Elul’s Shnat Sherut 50 Plus program will receive the President’s Prize for Volunteerism on June 9 at a ceremony hosted by President Isaac Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
The award recognizes the pioneering work of Shnat Sherut 50 Plus in creating a new national model of service for adults aged 50 and above bringing professional expertise, life experience, stability, and compassion into communities rebuilding in the aftermath of October 7.
Since its launch, the program has grown from an initial pilot initiative into an expanding movement of skilled volunteers serving in communities across Israel’s south and north. Volunteers work in education, English support, social services, informal education, resilience centers, community development, support for older adults, and grassroots community initiatives.
The Five Who Helped Build the Beginning
This recognition also honors the five individuals whose vision and determination helped transform an idea into a living reality: Rina Cohen, Dr. Tamar Oged, Guy Gardi, CEO of Elul, Eran Baruch, and Boaz Shalit.
Together, they helped create a pioneering framework that challenged conventional assumptions about aging, volunteering, and community service in Israel.
They believed that adults with decades of professional experience, wisdom, and life knowledge still have an essential role to play in strengthening Israeli society, particularly during moments of national challenge and rebuilding.
What began as an ambitious idea has since become a growing movement of volunteers serving communities across the country.
A Word from Rina
“This recognition belongs first and foremost to the volunteers themselves. Shnat Sherut 50 Plus was built on the belief that people do not stop being needed at retirement age. Our volunteers bring professional knowledge, emotional resilience, life experience, and human connection into communities rebuilding after trauma and loss. We are deeply moved that this work is being recognized at a national level.”
Rina Cohen, Original Founder of the Program
Built Through Visionary Partnership
The success and growth of Shnat Sherut 50 Plus would not have been possible without the extraordinary support of philanthropic partners, Jewish Federations, foundations, local councils, and individual donors in Israel and around the world.
We are deeply grateful to our partners and supporters, including UJA-Federation of New York, CJP Boston, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, MetroWest, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley Women’s Endowment Fund, JFNA, JDC-Eshel, the Mandel Foundation, the Homeward Fund, and many additional supporters and local partners who have helped make this vision possible.
We also want to recognize the remarkable vision and partnership of the regional councils of Merhavim, Eshkol, Sha’ar HaNegev, and Mateh Asher. At a time of enormous challenge and uncertainty, these councils recognized the unique value that experienced adult volunteers could bring to their communities and opened their doors to a completely new model of service and community rebuilding.
Their willingness to innovate, collaborate, and integrate volunteers meaningfully into community life helped transform an ambitious idea into a living reality.
Looking Ahead
The President’s Prize recognizes not only what has already been achieved, but also the growing understanding that experienced adults have a vital role to play in strengthening Israeli society.
As the program continues to expand, Shnat Sherut 50 Plus hopes to create even more opportunities for adults in Israel and abroad to contribute their skills, experience, and humanity where they are needed most.
