“George invited me to Passover. I got to know his whole family at this beautiful Jewish festival. Given that George is a Shoah survivor and I am a young German in Israel, this is particularly moving and memorable for me.”
Johann
2021/2022 ASF volunteer from Germany at the Beit Sefer Ilanot school and at AMCHA in Jerusalem
News
ASF Plants a Tree Together with Kivunim in Haifa
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…
Nir Oz: Trauma, Resilience and the Question of the Future
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.
ASF Study Trip in Israel – First Impressions
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.
“Your presence matters” – Chancellor Merz in conversation with an ASF volunteer
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).
ASF representation at the ConAct German-Israeli Conference
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.
Visit of Federal Minister Karin Prien to Beit Ben Yehuda
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 …
Lishmor al Kesher – Full House, Big Questions
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.
Strengthening Ties Through Dialogue
As part of the EKBO/BMW delegation trip to Israel-Palestine (September 3–7, 2025), we had the pleasure of welcoming:
New Lishmor al Kesher gathering at Beit Ben Yehuda
On August 25th, we had the privilege of hosting another Lishmor al Kesher gathering – this time with a group of Soviet-Jewish Holocaust survivors.
From Yiddish to Jerusalem – Lishmor al Kesher at Beit Ben Yehuda
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.
André Kuper visits Beit Ben Yehuda
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.
Beit Ben Yehuda Garden Party
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.
