(Courtesy Elul)
In Israel, the practice of people volunteering for 12 months before beginning their mandatory national service has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, an impactful program is now allowing retirees to also give back.
According to the Elul website, through the pilot project Service Year 50 Plus, Israelis around the age of retirement are supporting communities in Southern Israel that are still affected by the Israel-Hamas War. Participants relocate to the region for a year, offering their skills and expertise to those living near the Gaza border.
This project highlights the strength of community spirit following the October 7 attack, during which around 1,200 people were killed and over 200 taken hostage when Hamas terrorists infiltrated the Israel-Gaza border. Currently, more than 70 hostages remain in captivity.
A New Way to Empower Retirees
The idea for Service Year 50 Plus was thought up by Rina Cohen, a teacher who was retiring from the Education Ministry but wasn’t ready to slow down, reported The Times of Israel. She contacted Tamar Oged, her former school principal, who called Guy Gardi, CEO of Elul, a pluralistic Beit Midrash focused on Jewish renewal, which is behind this initiative.
“People retire at the height of their strength, passion, professional ability, skills, and life wisdom, and we tell them, ‘That’s it, sit at home.’ For many, it’s not appropriate,” Gardi told The Times of Israel.
(Courtesy Asi Photographer)
Volunteers on the Ground
Launched in January of last year, the project has had a significant impact on communities across Southern Israel. By September, 44 volunteers began working in two regions in Southern Israel. This month, 16 participants are set to volunteer in Sha’ar Hanegev, with most living on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the hardest-hit communities in October 2023. The initiative has drawn in volunteers from all over the country, with participants from overseas applying to the program as well
“We were already planning to be part of the Service Year program, so we decided to do our work in Nahal Oz,” said Esti Weisman, a volunteer from Northern Israel.
Volunteers in the program perform a variety of tasks, including renovating apartments, sorting mail, feeding animals at a petting zoo, and helping out at a pre-army preparatory training program operating in Nahal Oz since December 2023.
Ori Weisman has been using his handyman skills to aid in the recovery efforts. “There’s a lot of internal damage from grenades that were thrown in,” said Weisman.
“We mainly removed waste and gardened and helped to pack and remove the contents of 60 homes so they could be repaired,” he added.
Meanwhile, Edna Hefer is providing food for the few animals remaining at the kibbutz's animal corner. One of her hopes is to make the facility more attractive when members of the kibbutz return.This initiative highlights the unwavering dedication of the Israeli community to step up in times of need.
(Courtesy Asi Photographer)
The Benefits of Volunteering in Retirement
The benefits of volunteer work are immeasurable, both for the volunteers and the communities they serve. “It’s so satisfying to give. And we’ve made friends for life from this group,” said Esti Weisman, when asked about her service year. “Other people see we still have something to contribute. It’s also huge fun. It’s an opportunity to be young again,” she added.
However, volunteering doesn’t only foster a sense of community. Research shows that volunteering in retirement can offer a wealth of rewards. According to the National Institute on Aging, community volunteer work may help maintain well-being and independence amid aging.
Research illustrates that older adults who volunteer could also gain benefits for their physical and mental health, according to The Guardian. Research has also shown that volunteering can also lower the risk of mortality, decrease depression and loneliness, and may even slow the aging process.
As the Service Year 50 Plus initiative continues to flourish, it serves as a powerful reminder that giving back is a lifelong journey, and that every person, regardless of age, has the potential to create positive change through volunteer work.
