Books or Steimatzky! There's also Prag for a new agey kind of book selection - but they do also have R' Aryeh Kaplan translated into Hebrew.
If you are an Israeli author with a book on Amazon and want to be added to this list, please email me at ester@kosherfrugal.com!
Thanks for supporting Israeli authors! Let me know if you found this list helpful, and feel free to share it with all of your friends!
Also, please be sure to support all the businesses in the North of Israel if you're visiting. Many have been struggling to survive since the onset of the war in October 2023. Now that things are quiet - everyone needs your support!
Come find me and my family at the Safed Puzzle Room, Tzfat's flagship escape room game! Find out more at https://safedpuzzleroom.com
If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook:
I'm also on WhatsApp with an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post.
Sunday, March 2, 2025
You may be able to ship furniture to Israel from Amazon FOR FREE...
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.
Shoppers in Israel, and probably many other non-US locations, this is for you! I was really curious about this - can you get FURNITURE shipped to you from the US?
Surprise! There are lots of great deals on furniture that ship here FOR FREE. I found a cute kids' fold-out couch-bed (and right now there are double discounts on it - I found a coupon here - no promises that will still be there when you click) that qualifies for free shipping. I also found a solid wood child's stool (there's a coupon for that right now too!), and animal-themed stackable children's chairs!
TABLES: I found a 2-tiered square white end table, and another one, as well! I also found a rectangular farmhouse style end table. And this one is also rectangular, but has a more whimsical feel to it. Also found a 3-tiered table for close to the same price. And if you prefer round side tables, I found some of those too: this one is small. This one is a 2-tiered metal round table, with a great coupon when I saw it! All of these are super affordable compared to what I've seen around here in local stores!
More deals later, sorry I ran out of time!
EDITING TO ADD MORE:
I found a queen-size bedframe that ships free here and currently has a coupon that basically covers the import taxes! Here's a bookshelf/storage cube unit for an unbeatable price! (And this one appears to be a little bigger for only a little bit more $)
I also found a toddler book organizer - I've seen similar in local stores, but they can't TOUCH this price!
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