ASF in Israel

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 …

Last week, Uriel Kashi, ASF Country Representative in Israel and Director of Beit Ben Yehuda, took part in ConAct’s Think Tank Seminar in Berlin, “Commemorating the Shoah in Challenging Times – Challenges & Discourses in German-Israeli Encounters.” The seminar brought together professionals from Germany and Israel to reflect on …

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.

Last week, we received the news that Tamar Landau passed away at the age of 95. Over many years, she remained in close contact with numerous ASF volunteers. For many of them, she was far more than a Holocaust survivor: she was a thoughtful conversation partner and, not infrequently, a friend with whom contact continued long after their volunteer…

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.

Over the past four months, we have become increasingly aware of how deeply October 7 remains present in Israeli society. This was the reason why, as part of our mid-term seminar, we felt it was essential to engage more closely with what happened on October 7 and to visit the places directly affected by the attacks. Our journey began in Nir …

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 …

Gabriel Daus was a close friend of our work in Israel. He accompanied us closely in Jerusalem for decades and provided valuable support. Gabi, as he was known to everyone, passed away on the morning of July 12, 2025, at the age of 86—just a few weeks before his 87th birthday on July 26. We are very saddened by his passing.

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.

We stand in solidarity with Hanoar Haoved VeHaLomed (NOAL) and Hashomer Hatzair and strongly condemn their recent expulsion from the International Falcon Movement (IFM).

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.

25 junge Freiwillige sind im September nach Israel gekommen. Sie werden für ein Jahr in sozialen und historischen Projekten engagieren. Los ging es mit einem Vorbereitungsseminar in der ASF-Begegnungsstätte in Jerusalem.