Bridging Generations.
Rebuilding Communities.
At the core of Elul’s Shnat Sherut 50 Plus program are people who choose to step forward – not in their youth, but in their prime.
Our volunteers are adults aged 50 and over, bringing decades of professional experience, emotional intelligence, and life perspective into communities that need exactly that: stability, compassion, and skilled support.
They come from across Israel, choosing to dedicate a full year of their lives to stand alongside communities that have endured crisis, loss, and prolonged uncertainty. Whether it’s a town in Israel’s South recovering from the events of October 7, or a moshav quietly rebuilding its social fabric, our volunteers are there — present, committed, and deeply integrated.
Living Among Those They Serve
Elul’s Shnat Sherut 50 Plus program is built on a simple but powerful principle: You cannot serve a community unless you live within it.
Our volunteers relocate for a full year, living in modest housing provided by the local councils. They shop in the local grocery store, attend community events, and become familiar faces in the neighborhood. They form bonds with residents not as visitors, but as neighbours – becoming part of the rhythm of daily life.
This full-time, on-the-ground presence creates something essential: trust. And trust is what opens the door to healing, collaboration, and lasting change
Communities at the Center
Our work starts with a conversation: What do you need?
Each group of volunteers is placed only after in-depth consultation with local leadership and community stakeholders. Every placement is shaped by local priorities — not program assumptions — and volunteers are selected and matched based on those specific needs.
Whether supporting schools, assisting municipal teams, strengthening community resilience, or offering emotional and logistical support in recovering areas, the volunteers are responding directly to local reality.
Each community is different. Each group adapts. But at the core, their mission is the same: to listen, to show up, and to serve with humility and care.
People with Purpose
Our volunteers include:
- Educators
- Social workers
- Health professionals
- Public servants
- Engineers, artists, lawyers, and caregivers
Many are retirees or semi-retired professionals, and many are also parents and grandparents. They bring with them not just qualifications, but wisdom, presence, and perspective – the kind that comes only with life experience.
What they offer is unique:
Support grounded in maturity.
Guidance without ego.
Stability in uncertain times.
“They show communities that they are not alone. And they remind us all that it’s never too late to make a difference.”
Looking Ahead: From the South to the North
Currently, Elul’s Shnat Sherut 50 Plus volunteers are serving in southern communities still reeling from the impact of war and displacement. But we are growing.
In the latter part of 2025, we plan to launch our first groups in the North – bringing the same model of integrated, skilled, and compassionate service to communities along Israel’s northern border.
And beyond that, we are preparing to bring the project to other areas of Israel in need – wherever stability, presence, and professional volunteerism can make a lasting impact.
- For more information on how to support our program please contact us
- To find out more about our volunteers and the work they are doing, please click here
- For more information about Elul, please click here
