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Collecting on Yaakov's calls
By Orly Vilnai

When talking to Yaakov Roth about cell phones, his beautiful blue eyes shine with joy. He likes them so much that there isn't anything he doesn't know about them: types and models, prices, even advertisements. He practically glues himself to the television screen when a phone commercial comes on.

Roth, 38, is mentally challenged to a degree termed mild to moderate, and cell phones are something of an uncontrollable obsession for him.

Four months ago, Yaakov visited the Pelephone store in the Hadera mall, as he often does to look at the new models that might have arrived. Everyone there knows him, and knows that he is "different" - it's impossible to miss even after just a short conversation. Yaakov says that when he entered, one of the salespeople who knows him well called out to him, and didn't merely call him, but addressed Yaakov as "bro." He sold Yaakov four phone lines and telephones, and sent him on his way, but not before signing him up for automatic payment from his tiny bank account.
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Yaakov's devoted family has done all they can to make Yaakov feel normal, and to be as independent as possible. Until recently he worked in a box factory, earning about NIS 3,000 a month.

The money went into his bank account, which he has access to. His sister Nina keeps track of the account, checking every now and then that it is running properly. She is familiar with her brother's love of cell phones, and is aware that sometimes he buys a new one or upgrades the old one.

But then she suddenly discovered that more than NIS 3,000 was withdrawn from the account in one blow. Her inquiries revealed not only this large transaction but others as well. It turned out that Yaakov was signed up for 11 phone lines, that he was paying for GPS navigational services (though he does not have a driver's license) and internet surfing (he reads at a first grade level), and other needless features. Most of the phones were sold to him by the same salesman in the Hadera branch over just a few months time.

Nina turned to the branch manager, who agreed to credit her for most of the telephones, but not for a debt of NIS 4,200 that accumulated as a result of contractual obligations and not from any actual use of the phones to make calls. In addition, Nina was confronted with a warning letter from a company lawyer that the debt had exceeded NIS 4,500.

"I promise not to buy more phones," Yaakov says, his voice cracking, "I need help, but I promise, promise, promise."

For three months, Nina called Pelephone, banging on counters at different branches, but to no avail: the debt remained on the books.

We accompanied her on a visit to Pelephone management. After a mini-uproar, she and Yaakov were invited in for a discussion, and even lunch, after which the debt and the phone lines were canceled, and Yaakov was even given a present: NIS 300 worth of Talkman minutes for his phone.

Keeping it kosher

Last week we wrote about R. For six months she's been running a small business in the southern part of the country, selling sandwiches and baked goods. She works hard and the business is going well, but the rabbinate has placed an obstacle in her path by refusing, on various pretexts, to grant her a kashrut certificate.

Dozens of heartwarming responses arrived at Haaretz from readers offering to buy R.'s wares and help her earn a living, and most importantly, the rabbinate has started to move. After a large number of phone calls that we made to the municipal rabbi of Kiryat Gat, Shlomo Ben-Hamo, he is to meet with R. this week and promises to quickly solve the matter of the kashrut certificate. We are here to ensure that this does indeed take place.

Surviving on nothing

Lazar Lachmanovitch, 91, is a Holocaust survivor from Hungary whose only source of income is a guaranteed-minimum-income welfare payment. Ava, his daughter, takes care of him and tries to help him make use of the financial rights for which he qualifies. About a year ago, she bought a washing machine for her father, and placed a claim for a sales tax refund, for survivors living solely on government stipends, with the Holocaust Survivors Welfare Fund (supported by the Claims Committee and the Israeli government).

She filled out all the forms, but the refund never arrived. Neither did repayment for reading glasses and medicine she had purchased for him. When she called to inquire, she was told that something called the Hungarian Fund, which was to return the sales tax, was out of money, but that the other expenses would be sent within a month's time. Four months later not a shekel had come or was on the way.

At the same time, Lachmanovitch received an announcement that he qualified for NIS 300 worth of goods from the Meir Panim relief organization. Meir Panim, which runs soup kitchens, gets its budget from a government company for the return of property of those murdered in the Holocaust to assist survivors.

His daughter approached Meir Panim in order to register her father but was told that they would have to investigate whether or not he qualified. It took a few more weeks before a representative called and asked once again for his details. When he still did not receive an answer, Ava called again, only to be told that the project had been suspended.

She contacted us for help. Within two days the food project manager called and apologized, and a few days later an NIS 300 food card arrived.

As for the Hungarian grant, we were told that following a large number of requests, the fund is currently empty, but a new budget is expected soon.

About the refund of personal expenses, Ava was asked to fill out more forms. She did, in triplicate, and last week her father received the money in full.
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