ASF in Israel

In Germany, there is a great deal of discussion and debate about Israel. But what is the best way to understand a country that so many people have strong opinions about? Akriba travelled to Israel with three students from Germany to explore this question, seeking to gain new perspectives through direct social encounters and exchanges.

Like last year, we warmly invite you to our ASF Garden Get-Together at Beit Ben Yehuda in Jerusalem.

The occasion is the arrival of our new ASF volunteers in Israel. It will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, meet old friends, and welcome our new volunteers.

How can people lead self-determined lives when they have only a few seconds to reach shelter during a rocket alarm, and the nearest safe room is not accessible? The Israeli organization Kivunim supports young adults with disabilities in maintaining their independence, even in times of war. An interview with our project partner Rotem Eshed-Lavi …

Following the outbreak of the recent war with Iran, Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ASF) was forced to withdraw its volunteers from Israel. Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding when a safe volunteer service in the country will be possible again, the two volunteers decided to continue their service in other countries. But how have …

An evening with Holocaust survivor Eva Erben at Beit Ben Yehuda.
On April 15, more than 60 guests gathered at Beit Ben Yehuda. The room was filled to capacity – a strong indication of how great the need for encounter and dialogue remains, even in these challenging times.

On the occasion of Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah, Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (ASF) Israel was once again invited to lay a wreath at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Square in Yad Vashem – a place that stands as a powerful symbol of resistance, dignity, and remembrance.

As part of our ASF study trip, we visited Kivunim in Haifa, an Israeli organization that supports young adults with disabilities on their path toward independent living. Kivunim combines supported housing, educational programs, and psychosocial guidance into a structured transition from the parental home to independent living and employment. For…

A defining day of our ASF study trip was the visit to the border region with the Gaza Strip, to Kibbutz Nir Oz. There, we met Efrat Machikawa, former spokesperson for the German-Israeli hostages, who shared with us the events of October 7 and their consequences from the perspective of the affected community.

Three days ago, our ASF study trip arrived in Israel. With 28 participants, we are currently probably the largest German-speaking study group in the country.

The following report was written by our ASF volunteer Daniel, who is currently serving at Yad Vashem: As part of his inaugural visit to Israel, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Yad Vashem this Sunday — the place where I am currently serving my voluntary year with Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (ASF).

From November 24-26, the ConAct conference took place with around 300 participants. The conference not only covered youth exchange, but also vocational training and voluntary service.

On Monday, October 27, the lecture hall of Beit Ben Yehuda in Jerusalem was filled to capacity.
Federal Minister Karin Prien (Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, BMFSFJ) visited the international meeting center of Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (ASF), together with Dr. Christoph Steegmans …

This month, we held our second Lishmor al Kesher gathering – a series of encounters with Holocaust survivors at Beit Ben Yehuda, held in cooperation with our partner AMCHA. And once again, the house was full.

As part of the EKBO/BMW delegation trip to Israel-Palestine (September 3–7, 2025), we had the pleasure of welcoming:

On August 25th, we had the privilege of hosting another Lishmor al Kesher gathering – this time with a group of Soviet-Jewish Holocaust survivors.

On Monday, 10 November 2025, we gathered once again for our Lishmor al Kesher meeting – our regular gathering in partnership with Amcha at Beit Ben Yehuda, where we invite Holocaust survivors to come together for dialogue, remembrance, and community.

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the President of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), André Kuper (CDU), visited Beit Ben Yehuda in Jerusalem together with a delegation to engage with German volunteers about the significance of German-Israeli exchange.

On Sunday, September 14, we warmly invite you to a Garden Get-Together at Beit Ben Yehuda, Jerusalem.
The occasion: the return of ASF volunteers to Israel – a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, meet old friends, and get to know our new volunteers.