The past decade has seen an increase in the number of
volunteers at chessed organizations. In 2006 45
percent of the Jewish population of Israel volunteered at
institutionalized volunteer organizations and independently,
compared to 32 percent in 1997. The total number of
volunteers is 1,625,000.
This year a conference hosted by Yad Sarah's Lehr Institute
focused on the topic of renewal and attrition in managing
volunteers, and drew 150 representatives of volunteer
organizations around the country. Chairing the conference was
Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky, who founded Yad
Sarah.
The Lehr Institute specializes in training managers at
civilian social organizations in Israel in all areas of
volunteer work and management. The Institute serves as a
training and teaching center that disseminates knowledge from
Israeli and foreign sources.
Three of every four Jews in Israel would volunteer to assist
Israeli citizens if war breaks out, choliloh,
according to a survey conducted by the Geocartographia
Institute in preparation for the Lehr conference. Of those
surveyed, 34 percent said they would definitely volunteer and
another 41.4 percent think they would. The survey also
revealed Israelis have a very positive image of volunteers.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents described volunteers as
"people with a social conscience."
Other figures reported in the survey: For 63 percent of the
public, contributing to the community — either
monetarily or by volunteering — has an impact on their
choice of where to work. Seventeen percent of respondents
said it has a major impact, for 21.5 percent a considerable
impact, for 25.3 percent some impact and for 9.4 percent a
slight impact. Only 16.1 percent said contributing to the
community plays no part in their choice of jobs.
