Several Israeli nonprofits are combining resources to launch a pilot program this Chanukah in 20 communities throughout the country, designed to reduce loneliness among socially isolated and homebound seniors.
The project is a partnership between the Colel Chabad, WeMe and Lev Echad organizations.
During the Chanukah rollout, 3,000 seniors from Colel Chabad’s database will be matched with 3,000 volunteers recruited through Lev Echad’s network and a broad public campaign, along with regular volunteers from the Chabad on Campus / Get Chesed project via the WeMe platform.
The WeMe technology streamlines volunteer management, enabling NGOs to easily coordinate activities and engage volunteers effectively.
Mendy Blau, Israel director of Colel Chabad, told JNS the most important aspect of the initiative is matching the right volunteers with seniors, not only to bring them joy at home during Chanukah, but also to foster strong connections that can last throughout the year.
“This isn’t about one-off visits,” Blau said. “It’s about finding volunteers who are neighbors—people who live where these seniors live, often in isolation—and connecting them person to person, almost like family. Building a strong one-on-one connection is key so that they have meaningful interactions throughout the year.”
Each volunteer will receive a Chanukah gift kit delivered to his or her home, with items to help create a warm and meaningful experience during their visit.
Volunteers will contact their matched seniors, coordinate a time, and visit them during Chanukah to light candles together, talk, play games and spend quality time.
For many seniors, this may be the only personal interaction they receive throughout the eight-day holiday.
Organizers are hopeful that the pilot will turn into a year-round program in which the volunteers will be visiting with the seniors on a regular basis, and in additional communities.
According to the National Institute on Aging, a U.S. federal agency dedicated to funding and conducting research on aging and age-related diseases, research has linked social isolation and loneliness to a variety of physical and mental conditions including Alzheimer’s disease.
The challenge of loneliness
Colel Chabad provides food baskets and vouchers to impoverished elderly throughout Israel, but Blau finds that loneliness remains one of the biggest challenges, especially for homebound seniors.
Eighty-five percent of the population he serves has expressed interest in receiving visits at home, he added.
Blau shared a shocking story about an elderly gentleman in Ashkelon who regularly receives food support from Colel Chabad, and who told him that he would prefer to be in prison at this stage of his life, because at least in prison he would have social opportunities instead of being isolated at home.
Blau is optimistic that the pilot will succeed in the 20 selected areas and that the program can soon be expanded nationwide.
Another separate initiative this Chanukah to support the elderly in Israel, including Holocaust survivors, is the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews’ With Dignity and Fellowship Program.
Through the year-round program, IFCJ staff visit with the elderly, delivering lifesaving food and medicine, along with other items to help them during the cold winter months.
This Chanukah, the IFCJ is delivering food boxes and a chanukiyah to help celebrate.
Yael Eckstein, president of the IFCJ, told JNS that that companionship for seniors is crucial, especially during the holidays.
“Chanukah is a time of joy, hope and family, yet for thousands of elderly Israelis, the holiday period can be particularly challenging, often living alone and thinking about happy times spent together with family and friends,” Eckstein said.
“On behalf of our hundreds of thousands of donors across the world, we are blessed to be able to visit over 16,000 of our country’s elderly and bring some warmth and light, companionship and support in honor of the Festival of Lights,” she said.
