The Foundation for the Welfare of Holocaust Victims has confronted a severe volunteer shortage in recent days, declining from 3,000 volunteers before the war to just over 2,000 currently. Hundreds of Holocaust survivors await help and remain unattended, exactly when they require human support and companionship more desperately than ever.
The October 7 war brought Holocaust memories back into public focus, featuring accounts of slaughter, brutality, and horrifying photographs of captives. Many discuss parallels to the most tragic chapter in Jewish history, yet while we all recall atrocities we never expected to witness again, eight decades later, support for Holocaust survivors grows weaker.
The foundation, which typically succeeds through persistent effort in matching volunteers with most applicants, has failed for months to identify new volunteers capable of delivering necessary care. Numerous Holocaust survivors remain on waiting lists for volunteer placement – someone who will offer attentive listening and emotional support.
94-year-old survivor Yehudit Zelstein embraces volunteer Neta Vaknin (Photo: Foundation for the Welfare of Holocaust Victims)
Crisis in volunteerism
“We’re experiencing Holocaust survivors’ most crucial period,” Yael Zait, director of volunteering and community services at the foundation, states. “Their need for volunteers exceeds all previous levels – individuals who will share coffee, provide companionship, and assist with basic tasks. Regrettably, the war has resulted in many volunteers receiving military call-ups or discontinuing service for various reasons, creating direct consequences for survivors awaiting our services.”
The volunteer deficit manifests throughout operations. Rachel Bruch, a five-year volunteer who has served four different survivors during her tenure, emphasizes the significance of individual relationships: “These visits transcend mere assistance – they represent profound bonds. We spend time together, converse, share laughter, and occasionally tears. Their expressions reveal their desperate need for human presence. The thought of survivors waiting without anyone reaching them deeply troubles me.”
Amir Golub, an experienced foundation volunteer, has supported Holocaust survivor Ezriel Tziperbert for eight years. Their partnership included participating together in the March of the Living at Auschwitz – a moment he characterizes as extraordinary: “Accompanying Ezriel to Auschwitz created profound emotion, granting me the privilege of experiencing his narrative alongside other survivors’ testimonies. Years of friendship have created family-like bonds, where volunteering provided not merely purpose but exceptional human relationships, and I understand Ezriel’s dependence on this connection.”
Vital human relationships
Vera Tamnov, a survivor aged 93, observes: “My longtime volunteer companion can no longer visit, leaving me experiencing days without meaningful conversation. Even brief thirty-minute discussions create a substantial impact.”
Holocaust survivor Ezriel Tziperbert (R) with volunteer Amir Golub (L) (Photo: Courtesy)
Yehudit Zelstein, a 94-year-old survivor, reflects: “Through Neta and Adiel, my exceptional volunteers, I maintain happiness and recognize my value. Without their presence, my existence would hold much greater sadness.”
Tragically, several dedicated foundation volunteers are unable to resume their service after perishing in combat, including Staff Sergeant Omri Ben Shahar who volonteered with Holocaust survivor Moshe Adler; Captain Avi Goldberg, who assisted Holocaust survivor Asher Wolach; Staff Sergeant Gilad Elmaliach, who supported Holocaust survivor Vladimir Linder; and Sergeant Major Shay Arvas of blessed memory, who aided Holocaust survivor Aviva Ben Yakar. These heroes’ memories remain with us, accompanied by boundless appreciation for the compassion and care they delivered to survivors throughout their service.
The Foundation for the Welfare of Holocaust Victims urgently appeals to citizens to volunteer, particularly during this era when Holocaust survivors experience their remaining years while seeking modest human connection.
Volunteer registration is available through the organization’s website or by telephone: 03-6090866.
