You’ve likely read about Sar-El or its U.S. partner, Volunteers for Israel, (vfi-usa.org). Perhaps you’ve thought about volunteering to work on an IDF base but never took the steps to make it happen.
No matter how many checks you write to support Israel, this volunteering experience allows you to contribute in a very different way: you are truly lending your hands. We as a generation have been very fortunate. Many of us weren’t born yet in 1948 or 1956 and we were likely too young to join the many volunteers who flew over in 1967 to help support the fighters and be able to share in the excitement of reuniting Yerushalayim.
In short, we’ve had many years of enjoyment of the great miracle of Israel without any of the real sacrifice. I don’t want to imply that a week or two working on a military base compares to what an Israeli does in service, but it’s something. The IDF does have a need for people to perform physical labor on its bases, and VFI volunteers help satisfy that need.
People who have volunteered in the past have written about their experience, claiming it to be unique and rewarding. These people have described VFI as an opportunity to help the IDF, to live with the soldiers for a time and to meet similarly minded people from all over the world. My goal is to help you take the next step, to actually make it happen rather than just think about it. I am organizing a group to go together.
I propose a program with flexibility that combines serving on a base with touring or visiting family. The plan is you can do any portion of the trip or the entire experience.
One week on the base;
Shabbat together (or with your family);
another week on a base;
Shabbat on the base or with family;
a week of touring with the people you connected to on the base.
If this idea interests you, let’s connect and plan it together. We have arranged for a representative of VFI to be available on a zoom call to answer any questions regarding the volunteer aspect. I have also made arrangements to have a frum Israeli travel agent plan Shabbat and the week of touring.
If you would like to consider joining, please reach out to me at [email protected]. You can also connect with our VFI regional manager, Beverly Cohen, at [email protected]. While one goal is to organize this joint trip, the true objective is to educate as many people as possible on the VFI programs. Whether you join with a large group or go solo, VFI can help you have an experience to be proud of and to treasure.
When he’s not helping people finance their homes, David likes to explore interesting adventures for the current and soon to be medicare generation—a combination of rewarding and fun. Share your thoughts at [email protected]
