A new volunteering programme for young British Jews aged between 22 and 35 to assist Israel as it grapples with a critical shortage of agricultural labour is set to begin on December 4.
The outbreak of war meant that some 760,000 people, or 18 per cent of Israel’s workforce, ceased working in the month following the October 7 attack, and up to a fifth of the foreign workforce fled the country, leaving the Jewish state with acute labour shortages.
The two-week programme will see participants volunteering as agricultural labourers in the centre of the country, staying at night in Tel Aviv, where a range of educational seminars and social events with other volunteers from around the globe will be available.
Volunteers will need to pay for their flights to and from Israel, with El Al offering discounted rates. However, the cost of accommodation, airport transfers, daily transport to volunteer jobs and basic medical insurance will be covered by UJIA. Volunteers will also receive a weekly stipend of US$100.
The programme, for which places are available on a first come first served basis, was announced this week by the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA) with its partnership organisation Taglit-Birthright Israel.
UJIA CEO Mandie Winston said: “Israel is asking for support from our community to ensure that crops are not left to waste, so this is an incredible service opportunity for young British Jews to offer tangible support for Israel during the war.
“We’re proud that, together with our partners at Birthright, we can give young people the chance to stand up and be counted. In the decades to come, when their grandchildren ask them what they did in 2023 when Israel came under attack, those who go on these programmes will be able to give an amazing answer.”
Online applications can be started at application.onwardisrael.org/
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