Tel Aviv Volunteers Support 220 Holocaust Survivors

When sirens wail in Tel Aviv, some Holocaust survivors can't reach shelter because they live on the fourth floor of buildings with no elevators. That's where volunteers from the Jaffa Institute step in to help.

The nonprofit works with 220 Holocaust survivors living in south Tel Aviv and Jaffa, the oldest being 100 years old. Many live in poverty, estranged from families, unable to manage daily tasks alone.

"We try to help Holocaust survivors with whatever's needed," says Yoel Provisor, the institute's Volunteer Services Coordinator. That means food packages twice a month, home repairs, special equipment installations, and something equally precious: human connection.

The need became urgent during recent conflicts with Iran. Therapeutic staff who normally checked in monthly started calling weekly, reaching 400 participants to ensure nobody fell through the cracks.

For survivors trapped in old buildings during air raid sirens, the trauma cuts deep. Some don't even try reaching shelter, simply waiting in stairwells or staying put.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine is the simple power of showing up. Volunteers visit survivors regularly, sitting with them over tea, listening to their stories, making sure they're not forgotten.

The institute sends two therapists for house visits and group meetings to assess each person's unique situation. Some survivors need companionship most of all, having lived isolated for years.

"All of our work is based on volunteers," Provisor explains. Community members pack food boxes, deliver packages to homes, and commit to regular visits that survivors eagerly anticipate.

The Jaffa Institute has operated since 1982, helping severely disadvantaged families across Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Beit Shemesh. Their Holocaust survivor program connects the city's most vulnerable elderly residents with neighbors who care.

In a region where conflict brings fresh trauma to those who've already survived humanity's darkest chapter, these volunteers offer something invaluable: presence, dignity, and proof that they're not alone.