VFI News

In Memoriam
By Steve Plotkin

With great sadness and a profound sense of loss, the Board of Volunteers for Israel informs you of the death of our dear friend, inspired leader, and National President, Vade Bolton.   Vade had knee replacement surgery on December 13 and later suffered complications from which he never recovered. 
All members of the VFI family offer our condolences to his wife Janet, and his extended family.  May his memory be for a blessing.

Thanks and Regards,
Steve

Thousands of Sar-El Volunteers Give Back to the IDF
By IDF Spokesperson Blog

Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of International Year of Volunteers. On an annual basis, approximately 4,000 Jews and non-Jews from 30 countries fly to Israel and volunteer in the IDF for several weeks. The IDF is grateful for these volunteers who play an important role in handling logistical needs, annually saving the IDF hundreds of thousands of hours in manpower.

February Opportunity to Volunteer with Sar-el and Tour Israel
By Vade Bolton

The Central Jersey VFI Chapter is forming a group to volunteer with Sar-el the week of February 26 followed by a week long tour in Israel the second week. There is still space available and the group is being opened to volunteers across the country. Already, volunteers from 40 to 80 years old are planning to go.  There are first time volunteers as well as Sar-el "veterans".

VFI Quarterly Newsletter
By Vade Bolton

The Fall 2011 VFI Newsletter is Available Now.  CLICK HERE.

VFI Launches Annual Fundraising Campaign
By Vade Bolton

The campaign of deligitimization waged against Israel is unrelenting.  But since 1982 Israel has always been able to count on one organization’s unwavering support--Volunteers for Israel.  We continue to demonstrate this by the large numbers of volunteers serving in 2011.  VFI is supported entirely by your donations and by application fees. All of our representatives who do the daily work that sustains us are dedicated, unpaid volunteers.

We know that the economy continues to be a concern for all of us, and we must make choices as to which organizations we support.  Only with your help can we continue to keep VFI vigorous and thriving.  Please consider a contribution today.  It demonstrates your continuing commitment to VFI’s mission of connecting the American Jewish community and friends to Israel through volunteer service.

Hadassah's Centennial Convention in Jerusalem in October 2012
By Vade Bolton

Hadassah is celebrating it's 100 year anniversary with a convention in Jerusalem, October 15-18, 2012.  Sar-el has agreed to allow any convention participants who want, to join a Sar-el session on Sunday, October 21 which is already in progress having begun on October 14.  Those joining can stay either one or two weeks of this three week session. This is a terrific opportunity so please pass this information along to anyone who is going and also to local or regional Hadassah leaders and ask them to share with groups who will be going.  For more information contact Vade Bolton, VFI President at VadeBolton@Comcast.net. 

A letter from a very happy volunteer.
By Ariela Nijamkin

Dear Mr. Bolton,

I would like to thank you, VFI, and Sar-El for giving me the opportunity to join this volunteer program; it truly changed my life. This program has opened my eyes to a world that I never even thought existed. A world where men and women of all ages come together with a single purpose: to volunteer and work for the state of Israel and its Defense Forces.

I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to volunteer at my young age of 16. The intent of volunteering for a total of 3 weeks quickly escalated to a total of 7 weeks. Every time I finished a 3 week program, I simply could not part from it. It had become a part of my life, a part of which made me smile every morning as I got ready for the daily flag-raising.

For anyone considering joining this program: do not hesitate one bit. This volunteer program is rewarding in more than just one way. You make friends that will last you a life time, you are able to work along side Israeli soldiers, and most importantly, the work you contribute to the IDF is valued more than one can imagine.

This program has affected me in such a positive way that it even helped spark the Israeli inside me. After being immersed among army life and the pride of working for my country, I am seriously considering returning back to my home and serving in the IDF, in the hopes of one day being a madricha for the most amazing, satisfying, and rewarding program I could of have ever joined: the VFI/Sar-El program.


Thank you again... and best program EVER!

Ariela Nijamkin (VFI/Sar-El volunteer from June 12-Aug 4)

Board Member, National President and Volunteer for 20 Years
By Beverly Cohen

Jeanne Schachter’s love for Israel was kindled when she was a young student, even before the creation of the modern State. In the summer of 1949, as a recent college graduate she made her first trip to the newly created State of Israel. She returned many times thereafter, including a year-long sabbatical stay in 1970-71 and numerous trips with Volunteers for Israel (VFI).

Jeanne spent her 44-year professional career as a math teacher at Akiba Hebrew Academy, teaching three generations of Jewish students. She was also on the Hebrew faculty for the first 14 years. 

In 1982, toward the end of her teaching career, Jeanne became affiliated with Volunteers for Israel, adding a new dimension to her attachment to and love for Israel. Jeanne was passionate about Volunteers, its mission, and the opportunity to help send others to do volunteer work in Israel.  VFI soon became one of the most rewarding and personally fulfilling aspects of her retirement. In addition to coordinating the Philadelphia PA Regional office for over two decades, she also served as interim Executive Director, National President, and as a member of the National Board.

In loving memory, her family -- together with the Philadelphia Region Alumni Group of Volunteers for Israel -- has established the Jeanne Schachter Memorial Fund.

The fund combines Jeanne’s two passions – students and Israel. The fund will cover the application fee for students through age twenty-one (21) who are participating for the first time on a Volunteers For Israel program through the Philadelphia Region.

Please consider a donation to the fund in honor/memory of someone special or to celebrate a simcha.

Contributions to the Jeanne Schachter Memorial Fund may be made to:
VFI Philadelphia Region, PO Box 693, Skippack PA 19474

For further details, contact:
Bev Cohen (bevcohen@comcast.net ;  610.584.0468)
or Carol Stein (cagstein@verizon.net)

Emergency First-Aid Rendered
By Steve Plotkin

A soldier on guard duty at a remote army base on the Syrian border recently had a serious accident. Army medics at the site rendered emergency first aid as the soldier was going into shock and 25 year-old Hayley Ferguson, a second-time Sar-El volunteer and practicing nurse from New Zealand, stepped in to help. Hayley was on the base and volunteered her support to the medics.

She advised them on critical intravenous placement, patient comfort and other vital medical trauma issues.