Saying Yes To Going All In

This blog post was written by Shoshana Stern, a 2025/26 Fellow in Rishon LeZion.

When I decided to become a Yahel fellow, I did so with one big intention: I’m going to go all-in. This fell right in line with a goal I set for myself this past summer: say “yes” more. Say yes to the unfamiliar. Yes to new people. Yes to growth. Yes to doing things that make me a little apprehensive. So here I am, two months in, living in Rishon LeZion. I’m spending 30+ hours a week volunteering in a total of 5 different placements, learning Hebrew through Ulpan and on the go, navigating unfamiliar systems (with lots of help from Moovit), and saying yes far more often than I say no.

Considering how fellows only volunteer four days a week, thirty hours sounds like a lot. That’s because it is a lot. It’s a full emotional, mental, and at times physical workout. But saying yes to that level of immersion and dedication is exactly why I chose Yahel. When I walk into a school or another one of my volunteer placements, I’m not just checking a box or going through the motions. I’m there, attentive and ready for whatever the day entails. I’m saying yes to sitting on tiny plastic chairs, reading the same passage aloud five times in a row, helping a student sound out the same word letter by letter for the third time, or just being a listening adult for a child who doesn’t have many.

Learn How You Can Volunteer In Israel

Some days are filled with back to back victories: the quiet kid speaks up, the rowdy kid pays attention, and I’m able to glide through all the activities and lessons for the day. Those days, I feel unstoppable. Other days, I feel like a boat with a hole in it, struggling to stay afloat while chaos ensues, taking in but not fully grasping everything the kids throw at me, both emotionally and sometimes literally. However, each and every day, I’m giving it my all, and I feel that I’m where I’m supposed to be.

Giving my all isn’t limited to the classroom. It’s a concept that can be applied in various settings. One such setting where my “all-in” philosophy definitely shows through is when it comes time for hafsakah, or recess. Going all-in means choosing presence and consistency. It means saying yes when the swarm of children come to my classroom door before every recess asking to play makhboim (think base tag combined with hide and go seek). No matter if I’m just getting over a nasty cold or if I’m wearing a long dress and ballet flats, I’m playing, matching the enthusiasm of the kids and ending the break with a round of hugs.

These days, my life isn’t measured by material luxuries, but it is filled with meaning, and that meaning is more gratifying than I could have imagined. Volunteering this much doesn’t always feel easy, but it always feels real. In a world full of menial work and superficiality, giving myself fully to something that isn’t rewarded by a grandiose lifestyle is its own kind of satisfaction. I entered Yahel intending to go all-in, and that intention has guided every aspect of this experience.

Since beginning the program just over two months ago, living in Rishon LeZion has taught me that living fully isn’t about having more, it’s about giving more. Showing up more. Saying yes more. At the end of the day, it’s the saying “yes” that matters most: yes to purpose, yes to presence, and yes to going all-in.

Learn How You Can Volunteer In Israel