Earlier this month, we celebrated International Volunteer Day to honour the spirit of giving and recognise the incredible impact of volunteers everywhere.
Volunteers are the heart of our community, selflessly dedicating their time, energy, and talents to making a difference.
To all the amazing volunteers in our organisation and beyond, we thank you for your generosity and commitment.
Click here for a message from Telfed CEO Dorron Kline.
We asked some Telfed volunteers to share highlights or meaningful moments from the past year:
As a Telfed volunteer and Chairman of the Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror Committee, I’ve visited many shiva houses since October 7. This is something I never imagined I would have to do on such a broad scale. From Hispin to Ashdod, I’ve sat with Olim families who have paid the ultimate price. We have a responsibility to remember their loved ones. ~ Barry Kornel
Fallen Soldiers: Shoam Moshe Ben Harush Z”L, Daniel Shimon Perez Z”L, Yaron Eliezer Chitiz Z”L, Ido Aviv Z”L, Regev Amar Reef Z”L, Nitai Metodi Z”L and Netanel Pessach Z”L.
Victims of Terror: Saar Margolis Z”L, Marcelle Taljah Z”L, Roi Popplewell Z”L and Nadav Popplewell Z”L.
That we have the ability to celebrate an event in our “own backyard” is so meaningful. It was a privilege to attend the braai for South African and Australian soldiers at the Telfed Amishav buildings earlier this year. It is so important to celebrate them, and express our thanks for everything they do to protect us. We’ve had many tenants over the years who have served and are now fully integrated, and those who’ve served over the past year have received amazing support from their neighbours. It is wonderful to see our tenants helping each other. Another highlight of the past year was our ability to offer short term rental apartments to soldiers and displaced families directly affected by the war. That we have the capacity to do this is exceptional. ~ Allan F
I’m always inspired by the great community and cooperation that exists in the Telfed buildings. They celebrate chagim together and many smachot. It’s great to see that Telfed enables this warmth and friendliness which the tenants enjoy. ~ Barry Cohen
It has been a very challenging year, but I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to volunteer in different projects with both veteran and new olim. It was very meaningful for me to be able to reach out to people who have been evacuated from their homes, both in the north and the south. Visiting injured soldiers in hospital and trying to figure out how we can help was difficult yet rewarding too. I feel honoured to be part of an organisation which is making such a difference. ~ Batya Shmukler
When asked to share a single highlight from my volunteer work at Telfed over the past year, I found myself reflecting on the countless impactful projects, events, and meetings I’ve been privileged to be part of. How could I possibly choose just one? Telfed’s unwavering dedication to supporting the Southern African community, our courageous soldiers, and the people of Israel – both before and after the tragic events of October 7th – is truly extraordinary.
To honour this request, I’ve chosen to highlight one initiative that deeply touched my heart: our outreach to the resilient community of Kibbutz Nir Am, located just 2 kilometres from the Gaza Strip. In the aftermath of October 7th, Telfed recognized the urgent need to stand with this special community as they embarked on their journey of recovery and renewal. For 10 long months, evacuees from Kibbutz Nir Am had sought refuge at the Herods Hotel in Tel Aviv, yearning for the day they could finally return home.
When that moment came, Telfed’s devoted volunteers and staff -spanning all ages – rallied together with love, energy, and determination. We packed up the ganim at the hotel and prepared the kindergartens and communal spaces back at the Kibbutz, striving to create a warm and welcoming environment for the residents as they made their long-awaited return.
This initiative is just one example of Telfed’s tireless efforts to restore, uplift, and rebuild our precious country and support communities devastated by the events of October 7th. I feel profoundly grateful to play even a small part in this vital work, and I am inspired every day by the resilience and strength of the people of Israel. ~ Debbie Dash, Telfed Vice Chairman
The Jerusalem Coffee has had quite a few events since our inception. It’s difficult to isolate the most memorable of them! What has been remarkably rewarding is the new friendships that have been formed! Originally, we thought this would be a group for Olim chadashim, however, Olim vatikim are as involved and enthusiastic, enjoying the connection with ex South Africans! ~ Eileen Fridman, Judy Levin, Thelma Schwartz, Karen Sacks and Melanie Piha.
Thank to you all our Coffee Club volunteers around the country!
As a member of the Telfed Scholarships Committee, one of the amazing things I saw this year was how our PRAS students continued volunteering. We heard so many stories of students who managed to do their volunteer hours, and often went beyond what was expected of them, despite spending days, weeks and months in miluim. What an amazing generation of young people we have in our country. It is an honour to support their education. ~ Gabey Gordon
I feel deeply honoured to have supported our incredible soldiers by supplying them with essential gear. Their gratitude is truly humbling, especially considering the immense gratitude we owe them for their service. Thank you Telfed for making me a part of your amazing activities. ~ Lance Richard
It’s challenging to think of only one volunteering highlight of the past year. Every meeting with the evacuees left an impression on me. They so appreciated the visits, the calls from Telfed, the gifts and assistance. How Telfed cares for them and reached out to them in their time of need. During visits to wounded soldiers (at Rosh Chodesh breakfasts, Happy Hours or visiting individuals), it was remarkable to see how their spirits are so high. Being able to assist the hospitals with equipment to treat the wounded has been incredibly meaningful. It was amazing to meet so many Olim soldiers and Lone Soldiers at the Telfed braais for those who served in the war. My personal interactions with the families of our fallen heroes have left a deep impression on me. This year, I also had the unique opportunity to visit our oldest Olah, Adele, on her 110th birthday. Thank you to all the Telfed volunteers who have done so much remarkable work for our Olim and for Am Yisrael. ~ Maish Isaacson, Telfed Chairman
We decided to volunteer at Telfed calling ex-South Africans in the north who have been displaced from their homes due to the Swords of Iron War. Each session proved to be uplifting and gratifying. We called people whose lives have been turned upside down, either by having had to leave their homes, or living in quite untenable conditions. Despite their difficulties, those who we spoke to were always grateful to know that they have not been forgotten, and amazingly they are all optimistic for the future. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this important project. ~ Moshe and Barbara Abramowitz
For me the most meaningful experience this year was having the privilege to represent Telfed at the Aliyah Shabbaton in SA this November. As a veteran Oleh with a long connection to Telfed and in my role as regional chairman in Jerusalem, I feel it is important to look at the broad picture focusing on Telfed’s mission, despite the difficult year with Israel still at war. The seminar was focused on professionally guiding, inspiring and encouraging, doctors, but not only, to begin the process of Aliyah. As I mingled with the couples and families at the seminar, who were considering or already planning their Aliyah, I thought of how fortunate and blessed I am to have made Aliyah many years ago, immediately after matriculating in Cape Town. All those attending the seminar are of a high calibre, and would be an asset to Israel, as proud Zionists and working citizens. I look forward to welcoming those who choose Jerusalem as their new home. I am grateful & honored to have been chosen to represent Telfed in promoting Aliyah to members of the warm Jewish community of South Africa, and knowing that Aliyah is in their minds and hearts. ~ Roy Scher
The year has been filled with so many wonderful, happy, sad, tragic opportunities to help out… but if I have to choose one, it would be the Telfed Annual Scholarship Ceremony, which was held in Tel Aviv earlier this year. In addition to the amazing students and coordinators, we heard from the Chitiz and Zimel families about their precious sons, Yaroni and Dor, who fell in defence of our beloved country. Both families are intimately connected to our scholarship programs and their intense grief moved us all to tears, their strength inspired us. ~ Shely Cohen
I contacted new Olim who had arrived in Israel in November and were staying in Harish. They wanted to get their Israeli Rav Kav cards but didn’t know where. We met at Karkur junction, and I helped them with this. Their satisfaction was clear from their smiles, and I was happy to help them. A few days later, they joined our monthly Telfed Coffee Time get together. I was so glad to see them, and wish them a successful Aliyah. ~ Yael Bekker
Thank you to our regional volunteers around the country! We take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to a regional volunteer who (together with his wife) has been in close contact with the mother of a wounded Lone Soldier. We appreciate that you would like to remain anonymous but we are immensely grateful for your kindness.