The short answer
baba translates a Employment Contract as a PDF (up to 20 pages) or by camera if you only have the printed page, so you can read what it says in your own language.
- An Israeli employment contract covers salary, working hours, a probation period, notice requirements, and benefits that are distinctly Israeli — a pension contribution, a study fund (keren hishtalmut), and an annual recuperation payment (dmei havra’a) that don’t have an exact equivalent in every country.
- baba does not produce certified, sworn or notarised translations, and makes no claim about what any Israeli institution accepts.
What is a Employment Contract?
Sent by: Your employer — a private agreement, not a government document, but one that sets pay, hours, and benefits under Israeli employment practice.
An Israeli employment contract covers salary, working hours, a probation period, notice requirements, and benefits that are distinctly Israeli — a pension contribution, a study fund (keren hishtalmut), and an annual recuperation payment (dmei havra’a) that don’t have an exact equivalent in every country.
What it usually contains
- Gross and net salary (משכורת ברוטו / נטו) and payment schedule
- Working hours and probation period (תקופת ניסיון)
- Pension contributions and study fund, where offered
- Notice period and severance terms
Hebrew terms and fields olim get wrong
- Reading a salary figure as net pay when the contract states gross (ברוטו), which is common for olim used to contracts that quote take-home pay directly.
- Not recognising "קרן השתלמות" (study fund) as a real, valuable benefit — it’s a tax-advantaged savings vehicle unique to Israel, not a training budget.
- Assuming the probation period (תקופת ניסיון) works the same way it did in a previous country, when the specific terms and what happens at its end are set by that contract’s own clause.
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| חוזה עבודה | chozeh avoda | employment contract |
| משכורת ברוטו | maskoret brutto | gross salary |
| משכורת נטו | maskoret neto | net (take-home) salary |
| תקופת ניסיון | tkufat nisayon | probation period |
| הודעה מוקדמת | hoda'a mukdemet | advance notice (of resignation or termination) |
| הפרשות פנסיה | hafrashot pensia | pension contributions |
| קרן השתלמות | keren hishtalmut | study fund (a common Israeli employee benefit) |
| ימי חופשה | yamei chufsha | vacation days |
| דמי הבראה | dmei havra'a | recuperation pay (annual convalescence payment, unique to Israel) |
| פיצויי פיטורים | pitzuyei piturin | severance pay |
Deadlines and consequences to watch for
- Probation period length and what happens at its end are set by the specific contract clause — read that clause rather than assuming a universal default.
- Advance-notice periods for resigning or being let go typically scale with tenure under Israeli practice, but the exact figure for your situation belongs in the contract clause or with a labor-law source, not assumed.
None of this is legal advice. An unfamiliar clause — especially notice periods, non-compete terms, or severance — is worth a labor-law consult before signing.
How do I translate my own Employment Contract?
Paper → camera
Photograph the document flat, in even light, with the whole page in frame, and translate the image. Printed official Hebrew, without vowel points, is the easiest case for camera translation.
File or scan → PDF
baba handles PDFs up to 20 pages per document, including scanned pages via built-in OCR — useful for a multi-page contract or a report packet.
PDF translation and camera translation of full documents and images are Pro features, available on a 7-day free trial. The free plan covers typed text: 2,500 characters per month with a free account, and 1,000 as a guest with no login. If you only need to check a phrase or a paragraph you can retype, start with typed-text translation for free; switch to Pro for the full document.
Frequently asked questions
Is my salary figure gross or net?
Check the specific wording — ברוטו (brutto) means gross, before deductions; נטו (neto) means net, take-home. Israeli contracts commonly quote gross, which surprises people used to a net-quoted offer.
What is keren hishtalmut?
A study fund — a tax-advantaged savings benefit that some Israeli employers offer alongside pension contributions. It is a real financial benefit, not a training stipend.
What is dmei havra’a?
Recuperation pay — an annual payment specific to Israeli employment, separate from salary and vacation pay. It has no exact equivalent in most other countries’ employment law.
Should I get a contract like this reviewed before signing?
This page recommends it, particularly for probation, notice, and non-compete clauses. A translation helps you understand the terms; it doesn’t replace a labor-law consult.
Can baba translate a multi-page contract with clause numbering?
Yes, PDF translation preserves headings and clause numbers up to 20 pages, so you can cross-reference the English against the Hebrew original section by section.
What baba does not do
- baba tells you what the document says. A deadline, an appeal, a status decision, or a payment demand still warrants a person who knows the Israeli system — often the sending office itself, or a qualified lawyer, accountant, or advisor.
- baba does not produce certified, sworn or notarised translations, and makes no claim about what any agency, bank, employer, or institution will accept.
- PDF translation covers 20 pages per document; camera translation works best on printed text rather than handwriting.
- The free tier is 2,500 characters per month with a free account, or 1,000 as a guest with no login — enough for a short message, not a full document. See pricing.