Any visitor to Hillel is sure to run into Adi and Mor, two Israeli girls. They look too young to be teachers, too old to be students, and have too much energy to be parents. They are not on the payroll, so what are they doing here?
American youth take it for granted that once they finish high school, they are free to work, attend college to prepare for a future career, or to just go shopping and play tennis until their parents kick them out. In contrast, at the age of 18, Israeli men and women are required to serve in the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Boys are required to serve for three years and girls are required to serve for two years.
Many observant Jewish girls and their families feel that the army environment conflicts with their religious values. The IDF grants a legal exemption to women who do not want to serve for this reason. In existence since the 1980s, Sherut Leumi, the National Youth Service of Israel, provides those exempt from military service with an opportunity to serve their country for one or two years. Sherut Leumi has about 10,000 volunteers enrolled each year who work in various fields such as education, health care, social services and community development. Most girls work in their own communities, in schools or hospitals. It should be noted that the girls in the Sherut Leumi program have a legal exemption from military service and are not under any obligation to join (although there is some talk that this may change in the near future). Thus, the girls volunteering, do so out of a genuine desire to contribute to their communities and country.
Sherut Leumi has an excellent reputation and continues to be a very successful program. There are endless opportunities coordinated through about six organizations authorized by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Examples of volunteer work include teaching Hebrew to new immigrants, helping disabled persons who are trying to live independently and working with children who have been removed from their parents. This variety enables each girl to work in a capacity suited to her skills and her interests. The girls receive a small stipend, equivalent to about $120 per month, and are entitled to certain benefits in the areas of education, housing, and employment upon completion of their service.
As part of their Sherut Leumi service, a small number of girls—about 45 per year—travel to other countries and assist in Jewish schools. Hillel Yeshiva, serving the Deal, New Jersey community, is fortunate and proud to have Adi Avital (age 20) and Mor Shalom (age 19) working as volunteers for the 2007-2008 school year. The girls have undergone training in Israel that prepared them for working in a yeshiva day school outside of Israel. Adi and Mor arrived in September and have been busily involved in programs and activities in grades K-8. The main portion of their time is spent directly interacting with students.
Adi and Mor work hard and have a demanding schedule. They lead programs for the kindergarten, assist with the elementary girls’ Tefilla on a daily basis, and run workshops on Israeli culture and history every Friday for students in the middle school. They plan and participate in many of the Rosh Hodesh festivities each month and are involved with numerous other programs. Students also interact with Adi and Mor informally throughout the day in the halls, at lunchtime, and at the “Israeli” office. My sixth grade daughter had to leave school early one Friday and instead of being happy to leave early, was upset that she would be missing the Shabbat workshop run by Adi and Mor! Clearly, the girls have been successful in adding a dimension of fun and excitement to the school.
Having Adi and Mor is a great complement to Hillel’s “Awareness of Israel” theme this year. Hillel has integrated many Israeli related projects into the curriculum in celebration of this year’s 60th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. The students are getting a direct connection to Israel through Hillel’s two volunteers. The language, culture, and flavor of Israel permeate the school. Adi and Mor are not very comfortable speaking English, thus the students converse with them mainly in Hebrew, which is of great benefit. Adi and Mor hope that their presence in the school will give the students a greater awareness of Israel, a desire to visit and a love for the homeland of the Jewish nation.
This is the first year that Hillel has sponsored girls from the Sherut Leumi program and from the apparent success of it, it will likely be continued next year. Dr. Ruth Katz (head of Hillel’s Early Learning Center, Elementary, and Middle Schools) has been a strong proponent of this venture from the beginning and has worked hard making all the necessary arrangements to bring this undertaking to reality. The community has been very supportive as well. Magen David Congregation of West Deal subsidized the transportation costs of bringing the girls from Israel. Dr. Sheldon and Sima Goldofsky (a Hillel parent and teacher), hosted the girls in their home until housing arrangements were finalized. Dr. Jeffrey and Micky Tanzman provided the girls with a much needed car. Hillel Yeshiva partially subsidized the girls’ room and board expenses, as well. Many others pitched in with necessary furnishings, advice, and hospitality. In addition to those mentioned above, Hillel would like to recognize Nancy and Izzy Steinberg, Vicki and Alan Shamah and Margie and Sammy Saka for their tremendous assistance.
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Sara Haleva works in the marketing department of Hillel Yeshiva and currently has five children attending Hillel.
