My Senior Israel Volunteering Experience Revisited

My wife and I recently returned from Israel after a month of volunteering, as we did a year ago. We are into senior citizen status, and there are many volunteer opportunities for all ages. People have asked me through which group we volunteered. We went on our own and found many places that needed help, and all were very appreciative. Our transportation was by train and bus with the aid of Google Maps, going as far north as Nahariya and south to the Gaza border communities.

One of the organizations that we returned to volunteer for was Leket, a national food bank that distributes excess crops to people in need. (leket.org) After October 7, they started a program to help the farmers with picking, planting, and pruning crops. Israel’s agricultural industry was adversely affected by a drastic decrease in available workers. The problem still exists today and for the foreseeable future. Leket arranges buses from most major cities to bring volunteers to help the farmers. mostly in the south. We arranged to stay at a place close to the pickup point since they leave at 6AM. Volunteers were all ages from many different countries.

Some organizations work together to coordinate services. For example, Pantry Packers (pantrypackers.org) in Jerusalem puts together food packages to be distributed to families in need across the country. They also work with Leket, who originally started by collecting excess food from banquet halls, corporate dining rooms, and other institutions and then distributing the meals, which they still do. When we went to Pantry Packers, they showed us a walk-in cooler with individual meals that had come in that day from Leket and were ready to deliver to families the same day. Several places in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv need help sorting and packing produce for a few hours a day. We met people who volunteered for an organization called Sar-El,  (sar-el.org) a prearranged, fixed amount of time volunteer program on army bases.

The Facebook group “Sword of Iron – Israel Volunteer Opportunities” is a great resource to find volunteer opportunities and related information.  One day my wife saw a posting that people were needed to sit with a sick child in the hospital. She signed up for a two-hour shift, and I went along thinking I would volunteer since they probably need help somewhere. When I arrived, I went to an administrative office and asked about volunteering. A very nice staff member called around to see where I could help. My Hebrew is also limited. They were very friendly and introduced me to other staff members. One of the doctors had an idea that the geriatric department had some English-speaking patients with limited Hebrew and would appreciate an English-speaking visitor. I met the patient and her family and visited for a couple of hours, just talking and joking with them. The patient was very sick, but she appreciated the visit, as did the family. The staff asked me to return the next day, which I did, accompanied by my wife. They asked us to visit again, but we were going back home. There are many similar one-time opportunities.

Returning a year later, of course the trauma of October 7 is still there. Everyone has a loved one in the military or a connection to a victim. People go on with their daily lives and live with the red alert sirens going off, but we felt safe at all times. Drivers still enjoy honking at each other and having disagreements, but there is still a sense of unity and people willing to help each other.

The biggest difference I noticed was more protests, which is a healthy sign of democracy. We saw trains crowded with protesters going to or from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as buses being rerouted. Some protests were over the war or disagreement on recent legislation. Protesting is healthy, but too much disunity can weaken us.

It can be difficult physically and financially to volunteer in Israel. A volunteer program for Israel that I am familiar with  called “EnglishB’Yachad can be done from home on Zoom. (skillvolunteerisrael.org) It involves online English language tutoring to young adults from less-advantaged communities in Israel to enhance their job opportunities. I have been an EnglishB’Yachad tutor for over three years with the same student. It has been a meaningful experience to volunteer for Israel without leaving my home. I have been fortunate to be able to meet my student and friend in person when visiting Israel.

Israel has had a rough couple of years, and their people appreciate any gesture of help and support. We visited a bookstore, and in talking to the owner, we learned she had a son who was in the army, and she asked us what we were doing there. When we told her we were there to help, she was so appreciative that she insisted on giving us a new visitor’s book about Israel.

Israel is a country of first responders to any world catastrophe including earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis and even offers assistance to their enemies. They are a light onto the nations. It is time for the people of the world to come to the aid of Israel. Volunteering for Israel  can have a positive effect on Israeli society and create a closer connection and a deeper understanding between countries.