Israel Active

Here are some organizations that may have volunteering opportunities in Israel. (harvesting, sorting & distributing food for the needy); Hospitals (e.g., ) and a special program organized by .  Almost half of all Israelis volunteered in the first two weeks of war.

Many stories have surfaced of pets from devastated kibbutzim and towns in the south being found and brought to animal rescue centers. From the “Iron” parrot of Aza, to the petting zoo animals from Be’eri.  Many have been reunited with their surviving owners.

Israel’s ESNA (Emergency Special Needs Assistance) Initiative acts as a universal portal for disabled people who have a specific need or request but cannot search for it themselves. A Zoom meeting room is open every day from 8am to 10pm, staffed by ESNA volunteers.

Israel’s Caracal Battalion, led by Lt.-Col. Or Ben-Yehuda and comprised mostly of female IDF combat troops, eliminated approximately 100 terrorists on Oct 7. Also, orthodox border police Superintendent Shifra Buchris, plus 3 from her unit, rescued many at the rave party.

106 German companies, representing the bulk of the country’s economy employing millions of workers, took out a full-page ad in major German Sunday newspapers. The ad was headlined “Never again is now,” and denounced antisemitism and Jew hatred.

The leaders of two of Israel’s Arab parties rejected Hamas's call for Arabs in Israel to join Hamas’ war on Israel. MK Dr. Mansour Abbas, chairman of Ra'am and MK Ayman Odeh, chairman of the Hadash-Ta'al urged their followers to exercise restraint. Also read Yoseph Haddad.

Bar-Ilan Uni is granting 1,000-5,000 NIS ($250-$1,250) for 6,000+ of its students who are now serving on the front lines. Ben Gurion Uni is paying NIS 1,200 ($300) grant and are delaying rental fees. 5,000+ Tel Aviv Uni students will each receive NIS 1,000 from the TAU Emergency fund.

Arab-Israelis who volunteered to serve in the IDF and are now in the reserves, are informing the Arab world of Israel’s case. Their main message is “Everyone was shocked by Hamas, which is against Islam.”

The offices of Haredi website Kikar haShabat have been transformed into an emergency control room. They help organize 4,000 ultra-orthodox volunteers who distribute supplies, visit the sick, and donate blood in many Israeli cities. 2,000+ have just volunteered for the IDF - 100+ each day.

More than 100 Tel Aviv restaurants have rushed to acquire temporary kosher certification so they could cook thousands of meals each day for soldiers, hospitals, and the evacuees of the Gaza border communities. They’re even closed on Shabbat for the duration of the war.