Students join Carmel recovery efforts

Student groups of Hillel Israel numbering more than 200 participants traveled on Friday to the Carmel forest to hold together with Jewish National Fund staff a special day of service with the aim of assisting in the recovery efforts of the area after last winter's fire disaster. Hillel Israel launched a national day of service focusing on assisting the Mount Carmel area which was hit severely in the devastating wildfire. The day of service is planned to become a tradition in Hillel Israel with the overall aim of strengthening the connection between social action and Jewish identity in Israel. Communal volunteering (Photo: Yaron Yagodin) To accomplish this, Hillel Israel has mobilized its eight centers throughout Israel in enlisting groups of university students and young people. The 200 participants took part in an activity framework that combined between communal volunteering and a meeting event with the firefighters who took part in battling the fires of last winter. As part of the day's activities the participants volunteered in sites within the forests of the Carmel and together with Jewish National Fund staff evacuated debris remaining from the fire. The participants assisted as well in building infrastructure to defend various place in the region from future fires. Core values Accompanying these activities was a joint study of Jewish texts and issues related to communal responsibility and involvement. This special day of service is part of Hillel Israel's diverse activities in the areas of social action as means of promoting and developing a pluralistic Jewish identity amongst Israeli university students. According to Hillel Israel CEO David Ya'ari, "Volunteerism, communal involvement, developing social leadership and Jewish study are part of Hillel Israel's core values and also an effective tool for the organization in the development of Jewish identity component amongst young Israelis. "We view this day as an opportunity to give significant expression to the organization's activities amongst a wide target group while assisting in the recovery efforts of the Carmel region.” Follow Ynetnews on Facebook