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Birthright Israel Onward launched a volunteer program, the first of its kind, to assist Israel’s food rescue operations during the Israel-Hamas war. Young Jewish adults, ages 18-40, are volunteering for two-week periods on Israeli farms and in agriculture centers. Within the first two weeks of launching the program, thousands of young Jewish adults applied. Many of the applicants are Birthright Israel alums or young Jews eager to help Israel in any way they can. Birthright Israel Foundation met up with one of the first groups of volunteers as they were busy picking and packing pomegranates for farmer Avner Azri near Zarchia.
Watch Why Young Jews are Volunteering in Israel
The Onward volunteers pay their own travel expenses, and El Al is assisting the project by providing a discount on airline tickets. Once in Israel, the volunteers work daily from morning until late in the afternoon on various Israeli farms that have been affected by the war. Farmer Avner Azri, who is fortunate to have the help of the Birthright Israel Onward volunteers, shared that he almost missed the pomegranate and persimmon season due to the war.
“Almost all the Thai workers left when the war broke out, and we were left with tons of pomegranates and persimmons on the trees. We almost missed this season; these working hands are a salvation, and it’s so heartwarming to see people from Birthright Israel who left their lives to come here,” said Avner.
At night, the young adults meet with Israeli peers to hear different perspectives on the war and share their own experiences as Jews living in the Diaspora. These interactions help both young Jewish adults in the Diaspora and those in Israel better understand the situations in their home countries. Israelis share firsthand accounts of what life has been like in Israel during the war, and American Jews speak about the increase of antisemitism.
Jodi Heller, a 37-year-old firefighter and single mother from New York, is volunteering on Avner’s farm right now. Following the October 7th terrorist attack, Heller felt immense anger and shared she didn’t go to work for four days.
“I couldn’t understand how something like this could happen. I felt I needed to do something to make a difference and lend a hand. When I saw that Taglit’s volunteer program was opening, I understood that I had an opportunity to contribute. Of course, I was a bit apprehensive; after all, it’s a war. But my 13-year-old son pushed me to come here. If he could, he would have come with me. I left him with a friend who’s taking good care of him, and so I came,” shared Heller.
Melissa Leiberson, 26, who is featured in the video above, felt an urge to come because she believes in supporting the people of Israel. “I came here because I felt that help is needed during this time. I believe in supporting the people of Israel, and I felt it’s so simple and something I must do to give Israelis the feeling that we, world Jewry, we are all part of one family.”
Photos of the Volunteer Program
