Volunteering for Israel, From Afar

More Than a Zoom Call: The Power of Skilled Volunteering for Israel

For over a year, I’ve met regularly on Zoom with my English B’yachad partner, an Israeli woman working to strengthen her English for professional and personal growth. At first, I thought I was just offering language support. But over time, I came to see how this seemingly small commitment grew into something much more meaningful—for both of us.

As a high school science teacher in New York, I’m no stranger to education. Still, this was different. We connected not only over vocabulary and grammar, but over life—sharing family stories, holiday customs, and hopes for the future. My partner had studied English in school, but this was her chance to regain confidence and speak with fluency and ease. Every session became an opportunity to empower her voice.

This past year, I had the chance to visit Israel again. I traveled to Sderot and met my partner in person for the first time. Over coffee and lunch in her home, we finally talked face to face—without a screen between us. We laughed about some of our early miscommunications and celebrated how far she had come.

But that visit was also sobering. My partner showed me how the war had directly affected her and her family—stories that brought abstract headlines into painful, human focus. In that moment, I understood that my role as a volunteer was not just about teaching English. It was about standing in solidarity, showing up, and offering a bridge across distance, culture, and struggle.

Skilled volunteering doesn’t always require a passport or a sabbatical. Sometimes, it just takes consistency, care, and a willingness to connect. Programs like English B’yachad make it possible to contribute meaningfully from wherever you are. You don’t need to be fluent in Hebrew or have experience in diplomacy—you just need a skill and a heart to help.

In a time when Israel is facing so many challenges, volunteers can be part of the healing. One conversation at a time.