Hedva on Community, Belonging, and Hope in Merhavim
When Hedva Livnat and her husband Davidi joined Elul’s Shnat Sherut 50 Plus, they left their home in Tivon and made the bold decision to move full-time to Ofakim. With backgrounds in community engagement and a shared commitment to social resilience, they brought not only their professional experience but also their hearts. What followed was a deeply rooted journey of connection, creativity, and quiet transformation – one that Hedva describes as “looking for existing buds and helping them grow into saplings.”
Relocating with Purpose
“My name is Hedva, and I came to the Shnat Sherut 50 Plus together with my husband, Davidi.” That’s how Hedva introduces herself—with simplicity and quiet purpose. Originally from Tivon, the couple moved to Ofakim to begin their year of volunteering. “We live in Ofakim all week long,” she says. “That decision has definitely deepened our ties to the place.”
While Davidi has become involved in projects within Ofakim itself, Hedva works in the Merhavim Regional Council. Each of them is engaged in community development in their own way, yet they share a common goal: to strengthen the social fabric of the region through consistent, meaningful presence.
Community Work from the Ground Up
Hedva’s role focuses on grassroots community development in a moshav within Merhavim. “I work in community development,” she explains, “and as I often say to myself: ‘I look for existing buds and try to help them grow into saplings.’”
What does this look like in practice? For Hedva, it means identifying individuals who already show initiative and helping them become catalysts for broader change. “For example, I support people who are already active in the moshav and help them become a group or a committee that works to advance shared goals – like our new Culture and Education Committee.”
Importantly, Hedva doesn’t come with a pre-set agenda. “The topics we work on are chosen together with the community manager and the chair of the local council,” she says. “This way, it’s truly collaborative, and the initiatives come from within the community itself.”
Building a “Warm Home” for Elders
One of the most personal and impactful projects Hedva is nurturing is a new afternoon activity center for older residents. “A specific project I’m investing in is the development of a ‘warm home’- a framework for leisure activities for seniors in the moshav,” she shares. The idea is to create a welcoming space where older people can gather, connect, and enjoy meaningful activities. “It’s about giving people a place to belong, especially in the afternoon hours when loneliness can be hardest.”
Navigating Together: A Community Challenge
Alongside her work in Merhavim, Hedva and Davidi collaborate on a creative and community-wide initiative in Ofakim: community orienteering. “This is an activity for the whole neighborhood or community,” she explains, “where participants navigate with a paper map – not a phone – around the area, going from one significant site to another.”
But this isn’t just a walk through town. “At each point, there’s a riddle or a task related to the identity of the place. It encourages people to see their surroundings with fresh eyes – and to do it together.” The activity promotes local pride, intergenerational connection, and shared storytelling. “It’s a kind of celebration of where we live.”
The Gift of Encounter
“I love the little surprises I get from my encounters here,” she says. “It was my first time at a Purim party held by a religious community. I took part in a candle-lit search for chametz. I joined a Bsisa ceremony – a beautiful Tunisian tradition that marks the beginning of the month of Nissan.”
These moments are more than new cultural experiences – they represent a deepening of connection. “These aren’t things I expected to be part of,” she says, “but they’ve been gifts. They remind me that the more rooted I become, the more I get to witness the richness of this place.”
October 7th and the Presence of Hope
Hedva doesn’t shy away from the profound impact of recent events. “October 7th is with us all the time,” she reflects. “It’s there in our daily conversations. It’s there when we accompany bereaved families. It’s part of everything we’re doing.”
But she’s equally insistent about what else is present. “Hope is here too,” she adds. “It lives in the people, in the energy they bring, and in the willingness to keep going. And as volunteers, we get to walk alongside that – through the grief, yes – but also through the rebuilding.”
Living the Shnat Sherut 50 Plus Values
Hedva and Davidi’s choice to fully relocate to Ofakim reflects the heart of the Shnat Sherut 50 Plus model: skilled, seasoned volunteers who live in the communities they serve, working side by side with local residents to create lasting, responsive change. “We’re not just dropping in,” Hedva says. “We’re part of the rhythm of life here.”
From supporting the elderly to inspiring community participation, from strengthening neighborhood ties to sharing in moments of healing, Hedva’s journey is a testament to how meaningful, long-term volunteering can change lives – both for those who receive, and those who give.
