Hundreds of female volunteers from Agudat Efrat attended this week an appreciation evening put on for them by the organization’s management.
The volunteers came from all over the country, from Be'er Sheva and Ashkelon in the south to Tiberias and Nahariya in the north. The volunteers were warmly received by the organizers, who told them that the purpose of the event is to thank them for the amazing work they do and to allow volunteers to get to know each other, exchange information and get advice from one another.
Agudat Efrat is the largest lifesaving organization in Israel. The organization renders financial assistance and social support to pregnant women suffering financial difficulties. These women are desperate to avoid abortion and save their children, and they grasp eagerly at the lifeline thrown at them and their babies.
Since its founding nearly thirty years ago, Efrat has saved the lives of tens of thousands of babies.
The many volunteers throughout the country are essentially the long arm of the organization, and without them it is unable to act and save lives. Thanks to the volunteers, Agudat Efrat can work nationwide and handle cases in every city, village, or moshav in the State of Israel.
The evening included a lecture by Dr. Miriam Adahan, a psychologist, therapist, and author who spoke about empathy, listening, and how to listen to others in a way that will get people to open up and talk about their pressing problems. The lecture gave the volunteers many tools which they will be able to use in the future.
The evening also included an artistic program by playback theater actresses who presented a fascinating and amazing performance, which was both moving to tears and at the same time very funny.
Efrat Chairman Dr. Eli Schussheim concluded the event by telling the volunteers, “Whatever is mine and Agudat Efrat’s is also yours. All the rights for saving lives belong to the volunteers. You are Agudat Efrat’s central avenue. Without you we can close the office. If it were not for your dedication and your overwhelming desire to save lives we would not have come this far.”