Paying It Forward: The Impact of Volunteering at Yad Sarah

Zvi Swerdlove, originally from Boston, first encountered Yad Sarah when he needed to borrow medical equipment to care for his father. The experience left a lasting impression on him. After closing his second-hand bookstore, he decided to give back by volunteering at Yad Sarah.

Zvi began volunteering at Yad Sarah's Netanya branch 15 years ago, and his role at the lending center is just one part of his many contributions. He has conducted home visits to check on the well-being of homebound individuals, repaired loaned medical equipment, and taken on various other responsibilities.

As a trilingual speaker of English, French, and Hebrew, Zvi has been able to make tourists and non-Hebrew speakers feel welcome and cared for. When an elderly French woman had trouble communicating her need for a hospital bed, Zvi stepped in to translate. The bed was later delivered to her home.

"I like the idea of putting people in a good mood, knowing they don't have to go through bureaucratic headaches or pay a lot to get help," said Zvi. "I love that Yad Sarah serves everyone."