A Year of Healing and Hope – End of Year Celebrations and Reflections for Cohort 1
As the first cohort of Shnat Sherut 50 Plus came to a close, something remarkable became clear: this was not simply a year of volunteering. It was a year of transformation, both for the communities in Israel’s south and for the adults who chose to live and serve there.
The closing gathering, held at Sapir College, brought together volunteers, local council leaders, national partners, and residents. It wasn’t a ceremony, but a shared pause, a moment to reflect on what had grown in the space between crisis and recovery.
From Crisis to Connection
From the outset, Michal Uziel, Head of the Eshkol Regional Council, recognized the value of experienced professionals embedding themselves in the community. But what unfolded surpassed expectations.
In a heartfelt address, she spoke of the unique healing power the volunteers brought, not just through their work, but through their presence.
“You came as strangers and became part of us,” she said.
“You brought light into the darkest year this region has ever known. You didn’t just come to help, you came to live among us. You brought warmth to our daily lives. You brought love, not as visitors, but as people who chose to stay.”
Her words captured the emotional and human dimensions of the program. This wasn’t only about filling gaps in services. It was about restoring a sense of trust, safety, and connection during a time of profound uncertainty.
A Model Built for Continuity
What sets Shnat Sherut 50 Plus apart is that this was never intended to be a one-off act of generosity. Each of the three groups that served in Eshkol, Merhavim, Sha’ar HaNegev, and Ofakim this year will be replaced by new volunteers this September. The work continues and deepens.
Communities now know: when one group finishes, another is already preparing to arrive. Roots have been planted, and they will grow.
Rethinking Aging
Yossi Heymann, CEO of JDC-Eshel, put it in national perspective.
“We used to think of aging as a winding-down. But today, people live longer, healthier lives. This program shows how we can rethink aging, not as an exit, but as a new beginning.”
He emphasized that the volunteers didn’t just provide short-term help. They brought stability in a time of chaos by living, working, and building within the community. In doing so, they showed what a “resilient society” really looks like and also what solutions to the global challenges of an aging population could look like.
A Partnership Between Equals
For Sigal Moran, CEO of the Homeward Fund, discovering Elul’s Shnat Sherut 50 Plus was unexpected but transformative. Her organization had expected to support younger educators. But when she heard about 58 adults over the age of 50 choosing to dedicate a year of their lives to Israel’s most affected areas, her decision was immediate.
She described it as a partnership, not a project. “This isn’t just volunteering it’s standing side by side with those who had no choice but to stay.” That, she said, builds the kind of trust no institution alone can create and emphasized the key part education has to play in moving communities and nations forward.
From the Volunteers Themselves
Volunteer Shoshana Silbermann shared on behalf of all the volunteers what it meant to serve.
“We came to give,” she said, “and we received more than we ever expected.”
There were moments of laughter and grief, of purpose and ordinary life. But most of all, there was a growing sense of belonging, to the people, to the land, and to something greater than any one volunteer.
“We’re Planting Roots”
For Guy Gardi, CEO of Elul and co-founder of Shnat Sherut 50 Plus, the mission is long-term.
“We’re not filling gaps. We’re planting roots. Every volunteer leaves behind relationships, ideas, and momentum for what comes next. We’re building resilience, not relief.”
And in his words, the program is like the sabra cactus: tough, surprising, and full of sweetness. “The beauty is not just in what we’ve done but in what is still to come.”
The Light Stays On
As the evening at Sapir College came to an end, no one rushed to leave. There were long hugs between people who had once been strangers. The words that remained were Michal Uziel’s:
“You brought light. You brought warmth. You brought love.”
And with new volunteers preparing to arrive, that light continues, steady, growing, and here to stay.
