I have just spent 3 weeks in my favourite travel destination. I travelled to Israel to volunteer and to be a tourist. The country is alive, young people are in clubs and restaurants. It is hard to believe there was a war when I was there. I spent quite a bit of time at Hostages Square, just wandering and watching and seeing all the installations of the kibbutzim that were affected, the empty table settings for each hostage and of course the Nova Festival.
At Hostages Square parents, siblings spoke, pleading for the return of their loved ones. May I say that I felt it was a privilege to be in Israel with many others gathering at Hostages Square in Tel-Aviv when the first two groups of hostages came home. There was such an outpouring of emotion and joy when these women- people that no one knew or would ever meet-returned home finally. In what other country could this happen?
Israel needs us. Now is the time to go and visit and volunteer. I promised that I would spread the word. I volunteered for Sar-el, a program where one volunteers for the Israeli Defense Forces, which welcomes Jewish and non-Jewish volunteers from all over the globe. This base produces medical equipment and supplies such as bandages used in the field or anywhere in the war. The work was plentiful and important. Every bag packed is done with care and precision, such that there are no surprises when the medics need to access these supplies in a hurry. I have volunteered for Sar-el on other bases before.
Sar el is not the only volunteer opportunity, as there are many others. Since October 7th there is an organization on FB called Swords of Iron that coordinates many different volunteer opportunities in the country. The north needs rebuilding. The south needs fruit pickers and people to prepare and serve food to soldiers. All you have to do is show up and get in touch with Swords of Iron and you will find any volunteer opportunity that suits you.
We pray for the safe return of all the hostages and for finding a sustainable way for our dear country to thrive.
You just won’t believe how easy it was to be in Israel and how happy the Israelis will be to see you. People in every store and every museum thanked me for coming.
Go! Spend your money there. Am Yisrael Chai. Israel needs us now!!
