Volunteer for Israel or Sar El

[Shoshana]

I realize that they are part of the Israeli establishment and of course IDF but I am curious your opinions on a trip such as this. It's a volunteer program for a few weeks or so at a time. I would like to do something like this instead of the typical vacation when I travel to Israel next year. I have obviously ruled out kibbutz volunteering so I am looking into this one. Any other ideas or groups you know of?

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

I actually would feel better about volunteering on a kibbutz than with the IDF for some reason. Less chance of me dying with the former, and probably it would be an environment more friendly to those with no knowledge of Israel.

[Ehud]

I've looked into similar trips such as the one you're looking at and I think it would be a fantastic experience.  You get to meet Israelis, and you're immersed in Israeli culture which is something that a typical vacation ight not afford you.  All of the trips that are organized for Americans are friendly to people with little or no knowledge of Judaism, you shouldn't have to worry about that.  That's one of their primary purposes, to reconnect people who are lost to Judaism and the land of Israel.  I don't know whether you should do this rather than a standard vacation to Israel, they both are good options, but as far as organized programs this is a good one.   

[newman]

I'd go with Sar-El provided the IDF weren't evicting Jews at the time.

I've read about kibbutz stays. They give the vollunteers HAM! If someone offered ME a tin of ham in the Holy Land, they'd WEAR IT!

[Ehud]

I'd go with Sar-El provided the IDF weren't evicting Jews at the time.

I've read about kibbutz stays. They give the vollunteers HAM! If someone offered ME a tin of ham in the Holy Land, they'd WEAR IT!

Some of the volunteer work is worthwhile and will introduce you into Israeli culture.  As for the ham, I have lived at an Israeli kibbutz for a few months and have stayed at other kibbutzes and I didn't see a piece of ham the entire time I was there.  All the food there was kosher. 

Another option is taglit birthright.  They have some excellent programs in Sfat, and Kiryat Shemona as well as Yerushalayim that are tailored for the first time visitor to Israel. 

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

Not to defend the kibbutzim (which have their roots in Marxism, of course), but I don't have a problem with kibbutz ham when one keeps in mind that a huge number of kibbutzim workers are Gentiles from all over the world.

[newman]

Not to defend the kibbutzim (which have their roots in Marxism, of course), but I don't have a problem with kibbutz ham when one keeps in mind that a huge number of kibbutzim workers are Gentiles from all over the world.

Gentiles or not, there should not be one ounce of ham in EY. Should they put up x-mas trees for the goyim, too?

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

I guess you have a point, but I'm just not that hardcore about this issue, I suppose. 

[Ehud]

Have you ever been to a Kibbutz, C.F.?  I've been to many kibbutzim and there has never been any ham at any of their meals.  Yes, it's true that a large number of kibbutzim workers are gentiles especially from Thailand but that has nothing to do with the meals they serve. 

Keep in mind that Kibbutz members established and defended Israel.  The Kibbutz that my grandparents were part of did an active part in defending Israel from Syrian and Jordianian Muslim Nazis.  My "Marxist" grandfather risked his life and gave his life to save countless Jews by bringing them into Eretz Yisrael against the will of the British.  Of course the Kibbutzism were grounded in Marxism but that is not a reason to dismiss or vilify them entirely.  If it wasn't for the Marxist and socialist Jews who came to Israel to begin with, the state would have never been established.

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

Ze'ev, I was actually defending kibbutzim earlier in this thread. I think that even if they are left-wing they do serve a purpose in providing a low-cost medium for world Gentiles to get accustomed to basic Israeli culture. I don't care if they serve ham or not, btw.

[newman]

Have you ever been to a Kibbutz, C.F.?  I've been to many kibbutzim and there has never been any ham at any of their meals.  Yes, it's true that a large number of kibbutzim workers are gentiles especially from Thailand but that has nothing to do with the meals they serve. 

Keep in mind that Kibbutz members established and defended Israel.  The Kibbutz that my grandparents were part of did an active part in defending Israel from Syrian and Jordianian Muslim Nazis.  Of course the Kibbutzism were grounded in Marxism but that is not a reason to dismiss or vilify them entirely.  If it wasn't for the Marxist and socialist Jews who came to Israel to begin with, the state would have never been established.

I should quallify.....the vollunteers were provided with tins of ham for their meals/ snacks. It wasn't served in the dining room. I know not all kibbutzim are the same, but there are a million and one things they could provide the vollunteers with. I love bacon and oysters etc but I wouldn't entertain the idea of having these things in EY.

[Ehud]

Have you ever been to a Kibbutz, C.F.?  I've been to many kibbutzim and there has never been any ham at any of their meals.  Yes, it's true that a large number of kibbutzim workers are gentiles especially from Thailand but that has nothing to do with the meals they serve. 

Keep in mind that Kibbutz members established and defended Israel.  The Kibbutz that my grandparents were part of did an active part in defending Israel from Syrian and Jordianian Muslim Nazis.  Of course the Kibbutzism were grounded in Marxism but that is not a reason to dismiss or vilify them entirely.  If it wasn't for the Marxist and socialist Jews who came to Israel to begin with, the state would have never been established.

Well the fact that there are bacon and oysters in EY has nothing to do with the kibbutzim.  Go to any shopping market all over Israel and you will find the stuff there.  At Tiv Ta'am they have a "seafood mix" that constitutes not only the most un-kosher, but the most un-sanitary food imaginable, straight from Russia.  To blame this sort of thing on kibbutzim is ridiculous.

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

I guess food from Russia is comparable to food from Mexico.