I remember the thrill of being in Israel as a young boy, only weeks after the Six-Day War in 1967. My family’s emotional attachment to Israel has spanned the many decades since then. A desire to be part of the Zionist experiment has meant visiting, living, and volunteering in Israel. So, after waking up to the horrific attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, it was only natural that I, along with my daughter Tamar, would offer our hands-on-help to those communities that were most affected by the terror onslaught.
The Hamas atrocities that marked an increase in worldwide antisemitism only strengthened our desire to make a meaningful difference in the fight against hatred towards Israel and the Jewish people. Masked college students screaming “globalize the intifada” and intimidating Jewish students, Hanukkah celebrants brutally murdered on an Australian beach, synagogues vandalized and attacked in England and Canada — all of these events require worldwide Jewry to forcibly respond with acts of defiance.
As a former New Yorker and full-time resident of South Florida, I have found an excellent way to support the Jewish state and its cause. Tamar and I recently volunteered for a second time with an organization called Livnot U’Lehibanot (“Build and Be Built”). Livnot’s mission since Oct. 7, 2023, has been to rebuild and repair shattered homes and facilities along the Gaza envelope and the northern border. Tamar and I helped patch and repaint houses in Kibbutz Nirim, refurbished a home in Moshav Avivim and put a kindergarten in working order at Kibbutz Malkia.
The first time we volunteered with Livnot was in November 2024. We arrived in Israel several days before starting the program on a chilly and overcast Sunday. Leaving Tel Aviv’s HaShalom railroad station, we traveled south to Ashkelon, where we met the other program participants and leader, Missy Stein-Goldman. We were fortunate to be part of a small group consisting of Jews and non-Jews from the United States, Europe, and Australia who provided unique perspectives on their reasons for coming to Israel and for supporting the country’s efforts.
That afternoon, we visited Netiv Ha’asara, a kibbutz whose concrete wall separates Israel from Gaza and whose massive Israeli flag waved as a symbol of hope and resistance to those then in captivity. The kibbutz suffered heavily on Oct. 7, 2023, and listening to a kibbutz member describe those experiences was heartrending.
Jonathan Rubin and his daughter Tamar volunteered with an organization called Livnot U’Lehibanot (“Build and Be Built”). Livnot’s mission since Oct. 7, 2023, has been to rebuild and repair shattered homes and facilities along the Gaza envelope and the northern border. (Jonathan Rubin/Courtesy)
Our base was in Netivot, a city not far from the Gaza border and a half hour drive to Kibbutz Nirim, where we spent our work week refurbishing damaged homes. Working alongside professional crafts people, we taped, moved, and protected furnishings, replastered walls and gave homes fresh coats of paint. Cracks in walls and bullet shattered glass doors were chilling evidence of the horror that took place there.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect during November 2024. Tamar and I knew immediately that we would return to Israel to help Livnot in its rebuilding efforts along Israel’s northern border, whose farms and cities had suffered devastating rocket damage for over a year. Returning in November 2025, we took the train and bus from Tel Aviv to Karmiel and Zfat, where we met a new group of participants from the United States and Canada. Our base was in the mystical city of Zfat, where we lived in Livnot’s facility located along the maze of winding streets of the old city.
Our time was spent doing construction work at Moshav Avivim, where we waterproofed roof and bathrooms, mixed and prepared cement, cleared debris and hauled floor tiles at the damaged home of the Peretz family. We also cleaned and organized a children’s kindergarten and soldier rest house at Kibbutz Malkia. It was gratifying to meet and talk with many of the residents of these communities who had only recently returned to their homes after almost two years of evacuation. Rivka Peretz, who was living with her husband in temporary quarters, happily baked the most delicious cookies and pastries for us. Bosmat, the head of Malkia’s kindergarten, was excited to finally bring back the children after so much time.
The Livnot team organized heart wrenching visits to sites including the burned car lot at Tekuma and the Nova massacre, where we lit yahrzeit candles in memory of the fallen. Whether preparing pizza for soldiers heading into Gaza or scouting lookout points along the Lebanese border, our emotional gratification was incredible.
Volunteering in Israel is a rewarding and practical way to show solidarity with Israel during these difficult times. In addition to Livnot, there are many organizations that provide relief and assistance in all aspects of Israeli life. Find something that appeals to your interests, whether it be providing logistical help, harvesting fruits and vegetables, or performing orderly tasks in medical facilities, Israel needs you now!
Jonathan Rubin is a registered architect who has worked in private and public practice in New York City and Tel Aviv. He currently lives in Deerfield Beach. Tamar Rubin is a licensed physical therapy assistant who works in Boca Raton.
