Our History

Volunteers for Israel (VFI) is an American non-profit organization that provides programs for volunteers, both Jews and non-Jews, to do civilian work in Israel.  The organization began in 1982 during the first war with Lebanon when civilian replacements were needed for thousands of reservists called to duty just as Israel’s harvest season began.  VFI is perhaps most famous for the work its volunteers have done on Israeli military bases in partnership with SAR-EL, the National Project for Volunteers for Israel.  Today, VFI has evolved into a separate organization, broadening its initial focus from aiding the military to providing what it calls ‘Volun-Touring’ opportunities. Volunteers now help in hospitals, assist on farms, participate in archaeological digs, support the IDF, and engage in various other community-oriented projects as well as touring the country and getting familiar with Israeli culture and history (adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteers_for_Israel).