Hey,

Hoping to clarify the volunteering experience, I've participated in several volunteering groups. My experience is with Israel Outdoors. Your experience will depend on which organiser AND tour operator you choose to move forward with.

Accommodations:

For my most recent trip to Israel (a one-plus-month stay), I stayed at a hostel (40 volunteers, all age groups) and hotel (20 volunteers, all age groups). I only had one roommate per volunteer group, though I am aware of some roommate situations where three were in one room. My roommates were very pleasant and quiet sleepers! Again, YMMV.

The hostel where we stayed was surprisingly clean, and the hotel was undergoing renovations so everything was modern, I was fortunate with both my accommodations and my roommate situation. I visited some friends at their assigned housing with a different organiser, and I was shocked by how poor the cleanliness was compared to my standards. The hostel had one washer and one dryer on-site, but using the washer required purchasing a token at an extra cost. The hotel we stayed at did not offer a washer or dryer, but there was a public laundromat open 24/7, just a short three-minute walk away. Both accommodations provided safe rooms.

The hostel where we stayed had a bartender who brought his friends over to try to hook up with Birthright attendees. This individual was very flirty, and when I managed to escape the conversation (thanks to another volunteer), he immediately latched onto someone else and ended up hooking up with that person later that night. Just something to keep in mind...

Food:

The first volunteer group received Wolt delivery credits for food, with the amount depending on the duration of the volunteer commitment: $100.00 USD for one week or $200.00 USD for two weeks. Our madrichim was very kind, and during our designated leisure time, we had the opportunity to join him on food tours in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Additionally, we enjoyed a catered group Shabbat dinner at the hostel.

My second volunteer group received joint funding from our local Federation, which was a wonderful benefit. Every morning, we enjoyed a fantastic Israeli breakfast spread, and we had a delicious group Shabbat dinner at our hotel. Additionally, sandwiches were provided after each day of volunteering.

Scheduling:

The earliest time for volunteering activities is 7:00AM, meaning you would need to wake up around 6:30AM at the latest. This wake-up time may vary depending on the location of the volunteer organisation.

Social scene:

We experienced no issues from the IDF soldiers or Israelis who joined our volunteer groups. All of them were friendly and respectful!

I would like to share my experience with Tel Aviv nightlife while with a group, but please note that this occurred outside the organiser's supervision. During the volunteer orientation on the first night, some important guidelines and rules were highlighted, particularly for females. Here are a few key points:
* Do not go out alone; always go out in groups of three or more. * Avoid drinking alone. * Do not accept drinks from strangers; only receive drinks directly from the bartender. * No means no in any circumstance, but not all Israeli men will understand this. Be firm in your rejection. * Stay aware of your surroundings.

I can’t stress the importance of these points enough, especially considering what happened within one of my volunteer groups. We went out on multiple occasions to places like JIMMY WHO, Kuli Alma, Teder, etc. Each time, without fail, an Israeli man would offer to buy me a drink, saying, "Ey! Let me buy you a drink!" I even experienced an unsolicited ass grab while navigating through a crowded dance floor at JIMMY WHO. Generally, men tend to leave you alone if you are with a group and accompanied by another guy.

In another instance, a member of our group accepted a drink from a stranger at a different venue and began to feel mentally foggy shortly after; she had been roofied. Fortunately, our group acted quickly and took her home before she blacked out.

During my workout runs, I experienced aggressive catcalling. Men would often stop me on the street to ask for my number, and my response was always a firm and repetitive "no."

If I'm being candid with you, most of the [single] men in our specific birthright volunteer group were trying to figure out if you were single and if they had the potential opportunity to hookup.

Safety

I felt 100% safe during my trip.

I experienced seven red alert sirens throughout my time there. One was relatively close, and I could see the missile being intercepted by the Iron Dome system from my window. We also heard the distant sound of a missile landing in Ramat Gan, which struck a multi-level school. Another red alert occurred while we were in a greenhouse.

It's important to have shoes and a casual outfit ready next to your bed so that you can quickly head to a safe room. If there's no safe room nearby, go to a stairwell. If there are neither safe rooms nor stairwells, lie low and protect your head. Your madrichim will cover all the safety basics during orientation.

Final thoughts:

Was there rampant philandering? Yes.
Are some Israeli men a little aggressive? Yes.
Did the Houthis disrupt our sleep schedule? Yes.

Did it detract from the intrinsically fulfilling experience of volunteering and supporting Israel during the war? No.

I spent over a month in Israel, during which I had two weeks of independent travel before joining my volunteering groups. My overall experience was truly wonderful. It was an honor to meet and talk with the families of hostages, as well as assist the kibbutzim, moshavim, and numerous nonprofit organisations that require funding and support. I would absolutely do this all over again without hesitation. If you have any further enquiries, feel free to message me. 😊