It is important to recognize the hundreds of volunteer hours that go into running the Shnat Sherut 50 Plus program behind the scenes. The program is run by a lean team which works part-time but in addition to this team, we have volunteers in vital roles helping the program succeed. In this edition, we meet Susan Nirens from Tuval in the North of Israel who has been a key person in helping us gain much needed funding.
Susan Landy Nirens
Resident of the Galil since 1983
I was born in the beautiful, democratic state of Massachusetts to a very Jewish – though not Orthodox – family. My parents came from different sides of the tracks. In fact, it was my maternal grandfather who gave my father a scholarship to attend summer camp when he was a boy. My father’s family was very European, with all the nuance and complexity that implies.
I first came to Israel at the age of 16 for a summer visit. Two years later, I returned for good. After completing a degree in Social Work, I found myself on Tuval – young, idealistic, and ready to build a life.
It didn’t take long to realize that social work wouldn’t be useful just yet. So, I rolled up my sleeves and threw myself into agriculture, community life, and various kibbutz roles. Somewhere along the way, I met a young man with curly hair from Australia. Four children and one grandchild later, we are still living in Tuval – now in the community extension – and still deeply connected to the Galil.
Paul, my husband, is the founder of Galileat, a culinary tourism initiative that offers authentic food experiences in partnership with Israel’s Arabic-speaking communities. As for me, I’ve focused on developing inclusive programs for people with disabilities in the Galil – work that is close to my heart.
Like many, I’ll never forget where I was on the morning of October 7. We were in Tel Aviv, having stayed the night after a wedding. Sirens woke us. We sat in the hotel lobby trying to make sense of what was happening, calling Paul’s family in Kibbutz Be’eri – and that’s when the horror began to unfold.
Later, my daughter called to say her husband had been called up. We knew it was time to go home. The drive back was eerie. People wearing kippot were driving on Shabbat, army vehicles filled the roads. Our own community was under guard by soldiers and police. And then the truth emerged – worse than the nightmare. One of our cousins was found four days later. The rest survived and were evacuated to a hotel near the Dead Sea.
In the days that followed, people across the country began volunteering immediately. I joined efforts through a nonprofit to create and distribute activity kits for people living with mental illness. I helped raise funds, packed kits, and delivered them myself. Doing something – anything – felt right.
Then one day, I heard about Elul’s Shnat Sherut for 50 Plus program. It just made sense. A group of committed adults supporting communities so similar to their own – offering companionship, strength, and hands-on help based on what each community truly needs.
I knew I wanted to be involved. If not as a participant – health issues made that difficult – then as someone who could help build and support this vision.
It’s so special to see Shnat Sherut, once the domain of pre-army youth, evolving into something new before our eyes. A movement for our time. A source of strength for our country. I’m proud to be part of it.
