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Michelle Huberman joined an IDF volunteer programme much later than the average olah

“It’s not about what you do but why you are doing it. You are there to relieve a soldier or army personnel,” says Camilla Mass of Rochester, N.Y.

It has been five months since volunteers has stepped onto an IDF military base here in Israel. by Howie

An article on Sar-El was published this morning, 10.4.2020 in Jerusalem Post, about an amazing project, led by Shlomo Stav

A loud cheer erupts from a group of Sar-El volunteers having lunch outdoors at an Aroma Café on their last Sunday before returning home. Looking confused, other nearby patrons ask, “What are you yelling about?” A series of large Volvo trucks and flatbeds carrying tanks had just passed by. “They could have been the ones …

The VFI ADVANCED Program – April 2019 Read More »

NEVADA REUNION of  Sar-El  volunteers, November 2013. Some of the alumni volunteered in 1984. Everyone told humorous stories of their times on IDF bases over the past 30 years and all compared IDF food, work, and accommodations. Following the event, the Las Vegas Valley Jewish Federation president and the Israeli Shaliach announced that VFI (Sar-El) volunteers …

Sar-Elniks Meet in Nevada Read More »

I am Don Feinstein and my older brother (Larry), who lives in Flint, MI, never had a Bar Mitzvah.  In 2013 when he heard I would be in Israel, for Sar El, he decided it would be a good time to become a Bar Mitzvah Boy – at age 80.  He arranged with a Jerusalem …

All Because of Sar-El! Read More »

Dear Sar El!  My name is Jordana. I was a Sar El volunteer 2015 in Israel. I have a story that [I thought might interest you]. I went to Israel with my sister at the end of February 2015. I really didn’t know who [would] be in our group. On this night when we arrived our madricha …

A Sar-El Love Story! Read More »

Sixty-eight year-old Lawrence from Canada, Danielle from Australia, and Samantha from New York, all recently arrived at an IDF military camp in Israel. It may sound like an unusual destination for three foreigners, but this trio arrived to take part with others from abroad in a three-week Sar-El program, during which they will help the …

Angels From Heaven Read More »

A group of Sar-Elniks recently enjoyed a special trip with KKL/JNF

I enjoy the written word. So, when initially invited to submit a piece about making aliyah/Sar-El, I imagined a clever, creative composition. Yet, as I sit at my keyboard, my heart, enmeshed by my soul, is crying out otherwise, much to the dismay of my logical thoughts. I suppose, for me, this conundrum alone sums …

Completing the Circle of Life Read More »

Below are the first two items in our series about Sar-Elniks who made Aliyah. Please send us your Aliyah story ! As we write this brief note, we reflect on what it means to us to be both Olim Chadashim (new immigrants) and Sar-Elniks. In hindsight, some of the things we feel are cliché. Shelley …

Home at Last Read More »

This is an excerpt from a blog describing the experiences of SAR-EL volunteer Johnny Cahn during his nine trips to Israel, both as a volunteer and a visitor.  The events described took place during the period from 2010 to 2018.  Events are not necessarily in order.  The hope is that those reading this Blog will …

Blog: Sar-Elnik Reflects on Life on and off Base Read More »

SAR-EL STATEMENT (French version) Certaines personnes expriment leur solidarité envers Israël et rejoignent les programmes  de volontariat civil de Sar-El afin d’aider et de soutenir les Forces de défense israéliennes (IDF) sans pour autant être un militaire.Pour rappel, voici la définition du mot “civil” : Celui qui n’est ni militaire, ni prêtre. En d’autres termes, les volontaires du …

Special Notice to Our French Volunteers Read More »

Day 1:  I awake to a bright and sunny morning in

With the term ‘Boots on the Ground’ back in the news,

Why are you doing this? Pretty much everyone I talked to about Sar El asked that same question.

Recent articles have appeared comparing two groups of people living

In the Czech Republic and the whole of Central Europe, we very often and closely return to the historical lesson

Six years ago at age 50 I served my first SAR-EL Service and had an absolutely great time.

There are some decisions that will take me forever to make. My decision to take a semester off

Sar-El volunteers visit Beit Halochem (the organization for Israel’s disabled soldiers).

Sar-El volunteers recently attended a dedication ceremony held in Tel Aviv to inaugurate the Davidi Ambulance,

Since I first read about Sar-El in a magazine of the German-Israeli society (Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft)

What an incredible experience. My commander for the last three days

I wanted to take this opportunity to share my experiences with the Sar-El Program.

Finally,after months of waiting, I will be back to Sar-El in March to do two more programs.

Last week I was privileged to be at a Manchester  ((UK) Zionist Council meeting where two IDF Officers

Sar-El is once again pleased to have hosted another Bar Mitzvah on an  IDF base.

The chamsin [hot desert wind] was blowing and the extreme heat was almost unbearable as we uncovered tanks

It is a changing world, and the French saying-  ‘Plus ca change, plus c’est  meme chose’ 

I have done Sar-El a number of times. The first was because I felt a need to contribute to Israel.

Last summer, everything was set, all my papers, my tickets and, not least, my expectations.

This was my fifth Sar-El stint, and as with every other one, this again was the best.

Before I begin recounting my first Sar-El experience I think it would be appropriate to explain the origin of Sar-El.

As many of you know, I participate in the Sar-El Program which involves work on an army base in Israel.

When I arrived in the early hours of the morning at Ben Gurion Airport, I was rather apprehensive but excited.

Four people from Indiana recently returned from Israel after performing two weeks

When my husband Jeff and I arrived in Israel to volunteer on Sar-El

This October was my 6th volunteer stint with SAR-EL and essentially the third with

I always had a positive attitude about Israel although I wasn’t there until last December.

If you would like to contribute to Israel in a meaningful way, learn more about our history

A few articles recently compared two groups of people living in Western countries:

Sar-El trip number seven! We are in the Upper Galilee at the southern approach to the Golan Heights.

Our journey to Israel was complete in every way. Accommodations in each of our hotels were excellent.