| name | israeli-personal-assistant |
| description | A smart personal assistant that understands the Israeli context: workday planning (Sunday-Thursday), drafting messages in natural Hebrew, reminders for business obligations (VAT, Bituach Leumi, holidays), and help composing emails to official bodies. Use when you need a morning brief, professional WhatsApp drafting, scheduling around Shabbat and holidays, or writing formal Hebrew emails. Saves daily time and prevents communication missteps. Do NOT use for calendar API integration (use shabbat-aware-scheduler), automated email sending (use gws-hebrew-email-automation), or accounting calculations (use accounting skills). |
| license | MIT |
Overview
Israeli Personal Assistant is a judgment layer for Israeli daily life and work. It gives your AI agent the context it needs to behave like a local: the right work week, natural Hebrew phrasing, awareness of Jewish holidays, and knowledge of recurring business obligations.
This skill does not integrate with live APIs, calendars, or email services. For live integrations, pair it with:
- shabbat-aware-scheduler (calendar API with Shabbat/holiday awareness)
- gws-hebrew-email-automation (automated email sending via Google Workspace)
What this skill provides: context, conventions, templates, and judgment. Think of it as the cultural and operational knowledge layer that makes your AI assistant feel Israeli rather than generic.
Do NOT use this skill for:
- Connecting to calendar APIs or creating live calendar events (use shabbat-aware-scheduler)
- Sending emails automatically (use gws-hebrew-email-automation)
- Calculating VAT, income tax, or payroll (use accounting category skills)
- Legal document drafting (use legal-tech category skills)
Primary audience: Freelancers, small business owners, and knowledge workers. No technical background required.
When to Use
| Situation | What to ask |
|---|
| Start of day | "Give me a morning brief for today, [date]" |
| Writing a follow-up message | "Draft a WhatsApp to a client who hasn't paid invoice #42" |
| Planning a meeting | "What days work this week around Shabbat and [holiday]?" |
| Government correspondence | "Help me write a formal letter to Bituach Leumi about [topic]" |
| Invoice reminder | "Write a polite but firm payment reminder for [client name]" |
| Deadline check | "When is my next VAT reporting window?" |
| Scheduling with context | "Is next Friday afternoon a good time for a meeting?" |
Israeli Work Week and Calendar
Work Week
The Israeli work week runs Sunday (יום ראשון) through Thursday (יום חמישי).
| Day | Hebrew | Status |
|---|
| Sunday | יום ראשון | Full workday, start of week |
| Monday | יום שני | Full workday |
| Tuesday | יום שלישי | Full workday |
| Wednesday | יום רביעי | Full workday |
| Thursday | יום חמישי | Full workday, end of week |
| Friday | יום שישי | Short day, most businesses close by 13:00-14:00 |
| Saturday | שבת | Rest day. No business activity whatsoever |
Friday scheduling rule: Never schedule meetings, calls, or deliveries on Friday afternoon. The cutoff is generally 13:00 for most businesses. Erev Chag (the eve of a Jewish holiday) follows the same short-day rule.
Jewish Holiday Impact on Business
Israel observes a single day of yom tov per holiday side, not the diaspora two-day pattern. This matters: the skill schedules around the Israeli calendar, not the global Jewish calendar.
| Holiday | Duration in Israel | Business Impact |
|---|
| Yom Kippur | 1 day | Complete shutdown. Even secular Israelis don't work |
| Rosh Hashana | 2 days | Full shutdown, most take additional days |
| Sukkot | 1 day yom tov + 5 days Chol HaMoed + 1 day Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah (combined) | Full shutdown on first day and on Shmini Atzeret; Chol HaMoed is partial |
| Pesach | 1 day yom tov + 5 days Chol HaMoed + 1 day yom tov (7 days total in Israel) | Full shutdown on first and last days; Chol HaMoed is partial |
| Shavuot | 1 day | Full shutdown |
| Purim | 1 day (Mar 3, 2026; Mar 4 in Jerusalem) | Many take the day off; expect slow responses |
| Iron Swords Memorial Day (יום הזיכרון לחללי מלחמת חרבות ברזל) | 1 day (fixed at 24 Tishrei; e.g., Oct 5, 2026, moved to Sunday 25 Tishrei if it falls on Shabbat) | National observance with siren and ceremonies. Avoid entertainment events. Established by Knesset law in 2024 |
Chol HaMoed note: Businesses technically operate during Chol HaMoed (intermediate days of Sukkot and Pesach), but many employees are on vacation. Expect 30-50% slower response times and limited availability.
August: Israeli summer vacation season. Many families travel. Expect slower response rates throughout the month, especially during the last two weeks.
National Observances (Working Days with Cultural Weight)
These are working days, but communication tone and event scheduling should respect them.
| Observance | 2026 Date | What to Avoid |
|---|
| Yom HaShoah (יום השואה) | Apr 14 | Entertainment, sales pitches, jokes. Siren at 10:00 |
| Yom HaZikaron (יום הזיכרון) | Apr 21 | Entertainment, parties, ad campaigns. Sirens at 20:00 (Apr 20) and 11:00 (Apr 21) |
| Yom HaAtzmaut (יום העצמאות) | Apr 22 | NOT a working day: a full national holiday, most businesses closed. The somber Yom HaZikaron flips to celebration at sunset on Apr 21. Do not schedule client work or deadlines on Apr 22 |
| Yom Yerushalayim (יום ירושלים) | May 15 (28 Iyar) | Mostly Jerusalem-focused; expect road closures and parade in the city |
Key Business Obligation Dates
| Obligation | Frequency | Window |
|---|
| VAT (מע"מ) reporting | Bi-monthly (annual turnover up to ₪1,775,000) or monthly (above) | 15th of the month following the reporting period |
| VAT payment | Same as reporting | Same as reporting |
| Bituach Leumi (NII) advance payments | Monthly | 15th of each month |
| Annual tax return (עצמאים) | Annual | Typically April-May (check current year deadline) |
| Income tax advance (מקדמות) | Monthly | 15th of each month |
Standard VAT rate (2026): 18% (raised from 17% on Jan 1, 2025; the 2026 budget kept it at 18%).
חשבוניות ישראל / Allocation Number regime: As of Jan 1, 2026, business invoices above ₪10,000 (ex-VAT) require an Allocation Number (מספר הקצאה) generated in real time by the Tax Authority, or the buyer cannot reclaim VAT. The threshold drops to ₪5,000 from Jun 1, 2026. Most accounting software (Green Invoice, iCount, Hashavshevet) handles allocation requests automatically. This is the single biggest 2024-2026 change for Israeli freelancers issuing invoices to businesses.
Always verify current deadlines with the relevant authority (רשות המיסים, המוסד לביטוח לאומי), as dates can shift around holidays.
Daily Brief Template
Use this structure when asking for a morning brief. Ask your AI: "Give me a morning brief for [date]."
Brief Structure
- Hebrew date (e.g., י״ח בניסן תשפ״ו) alongside the Gregorian date
- Day of week with any scheduling notes (short day? Erev Chag?)
- Open tasks you have provided
- Upcoming deadlines in the next 7 days
- Holiday or Chag alerts this week and next
- Business obligation reminders (VAT window, Bituach Leumi, etc.)
Example Morning Brief
English:
Morning Brief - Sunday, April 5, 2026 / י״ח בניסן תשפ״ו
Day: Start of work week (Sunday). Full workday.
Holiday alert: Pesach Chol HaMoed (through April 7). Many contacts may be on vacation - expect slower responses.
Open tasks:
- Follow up with Rivka on the design proposal (3 days overdue)
- Send invoice #87 to client ABC Ltd.
Upcoming deadlines:
- Pesach last day (Shvi'i, yom tov): April 8 (full shutdown); April 7 is erev (short day). April 9 is Isru Chag, a normal workday in Israel
- Bituach Leumi advance payment due April 15
Reminders:
- Next VAT deadline: May 15 (for Mar-Apr period)
- Post-Pesach week starts April 12 (expect gradual ramp-up)
Hebrew:
סיכום בוקר - יום ראשון, 5.4.2026 / י״ח בניסן תשפ״ו
יום: תחילת שבוע עבודה (ראשון). יום עבודה מלא.
התראת חג: חול המועד פסח (עד 7 באפריל). רבים בחופשה - צפויות תגובות איטיות.
משימות פתוחות:
- לעקוב אחרי רבקה בנושא הצעת העיצוב (3 ימי איחור)
- לשלוח חשבונית מספר 87 ללקוח ABC בע"מ
דדליינים קרובים:
- יום פסח אחרון (שביעי של פסח, יום טוב): 8 באפריל (סגירה מוחלטת); 7 באפריל ערב החג (יום קצר). 9 באפריל הוא איסרו חג, יום עבודה רגיל בישראל
- תשלום מקדמה לביטוח לאומי עד 15 באפריל
תזכורות:
- דיווח מע"מ הבא: 15 במאי (לתקופת מרץ-אפריל)
- שבוע אחרי פסח מתחיל ב-12 באפריל (צפויה עלייה הדרגתית בפעילות)
Hebrew Message Drafting
Israeli Communication Norms
| Context | Tone | Opening | Example opener |
|---|
| Client follow-up (WhatsApp) | Direct but warm | First name | "היי [שם], מזכיר בנושא..." |
| Government office (email/letter) | Formal but not archaic | Title | "לכבוד [גוף הרלוונטי], הנדון: ..." |
| Colleague (Slack/WhatsApp) | Casual, first name | Informal | "מה קורה, יש עדכון על...?" |
| Supplier | Professional | First name or position | "שלום [שם], רציתי לבדוק..." |
| Invoice reminder | Polite but firm | First name | "היי [שם], מזכיר שחשבונית מספר X..." |
| New client intro | Friendly, professional | First name | "שלום [שם], שמחתי לדבר אתך..." |
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Over-formal corporate Hebrew (sounds translated from English):
- Instead of: "הנני מתכבד להודיעך כי..."
- Use: "רציתי לעדכן אותך ש..."
Passive voice in WhatsApp messages:
- Instead of: "ההודעה נשלחה על ידי..."
- Use: "שלחתי לך..."
Overly long openings:
- Instead of: "תחילה, אני מקווה שאתה בריא ושהכל טוב..."
- Use: "היי [שם]," (and get to the point)
Archaic phrases:
- Avoid: "הנני", "כבודו", "לכבוד מר/גב'"
- These are fine for official government letters but jarring in any other context
American politeness patterns that sound odd in Hebrew:
- Avoid: "כיצד אוכל לסייע לך היום?" (call-center Hebrew)
- Use: "במה אפשר לעזור?" or just state the matter directly
Israeli Formatting Conventions
Use these formats consistently in all drafted content:
| Field | Israeli Format | NOT This |
|---|
| Date | DD/MM/YYYY or DD.MM.YYYY | MM/DD/YYYY |
| Phone (mobile) | 05X-XXX-XXXX | +9725XXXXXXXX in casual context |
| Phone (landline) | 0X-XXX-XXXX | - |
| Currency | ₪1,234.56 (symbol before amount) | 1,234.56 ₪ |
| Address | רחוב [שם] [מספר], [עיר], מיקוד [7 digits] | - |
| Business number | ח.פ. XXXXXXXXX (9 digits) | - |
| ID number | ת.ז. XXXXXXXXX (9 digits) | - |
Date format is critical. 03/04/2026 means April 3rd in Israel, not March 4th. Always use DD/MM/YYYY.
Follow-up Sequences
Invoice Payment Reminder Cadence
Day 1 (due date passed) - Friendly:
היי [שם],
רציתי להזכיר שחשבונית מספר [X] על סך ₪[סכום] הגיעה לפירעון.
אשמח שתסדיר בנוח.
תודה, [שמך]
Day 14 - Reminder:
שלום [שם],
מזכיר שוב בנוגע לחשבונית מספר [X] על סך ₪[סכום] שלא שולמה עדיין.
נשמח לקבל את התשלום בהקדם.
[שמך]
Day 30 - Firm:
שלום [שם],
חשבונית מספר [X] על סך ₪[סכום] עדיין לא שולמה למרות תזכורות קודמות.
אבקש לסדר את התשלום עד [תאריך] לכל המאוחר.
לפרטים נוספים, [מספר טלפון].
[שמך]
See references/hebrew-communication-templates.md for the full template library.
Scheduling Intelligence
Rules for Scheduling
- Shabbat cutoff: Nothing after 13:00 on Friday (earlier for religious businesses or in cities like Bnei Brak, Jerusalem)
- Erev Chag: Same rule as Erev Shabbat
- Motzei Shabbat: Saturday night. Some people work Motzei Shabbat; others don't. Confirm before scheduling
- Chol HaMoed: Business operates but expect partial availability. Good for internal meetings, not client-facing work
- August: Israel's vacation month. Give extra lead time for any request during August
- National memorial days (Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron): Culturally sensitive. Entertainment and leisure events are inappropriate
Scheduling Checklist
Before confirming any meeting or deadline, ask:
- Is this day a Jewish holiday or Erev Chag?
- Is this on a Friday (half-day)?
- Is this during Chol HaMoed (reduced availability)?
- Is the other party observant (affects Shabbat timing)?
Gotchas
1. Work week start day
Agents default to Monday as the first workday. The Israeli work week starts Sunday. A "beginning of the week meeting" or "early this week" should be Sunday, not Monday. When drafting scheduling messages, always use יום ראשון for the start of the week.
2. Date format confusion
Agents trained on English content default to MM/DD/YYYY. Israel uses DD/MM/YYYY. Writing "03/04/2026" means April 3rd in Israel, not March 4th. When in doubt, write dates as "3 באפריל 2026" (spelled out) to avoid any ambiguity.
3. Hebrew formality levels
Agents tend to produce overly formal Hebrew that sounds like a translation from English corporate speak. Israeli business communication is direct and less formal than American English. "הנני מתכבד להודיעך" is archaic and sounds strange in any modern context outside official legal documents. Use "רציתי לעדכן אותך" instead. When in doubt, write shorter and more direct.
4. Friday is a half-day
Agents don't know that Friday is a shortened workday in Israel. Scheduling a "Friday afternoon meeting at 15:00" is like scheduling a Sunday meeting in the US. Use this skill to apply the Friday 13:00 cutoff rule before suggesting any Friday time slot.
5. Holiday awareness affects planning across multiple weeks
Agents lack context about how Jewish holidays affect business for the days around them, not just the holiday itself. Pesach, Sukkot, and the High Holiday season in Tishrei effectively compress the business calendar significantly. A deadline that falls in the week after Pesach may need to be set two weeks earlier than it appears on a calendar, because the week of Chol HaMoed will have minimal productivity.
Pairing with Other Skills
| Skill | What it adds | Use together when |
|---|
| shabbat-aware-scheduler | Live calendar integration with Shabbat/holiday-aware scheduling | You need to actually create calendar events, not just plan |
| gws-hebrew-email-automation | Automated Hebrew email sending via Google Workspace | You want to send emails automatically, not just draft them |
| israeli-email-sequences | Multi-step email drip sequences for Israeli audience | You need automated follow-up campaigns |
| accounting skills | VAT calculation, invoice generation, financial reporting | You need numbers, not just reminders |
| legal-tech skills | Contract templates, legal correspondence | Formal legal documents beyond standard business letters |
Bundled Resources
Scripts
| Script | Purpose | Usage |
|---|
scripts/morning-brief.py | Generates a structured morning brief with Hebrew date from HebCal API | python3 morning-brief.py [--date YYYY-MM-DD] [--lang he|en|both] [--tasks "task1, task2"] |
Requirements: pip install requests python-dateutil
References
| File | Contents |
|---|
references/hebrew-communication-templates.md | Ready-to-use Hebrew message templates: invoice reminders, client communication, government correspondence, supplier messages, and team updates |
references/israeli-business-calendar.md | Jewish holiday dates (5786 cycle), recurring business deadlines, VAT reporting periods, and seasonal business patterns |
Troubleshooting
The Hebrew sounds stiff or translated
Ask your agent: "Rewrite this in more natural Israeli Hebrew, like you'd send a WhatsApp to a colleague." The agent should use shorter sentences, direct phrasing, and avoid passive constructions.
The agent scheduled something on Shabbat or Friday afternoon
Remind the agent of the Israeli work week rules: Sunday-Thursday full days, Friday until 13:00, Saturday no business. If using a calendar integration, pair with shabbat-aware-scheduler.
The morning brief doesn't include Hebrew dates
Ask explicitly: "Include the Hebrew date (e.g., י״ח בניסן תשפ״ו) alongside the Gregorian date." You can also use the scripts/morning-brief.py script which fetches Hebrew dates from HebCal automatically.
Holiday dates are wrong or missing
Jewish holiday dates shift every year based on the Hebrew calendar. Ask your agent to fetch the current year's dates from HebCal (https://www.hebcal.com) or use the scripts/morning-brief.py script which calls the HebCal API.
Reference Links
