Volunteers deliver help, hope to Israel 

by Irv Fellner
May 14, 2004/Iyar 23 5764, Vol. 56, No. 34
http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/040514/volunteers.shtml

Inspired by Tzvi Caplan, a speaker at a recent Jewish War 
Veteran's meeting (Red Mountain Post #128) who described his 
experiences as a volunteer in Israel, my wife Eileen and I 
decided we would volunteer.

We selected the Sar-El program. The name is a Hebrew acronym 
meaning "Service for Israel."

We chose a Sar-El program on an Israeli army base, doing such 
tasks as assembling gas masks, sorting army clothing and 
packaging medical supplies. We helped boost morale and free 
soldiers to do other work. There are more strenuous jobs for 
those able to do them.

I stated on my application that I am 80 years old, and my wife 
is in her 70s. The response was that age would be no consideration 
as long as we could walk and climb steps.

I had been to Israel three times and had no concern about my 
personal safety. I was most worried about the implications of 
a statement on the Sar-El Web site: "There are bases where 
showers/restrooms are located some distance from the barracks, 
so volunteers should bring flashlights for nighttime bathroom 
needs."

"Oy vay," I thought.

The Web site informed us that room and board would be free, 
with dormitory accommodations and ample, if not gourmet, kosher 
meals. We would wear army-issue work clothes on the base. 
We could participate in tours and cultural programs on some 
evenings and days off.

After we arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, several 
fellow volunteers and we were whisked away to our army base, 
a tank unit between Ashkelon and Ashdod, not far from Tel Aviv - 
or Gaza.

We stayed in four-person barracks rooms with washrooms at the 
end of the hall; women's on one floor and men's on another. 
I roomed with two other guys - Leon, a retired import-exporter 
from Dallas, and Arnold, a semi-retired businessman from Detroit. 
Eileen slept across the hall in another four-person room.

We enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and in all 
walks of life. We talked nonstop: what to do about Arafat; 
the Intifada; who should lead Israel. We solved Israel's problems 
over and over again, even though we seldom agreed on the 
solutions.

Work was easy, for the most part. I was assigned to the kitchen 
and the clothing dispensing section, and Eileen assembled gas 
masks.

The soldiers appreciated our presence and support. Israelis, 
understandably, sometimes feel down about their circumstances 
and need a morale boost.

Of several speakers we heard, I was especially thrilled when 
Ziporah Porath talked about her experiences in the Hebrew 
University Palmach unit of the Haganah in 1947-1948. I happened 
to have been in the same unit. She was selling her book about 
those days, and her stories brought back poignant memories.

Our volunteer groups included several Christian Zionists from 
all over the world. These lovers of Zion contributed their 
efforts and money on Israel's behalf. They were strictly 
forbidden to proselytize.

Unfortunately, few Jews answer the call to volunteer and visit 
Israel. Our visits are essential to its economy, and we must go 
if we can.

And what of the danger? On the army base we felt as secure as 
we have ever been. There were gates and sentries, and we presented 
picture identification cards for entry.

The excursions arranged by Sar-El were also secure. We took a 
Negev/Bedouin trip, staying overnight in a large Bedouin tent, 
eating delicious meals - kosher, no less - and riding camels 
if we chose to. We stopped at Ben Gurion's grave and home at 
Sde Boker.

The program also offered trips to Jerusalem and Masada, and to 
the Golan Heights.

On the weekends some of us visited places on our own and became 
a part of the Israeli scene, shopping in the markets and eating 
in the popular restaurants. Security was everywhere.

The closest we got to experiencing an incident was when a bomb 
squad was called to investigate a package left on Ben Yehuda Mall 
in Jerusalem. It turned out to be a bag of garbage.

Since the United Nations voted for partition in 1947, Israel has 
always suffered terrorist incidents. Those among us who let this 
deter us from visiting Israel are missing a unique experience.

Many Israelis came up to thank us for being there. It made me 
realize that we Jews are truly brothers and sisters no matter 
where we live.

For information on Sar-El, e-mail Pamela Lazarus, Sar-El program 
coordinator in Tel Aviv, at pamela@sar-el.org, 
visit www.sar-el.org, or call Eileen or me at 480-497-2109.
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Irv Fellner is a resident of Tempe.