Testimonials

Dave Zinder	Work being the main reason we're there, it's the relationships forged that make the program so rewarding. continue reading
Suzi Wyld	Volunteering in Sar-El is a great way to actively support Israel and to connect with the young people that give of their youth to protect this country. continue reading
Amber Xuereb	Could someone my age be a part of this organisation? On investigation I found the answer to be “Yes!”. continue reading
Dr Graeme Scarr	Whatever your reason, now is the time to support the fledgling nation-state of Israel. continue reading
Val & Felix Gorbacz	It was a truly remarkable and transforming experience - educationally, socially and spiritually. continue reading
Rachael Eiszenberg	I had such a great time, doing Sar-El. It was an experience of a life-time. continue reading

Dave Zinder

"Daveed, sit here. Put six of these in the bag, then seal it. Six in the bag. OK? Got it? OK."

So began my second "tour of duty" with the Star-El program of Volunteers for Israel. I was assigned to MATZRAP, a sub base of the sprawling Tel Hashomer army base just outside of Tel Aviv. MATZRAP is the transliterated acronym for the Hebrew name, a distribution center for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals for the Israeli army. We spent many hours packing, unpacking and repacking field kits for the army medics and medical supply depots throughout the country.

Every few years depending on the contents, the supply kits are returned to MATZRAP to be opened, inspected for completeness and expiration dates of the individual supplies. I became adept at labeling and sealing the plastic bags with the heat sealing machine. Now I have new skills for my resume! Depending on the kit, the work was sometimes easy and sometimes a little harder. An open kit can spread to four feet long. At one time we had 62 kits opened up on tables throughout the room. A full kit can contain four bags of IV solutions, syringes, tubing and administration devices for IVs, down to packages of antihistamines and medications.

Work being the main reason we're there, it's the relationships forged that make the program so rewarding. I have been fortunate to be with good groups.

Most of my time spent was working with Liora, a civilian in charge of one of the warehouse areas at MATZRAP. A civilian worker supervises each of the areas in the warehouse. Most of the areas were run by the same people who were there on my first tour. On my previous time there, Liora was a soldier working with me in a similar area. It's not often that a soldier will return to this job as a civilian.

The group I worked with on my second tour was diverse. Mary was an amazing lady, she lives in a small town in Colorado that was downstream of a nuclear processing facility. She lost her husband to cancer at 35 and raised two sons on her own. She lost an entire leg as she put it; from "drinking too much plutonium in the water." She now cares for her parents who both have cancer. Through all of the hardships she has endured, her smiling, kind personality always made people feel welcome. Elaine, a pediatrician from New York, a was real spitfire. There was Jerry, a judge in the Maricopa County Superior Court System who lives only two miles from me, whom I had never met; David, a Christian minister from northern Michigan, and Ash, a retired marine and also Christian, both roommates of mine. We had four married couples. In the small world department, one of the couples who were from New Orleans, are good friends with some friends of my daughter, Lonnie. I also found a kindred spirit, Fred, a retired high school teacher from southern Oregon who is an amateur radio operator, amateur astronomer arid weather watcher.

We worked full days Monday - Wednesday. Thursday mornings we worked until eleven then cleaned up our living areas, went to lunch and left the base for the weekend, while Sundays were spent returning, getting resettled and preparing for the next week. We wore fatigue-style uniforms on base, but were not allowed to wear uniforms off base. Weekends we were required to be off base, giving us three nights to explore. I was fortunate to have relatives to visit each weekend; others took tours and explored the country. Sar-El provides a hostel at no cost for those who don't want to stay in hotels. I became quite familiar with public transportation. Tel Aviv buses are frequent and inexpensive especially for retirees. Trains are the best I've seen anywhere, clean, smooth, fast, and inexpensive, but often crowded on weekends with soldiers.

The army took us on two field trips. The second Tuesday we went on an afternoon trip to Caesaria, an ancient port city built by Herod. There was no port there, so he built one! Later that afternoon we went to a museum of the Jewish Legion, a British army unit in both the first and second World Wars. The third Tuesday, we went on a full-day trip to Jerusalem. We toured the Menachem Begin Museum, went shopping and had lunch on Ben Yehudah Street, then visited the Knesset grounds and were back at the base in time for supper.

I signed up for an Ulpan, a place to learn Hebrew, after work twice a week. My Hebrew skills are okay, but any practice is worthwhile even if elementary. The words are there, but the retrieval isn't very good. I even learned a new expression used on the streets of Israel. Just as kids these days here have started using the word "sweet" meaning "cool" to us, the Israelis are saying "hacoldvash." Its all honey.

Would I recommend the experience? Absolutely! Just remember that the primary reason for the trip is to work; it's not intended to be a vacation and is definitely not a luxury spa. However, weekends are yours to spend as you wish, as posh or as simple as you like.

To sum up my trip, hacol dvash.

Suzi Wyld

Volunteering in Sar-El was a wonderful experience, The people I worked with were from many different countries and backgrounds but we shared a common bond of love and support for Israel, they are friends I will treasure. Our guides were magnificent!!! (thanks Ruthie & Abigail) They made every effort to make us welcome and connected with current events from the Middle East and from home and taught us so much about the Nation of Israel, both it's rebirth and modern life in the land. Volunteering in Sar-El is a great way to actively support Israel and to connect with the young people that give of their youth to protect this country. I'd like to give a special thanks to David Samson who supported me every step of the way. This program truly is a unique and special experience, I would highly recommend it.

Amber Xuereb

Can't help it. I am simply passionate about Israel. I read "Exodus" authored by Leon Uris when I was still in my teens and the zeal and ardent dedication of a displaced people to return to their land captivated me.

Israel held my interest from then on. My husband shared my views but Israel was not exactly on our "must visit" list.

Seven years ago he passed on and I found my interest suddenly engrossing. I started attending Beit Knesset on Shabbat and soaking up information like a sponge. Machol classes on Monday nights and hearing any Hebrew spoken was music to my ears.

In a roundabout way, I heard about Sar El from an older aged New Zealander who was heading off for his yearly commitment. Could someone my age be a part of this organisation? On investigation I found the answer to be "Yes!".

It then became a matter of "Put your money where your mouth is".

Did I want to do my part in helping Israel in any way I could? Definitely.

The paperwork was a bit tedious as it meant a Medical with some necessary appointments for tests before my doctor could honestly give an okay as regards my health and ability to do "heavy manual work in very hot temperatures".

That never happened and I had to laugh a bit. I'm Australian!! We're not exactly covered in snow six months of the year. As to the heavy work, I was never asked to do anything which was beyond my capabilities.

I could go into a blow by blow account of every move I made, but it would be of more value if I gave a personal overview of my impressions.

Accommodation can be a bit Spartan, but I did not expect a five star hotel. Depending on the base, there was usually a room with anything from two beds to five. Mattresses the comfortable variety or so thin you tended to raid other unoccupied beds.

The uniforms which we were allocated were in three sizes – Small, Large and Larger. A belt essential to take up the slack.

If this is beginning to sound like nightmare land be assured it was fun! The saving grace is always the people you are with. From the first eyeing off who had the same Base nametag stuck to their chest, to choosing a room to throw your belongings into once you arrived. Your room mates became your friends, as did others in your group since you now had your meals together, worked together and in the evenings, got to know each other on a more personal level. I still recall so many of my group with nostalgic affection and hope to see them on some other Sar el intake.

Our madrichot (Counsellors/guides) were nothing short of marvellous. Always ready to listen, evaluate what your need was and rectify as soon as they could. They also became dear friends.

The Army did provide a couple of excursions which were very much appreciated. Since I was in the Be'er Sheva area we went to the Givati Brigade Museum, then on to David Ben Gurion's Desert Home and burial place. I found this a particularly informative and rewarding experience.

My second Sar El group was much larger and in the Tel Aviv area.

What stays in my heart most is the memory of the young soldiers doing their military duty on the bases. If seeing a group of foreigners willing to pitch in and share their work and their lives is an encouragement, then the 24 hour travelling time jammed into a small chair is worth it.

Dr Graeme Scarr

Whatever your reason, now is the time to support the fledgling nation-state of Israel. Following the 2000 year long winter of discontent since the Roman siege of Jerusalem and dispersion in A.D. 70, she is now just 63 years old, a haven for Jewry.

If circumstances allow you, a one two or three week stint as a Sar El volunteer will help in some small way to benefit a nation desperately in need of any support. Almost all nations are consistently hostile to the state of Israel at the United Nations Assemblies.

With the surrounding instability from the Arab uprisings, threats from Turkey and the nuclear buildup in Iran, the nation now faces arguably the worst threat to her existence since birth. The few friends of Israel have weakening economies, and the strengthening nations now of Russia and China have little sympathy for Israel.

And so from Australia, you can conveniently get to Tel Aviv just after dark with Korean Air, in a plane full of chattering Israelis. From the airport you can travel to Jerusalem for a day or two prior to the Sunday airport meeting point, where Pam Lazarus will raise issues and dispatch all to the bases by bus.

Twelve of us made our way to a base near Beersheva, a desert city with a dry climate suitable for this base, whose function is resupply efficiently in the event of war. Two of us had the particular duty of redeeming spare parts from jeeps, in addition to sorting tank batteries, and so forth. Interesting work with civilians, all of whom were a real pleasure to work and talk with.

I, for one, learnt a great deal with regard to the hope of Israel from the association with volunteers and civilian workers alike. This is the reward and experience of the volunteering exercise.

Be aware that:

the food the army has a menu for every meal... TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT!... seriously, the doctor says the food is good for you.
the accommodation is bomb-proof... only joking!... More than adequate.
the hot water pressure better than home, according to my fellow workmate Bob, from Seattle.
the company and friendship of the fellow volunteers... delightful, and unified by a love of the hope of Israel... actually, there was one exception, a nice fellow but a LAWYER, but even he was taught by us how to tell the truth, occasionally, by the end of the first week...!
the work is suited to your health and fitness. Do not worry, no one has ever died from overwork, or overtalking for that matter, at a base.
the language a few words of Hebrew are useful. If anybody teases you about your Australian accent, usually American Jews, remind them of the Australian Light Horse units that defeated the Turks and captured Beersheva in the afternoon of 31st October 1917, paving the way for General Allenby to claim Jerusalem on foot just 5 weeks later.
the work week ceases Thursday lunchtime and recommences Sunday midday... you therefore have 3 days to explore the Land as you will be away from the base.

Val & Felix Gorbacz

It was a truly remarkable and transforming experience - educationally, socially and spiritually. We worked hard, it was friendly,and disciplined. We feel forever grateful for the well-rounded education we received in an around the Army bases, and for the beautiful friendships formed. It was fun! It was also about giving and, of course, receiving, during the course of the day. It was also about life's purpose and direction, with kindness and a sense of humanity. There was no such thing as "ageism". It was not "sexist", "racist" nor "religious" . It was a very well-organised programme and would like to repeat the experience at some later date. A Sar El experience should be on everyone's agenda.

Rachael Eiszenberg

I had such a great time, doing Sar-El. It was an experience of a life-time. I put up fences and camouflage netting... and I learned the value of democracy (as it is used in Israel). Now, more than ever, I am proud to support the Jewish people (and the state of Israel).