After spending a semester of my freshman year of high school living in Israel, I knew I wanted to be part of the fabric of Israeli society in some capacity. I was inspired by my Israeli friends who would talk about their dreams of doing sherut leumi and going to the army. After my junior year of high school, I spent the summer at Emunah Achuzat Sarah as a volunteer with Kol Haneaerim. I fell in love with the children at the home and was in awe of the full-time staff who dedicated their lives to helping raise these children.

 

As a volunteer at Emunah Achuzat Sarah with Kol Hanearim, I was surrounded by the amazing energy of my fellow volunteers and coordinators. We worked tirelessly around the clock to give the children of Achuzat Sarah an unforgettable summer, and in the process, we created everlasting memories. I was hooked on the feeling of giving unconditionally to a cause I was so passionate about, to the children I loved so much, and to being surrounded by true role models- people whose love, care and commitment to chesed knew no bounds. I needed to find a way to keep it going. During my senior year of high school, I decided I had to spend my gap year volunteering at Achuzat Sarah. In order to do that, I learned I had to apply to be a Bat Sherut and make Aliyah. It was a long and complicated process since Achuzat Sarah had never had an American Bat Sherut before. Once I entered the gates of Achuzat Sarah as a Bat Sherut in the beginning of my year, I never looked back. I was a counselor for girls ages 11-13, and though it was an extremely difficult year, it was an experience of a lifetime that I will cherish forever. I go back to visit my girls as often as possible, and I even went back with KH to Achuzat Sarah as a coordinator last summer! I can’t get enough!!