Israeli Civilian Volunteer Service in the Diaspora
National Civilian Volunteer Service – Sherut Leumi – in the Diaspora is a special project of the Bat-Ami organization.
Young women volunteering in Sherut Leumi serving in Jewish communities in the Diaspora strive to strengthen Jewish identity, and increase identification with Zionism and affiliation with Israel among Jews overseas.
A minimum of two Sherut Leumi volunteers serve in each participating community, where they work in various organizations, including formal and informal educational frameworks. They help teach Hebrew and Judaics, assist in classrooms, integrate Zionist and Jewish content into a variety of leisure time activities in the community and in the school, as well as help conduct local youth movement activities.
The young women who volunteer in Sherut Leumi overseas represent not only the quintessence of religious Zionism, but also serve as role models through the way they live and behave, and as such, they instill a young and vibrant spirit that models a life based on values that inspires all those with whom they have contact.
The hundreds of candidates for this project undergo a careful selection process, and only those who are found to be the most suitable are approved for this special Sherut Leumi program.
The Selection process includes the following
· A colloquium in which the candidates are introduced to the program, as well as undergo a personal interview and evaluations of their general knowledge and proficiency in the relevant foreign languages. Additionally, they participate in a variety of workshops.
· Encounters with representatives of the participating Diaspora communities.
· Several preparatory conferences and a summer seminar.
“The Bnot Sherut serve as role models for our students. They impart in our students a love for Eretz Yisrael as well as delivering lessons with enthusiasm and professionalism. The Bnot Sherut develop strong relationships with our students and their families as they work in the school and reach out to the community.”
Among the Diaspora communities in which Bat-Ami has Sherut Leumi volunteers are:
Uruguay * Mexico * Boston * New York – Manhattan, Long Island, Brooklyn, Long Beach * New Jersey – Englewood, Teaneck, Edison * California – Los Angeles, Oakland * Florida – Miami, Hollywood, Boca Raton * Detroit * Washington, DC * Texas – Houston, Dallas * Memphis * Stamford * Pittsburgh * Philadelphia * Cleveland * Chicago * Canada – Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal * Vienna * Zurich * Australia – Sydney, Melbourne)
