I just very recently returned from my sixth three-week stint with Sar-El. The experience was filled with emotion, adventure and excitement, equaling my previous visits to Israel. I keep wondering, when will this phenomenon of exhilaration wear off?

This time, I was posted to a small army base in Qiriat Motzkin, just north of Haifa. There were a dozen volunteers in our group, all from USA and Canada. Nonetheless, we were a very diverse group. Our work assignments involved mostly vehicle maintenance and warehouse-related tasks.

Rather than sharing with you my own feelings, I think it would be more meaningful to share with you some of the journal entries of other volunteers from my group:

Karl from Long Island: "Why am I coming back again and again to the Land of Israel? Is it for the majestic scenery of Switzerland? Is it for the wide spaces of 'the Land of the Free'? Is it for the museums of France? Or the Fjords of Scandinavia?

No! I'm coming to Israel to see the immense sands and rocks being transformed by a nation reborn! What a psychic high ---better than famous museums and landscapes. Thank you Sar-El and our madrichot for the opportunity of living and working with the Israelis, in spite of of the terrible continuous hardships they face!"

Ken from Toronto: "Israel did much more for me than I did for Israel during this wonderful experience with Sar-El."

Esther from Ontario: "In Israel I feel everyone around me is family."

Helen from Arizona: "This has been one of the most exciting adventures of my entire lifetime. I do travel a lot, but this one beats them all."

Larry from Florida: "This is truly a lifetime experience. I've had a chance to visit Israel, my second country, and meet many wonderful people from all over the world."

I hope you find these comments  inspirational.

Shalom, 

Paul Altura

VFI representative

Los Angeles