Livnot U'Lehibanot -- David Botzer

[moderator] The Livnot U'Lehibanot organization has been active for 26 years in running Israel Experience Programs for young Jewish adults while imbuing participants with the love of Israel, Judaism, and importance of connections with the Jewish community.

To this end, the Livnot community service programs in Tzfat and Jerusalem have worked, both with program participants and volunteers to serve local residents through volunteer projects.

With the onset of the present "Katyusha War", Livnot in Tzfat became a local center of volunteer activity, working with the army, Pikud HaOref (Homefront Command) and the city's Social Work department to meet the needs of local residents who are in need of assistance, particularly the elderly. David Botzer is coordinating the current relief campaign.

"Close to 40 volunteers are now working with Livnot to deliver food and other necessities to over 80 elderly and handicapped people in Tzfat who are unable to fend for themselves.

Livnot receives daily lists from the municipality Social Work department, and then insures that the needs of those people are met for that day.

Livnot has molded it's volunteer campaign to include meeting as wide a variety of needs of these individuals as possible. When food is delivered, the residents are asked "what do you need" and at that point, the volunteer is able to assess whether the individual needs medicines, to see a medical or social work professional, assistance in their home, help with personal hygiene, etc. Volunteers give baths, take residents to doctor appointments, bring social workers to see the people, etc.

This morning, one elderly lady told "her" volunteer that she didn't really need anything, but....could he please open her eye-dropper bottle for her? Turns out that this woman, who lives alone, had been waiting for several hours for someone to arrive who could simply open up her medication for her.

At the close of each day, Livnot volunteers prepare a report for the Social Work department detailing the people who were visited, what their needs are, and what follow-up, if any, is needed.

The Livnot volunteers themselves are a special breed -- young and old, married and single, Israelis and people who have arrived from outside Israel to contribute during this period of crisis...they are, every one of them, amazing, and a tribute to the unity of the Jewish people."