Aliza Herzberg

Knafayim Shel Krembo

Yahel Social Change Program 2021-22

I joined Yahel in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic - when just about everything in life was uncertain and moving abroad was off the table for most folks in my life. During that period of uncertainty and isolation, I discovered a deeper sense of purpose - a calling to give back to the world. This led me to challenge myself by moving abroad and pursuing volunteer work. I I decided to join Yahel, move to Lod and join a group of other brave young people who also had the will and courage to give 9 months of their life to do volunteer service and learn about social change.

In my Yahel service placements, I supported a diversity of initiatives and organizations ranging in scale and capacity. One placement focused on supporting resource development, content creation and youth center operations with NGO partner Fidel Association. I also led educational and agricultural initiatives related to food production, animal therapy, and ecology in urban farm school. A few times a week, I helped initiate the Yahel “Library on Wheels” literacy program in a community park. I also facilitated English conversation groups at the Young Adult Center and Elderly Community Center. Working in the local community garden, established and led by a remarkable resident named Lia, proved especially meaningful. The relationships I built while teaching the women who gathered in this space have endured long after my time there, blossoming into lasting friendships.

The bond I formed with my host family remains one of the program's most treasured aspects. Living with them opened doors to deep, authentic connections within the community - relationships that continue to flourish today.

"The Yahel Fellowship pushed me to excel at juggling many diverse projects at once, focus on both professional and interpersonal growth (in a cross-cultural context), build relationships from people from many different walks of life, and inspired me to consistently bring a loving, nuanced and justice-related perspective into future work and life experiences."

"The Yahel Fellowship pushed me to excel at juggling many diverse projects at once, focus on both professional and interpersonal growth (in a cross-cultural context), build relationships from people from many different walks of life, and inspired me to consistently bring a loving, nuanced and justice-related perspective into future work and life experiences."

Since Yahel, my perception and prevailing question of where I will find work has unquestionably been - where can I serve this community? What skills and experiences can I contribute into making this community more equitable, just, inclusive and joyful. After Yahel, I moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area and began working with Jewish family and children’s services as the Shupin Social Club Activities & Volunteer Manager. I developed and facilitated client-inspired recreational activities, groups, and programs, seeking to build a sense of community while enriching the lives of residents and social club members. I also served as the Special Connections Dating Coach, offering support for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities to build their dating and relationship skills through individual coaching sessions. In the last year, I’ve moved back to Israel and started working for “Knafayim Shel Krembo” (כנפיים של קרמבו), a youth movement that serves kids with and without special needs. I knew that this job would be a huge challenge for me as my Hebrew skills are still a work in progress, but I knew that it would be a wonderful opportunity to integrate into my community, serve a population that I care so much about, and inspire teens to develop their leadership skills within the organization.

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