Diaspora volunteers serving in Israel’s national civilian service program stepped into emergency roles across the country after the war with Iran disrupted their original placements, helping displaced families and children cope with evacuation, school closures, and days of uncertainty.
The young women are part of the Shalem Program of Bat Ami, which places overseas volunteers in Sherut Leumi (Israel’s national civilian service framework). In recent days, they have been working in hotels and temporary housing sites, where they have run activities for children and teenagers and helped families maintain some routine during the crisis.
Damaged homes
According to Bat Ami, the initiative focused on two groups hit especially hard by the recent fighting: families of essential workers who have been away from home since the start of the war and residents of Beit Shemesh whose homes were damaged by Iranian missile fire.
When the war began, many of the volunteers’ regular service placements were suspended. Rather than remain idle, Bat Ami said, the young women moved into new roles assisting families living in temporary conditions.
They organized games, learning sessions, and creative activities for children staying in hotels, while also giving parents time to deal with officials, paperwork, and the uncertainty surrounding the coming weeks.
One mother, quoted by the program, said the support had an immediate effect.
“For the first time in days, my child has smiled,” she said.
Broader spirit of national service
Bat Ami CEO Eran Walk said the volunteers reflected a broader spirit of national service during wartime.
“Sherut Leumi and Bat Ami are integral to Israel’s national resilience,” Walk said. “Thousands of volunteers serve across the country in childcare centers, hospitals, youth villages, and security settings. When some placements were suspended, our volunteers immediately said, ‘Hineni’ (‘Here I am’). There is no generation like this one.”
Bat Ami said it currently has 140 volunteers serving Jewish communities abroad through its Overseas Program, alongside 130 young women from the diaspora serving in Israel for two years through the Shalem Program.
The organization said the wartime initiative underscored the bond between Israel and Jewish communities overseas, as volunteers who left their home countries for national service found themselves supporting Israeli families during one of the hardest stretches of the war.