The purpose of my trip was personal growth as a Jew, a member of the second generation of European Jews who lived through the Holocaust and a chef. During these past few weeks, I found way more than that. I learned what it is to fall in love with a country. Belgium is the country Continue Reading »
I cannot believe that in a few more days my work at the Gan will come to an end. Never in my wildest imagination did I expect to become so attached to the staff and the children during a three week placement. I expected an opportunity to experience an immersion into a segment of the Continue Reading »
Just arrived home from an awesome program in Israel. The program was a pilot project jointly run by Canadian Friends for Hebrew University and Skilled Volunteers for Israel-age 55 and over. How do I praise thee, let me count the ways. The attention that was given to place volunteers in their individual areas of expertise, Continue Reading »
This is my second Skilled Volunteers adventure. Given that the concept for this trip was a first – a working partnership with an Israeli focused Canadian organization – the Friends of Hebrew U (“Friends”), I did not know what to anticipate. There were 12 of us and 9 had previously travelled to Israel with friends, some Continue Reading »
Gary Opolsky is participating in the Canadian Friends for Hebrew University program – Learn! Experience! Volunteer! Gary has a unique perspective and he took a few moments to share his experience. From Gary: Bottom line -great experience! Please note that I’m basically half Israeli given that I speak the language so my perception may be Continue Reading »
Ron Hoffman is participating in the joint program between Canadian Friends of Hebrew University and Skilled Volunteers for Israel. Ron shares his experience of Shabbat in Jerusalem on his day of rest from the program’s intense and exciting schedule. Shabbat morning and we leave our hotel to pray at the Kotel. We go for ourselves Continue Reading »
It’s Purim in Israel and my wife Heather and I are here. Walking the streets of Jerusalem is a real treat. Imagine Halloween in North America where you see young people in particular in costumes. Although we have been “Skilled Volunteers” before, this experience is very different as there are 12 of us ( a Continue Reading »
It was the best volunteer experience since I began doing this kind of trip. Skilled Volunteers for Israel, the program I used was efficient, caring and very supportive. They provided three venues for me to work with, although one was eliminated because I got sick and could not complete the numbers of days required to Continue Reading »
Skilled Volunteers was fantastic in setting me up quickly with two very interesting opportunities, helping me achieve my goal of giving back to the community. Having arrived in Israel at the beginning of the Succot holidays, I was able to help the staff of a school that were running a day camp during the school Continue Reading »
Four months since I concluded my volunteering, I am still stuck with all the amazing lessons and skills that I picked up. Not only did my Hebrew improve dramatically in perfect time for my army enlistment, but I now have more insight into demographics to which most American olim chadashim (American new immigrants to Israel) Continue Reading »
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