Praying for better days: Many businesses in northern and southern Israel closed on Black Saturday on 7 October and have been out of business ever since.
These business owners are dealing with a loss of 100% revenue and at the same time with many expenses that have not stopped for a moment. Now they talk about the economic difficulty these days, about the partial and insufficient response to the compensation plan, and about the longing for work and workers.
Amir Oppenheimer, owner of the Adelina chef restaurant in Kibbutz Kabri, says: "The restaurant is closed from 7 October morning. In our area there is a huge movement of security forces, there is the noise of cannons and the atmosphere is not suitable for a chef restaurant. People do not want to go out, and a chef restaurant is considered a pastime. I am constantly debating when to open and we are very much waiting to open and host. We have a drive to do that. I called on the workers today to come to the place just for coffee, because the workers were really looking forward to being with each other.
"It is important to note that Romi Gonen, who worked as a waitress for us until two months before 7.10, is among the abductees, and we are very worried about her and waiting for her."
Amir Oppenheimer Photo: Tal Karp,
On the economic impacts, Oppenheimer says: "There have been cancellations of events and groups and we can't know how long it will take. We had food ready for 300 people that weekend, and of course we donated everything that week to the soldiers and everyone we could. We have 30 employees and they are on unpaid leave."
Regarding the compensation outline, Gonen says: "Kibbutz Cabri entered into the outline. However, it took a long time for the outline to be decided. Just as for me, when a problem arises, there are clear procedures, so too the state needs to have clear procedures."
"We are all out of work"
Yochai Nachmani, owner of the Lachmani bakery in Ashkelon, was also forced to close the bakery as of 7 October.
Nachmani says: "My bakery is located in Ashkelon's southern industrial zone, where terrorists have also infiltrated. This is an area adjacent to Zikim and therefore there was no option to operate the place. My wife Noy and I work in the business and stayed at home with four children, out of work. The oldest child is 6 years old and the youngest is <> year old.
"Our store is downtown, and all the windows were broken by a missile that fell there. In terms of loss of revenue, it's more than 100%, because all the materials have gone too."
Asked at what rate he thinks revenue will decline when the business returns to work, he said: "We estimate that there will be a 50% decline, but it's hard to know. The city has not recovered and is empty. We have a small bakery with pre-orders, so I'm less counting on street traffic, and a lot have also left town. It is important for me to note that the businesses and residents of Ashkelon provide all the backing that our army needs in order to carry out its missions until victory."
Yochai Nachmani,
Regarding the outline, he says: "In general, we are pleased that there is assistance and thought about businesses, which was not the case, for example, during the coronavirus. In terms of wages for employees, it's not so clear why the return is only 75%, but at least we can help them with something as well."
Nir Shochat, owner of Sushimoto in Sderot, says: "I think the compensation outline makes a positive impression, because it relies on the fixed expenses of 2022, with some kind of coefficient. This formula should give us the breath of fresh air to meet all our expenses, including salaries. This time, for a change, in a simple online form, we were able to receive an advance payment for compensation and a substantial sum of money was injected into me according to this formula, which allowed me to transfer the salaries without raising any loan or almost any irregularities. If it goes on like this, we're fine."
Simone Zohar-Nizhar owns an organic hair salon located in Mahanayim. "In our area, many businesses are closed. I closed the business too. Here and there there are shops open but no people. We evacuated on our own initiative and since then I've been in Herzliya with my mother. Now we are in a situation where whoever has money, it will slowly end. And what will those who do not have them do? These are expenses of NIS 5,000 only on mortgages and loans. Some say they will freeze mortgages and loans, but so what? We'll have to pay twice as much a few months later. I'm not making a living at this time and we don't expect when we'll be back."
Mahane Yehuda Market, Iron Sword War, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Regarding the outline, she says: "The amount I am expected to receive will not cover insurance, loans or loss of income. These are really small sums. If it covers the loan, it doesn't cover the living."
Adv. Roy Cohen, President of Lahav, the Association of Self-Employed and Business Organizations in Israel, attacked the Compensation Law in an Iron Sword War, saying, "Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Finance Ministry officials knowingly chose to abandon the weak self-employed, the exempt dealers, and grant them meager compensation ranging from NIS 1,750 to NIS 4,200. I strongly demanded that at least they receive a minimum wage of NIS 5,300, and this too was strongly opposed by the Ministry of Finance. The reason - lack of trust in the reports of the self-employed.
"They must know that we, the self-employed, are not cheaters but the ones who lift the country up. These days, tens of thousands of self-employed people are fighting for the security and future of the country, and the Finance Ministry is turning its back on them and giving them the cold shoulder."
Good news for business owners
Meanwhile, Zap and JDC have teamed up in a nonprofit collaboration on behalf of businesses, the self-employed and service providers in the war zones. As part of the initiative, a website was established to which business owners from the north and the surrounding area can register free of charge and offer their services and wares. Customers will be able to enter the website, select products or businesses by locality or field, read their story and make an online purchase, to help them in their difficult time.
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