As Israel continues to recover from Hamas’ brutal terror attack, many Americans want to do whatever they can to help. In addition to philanthropic initiatives such as the organization’s Israel Resilience Campaign, others are trying to find a more hands-on approach. For those individuals, Jewish National Fund-USA is offering “Volunteer for Israel” missions, where they can play a direct role in supporting the land and people of Israel during these difficult times.
On these five-day missions in Israel, volunteers can:
- Spend time helping displaced residents and the people who are providing lifesaving efforts to support them.
- Take part in community service activities, helping with anything needed, from cooking to assistance in the daycares, laundry, or cleaning up.
- Work together with Jewish National Fund-USA affiliates on farms, picking vegetables and other crops that will help prevent a massive shortage in the Israeli market and ensure that no farmer is left alone.
- Volunteer with Sar-El at an army base, take on logistical roles necessary to fill the void of the over 350,000 Israelis serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and reserves.
Participants will do 4-6 hours of volunteering each day and receive accommodations in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem with meals fully covered, daily transport to sites, security to ensure safety, and support from Jewish National Fund-USA’s professional staff in Israel. Missions start December 10, 2023, and will continue throughout January, February, and March. The exact dates of missions can be found at jnf.org/volunteeril.
“We’ve been blessed with incredible partners (donors) who want to donate not just their dollars but also their time and labor to support Israel’s recovery process,” said Assistant Vice President, Missions, Deb Zaluda. “Jewish National Fund-USA is proud to give Americans an opportunity to be on the ground making a physical, tangible difference in Israeli lives as we rebuild communities and aid the tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by the war.”
Those who aren’t able to volunteer can still help Israelis impacted by the war in the short and long term by supporting Jewish National Fund-USA’s Israel Resilience Campaign (jnf.org/supportisrael). The organization has relocated tens of thousands of residents in Israel’s South and provided them with housing, food, clothing, and other supplies, as well as firefighting and protective equipment for civil defense in vulnerable regions, education, activities for children, and therapy for trauma.
To learn more about Jewish National Fund-USA’s missions to Israel, visit jnf.org/travel or contact Deena Shiff: at dshiff@jnf.org or 212.879.9305, Ext. 234.
