Wanting to visit and support Israel but having already done the "tourist thing" a few times, I signed up for a one-week volunteer program through Sar-El (Sherut L'Yisrael, or Service for Israel).  Our work was to refurbish gas masks for the civilian population, since all 6 million Israeli residents have one and they need to be renewed once in awhile. 

Well, it was all I expected and more!  The people were wonderful, the work was worthwhile, and the accommodations were "what do you expect, it's the army!"

Rather than bore everyone with my story, here are some photos.  If you want to have a similarly rewarding experience, check out www.sar-el.org . 
 

Our Room for the Week -- for only 4!	Jennifer Toasts to Our New Home	Lineup for Uniform "Fitting"	Avi Checks Out New Wardrobe, Richard Waits
Harvey (Michigan) & Stuart (UK) -- Best Buddies in Uniform	Most of Group After First Flag-Raising	Kenny & Alan Move Stuff	Lunch Break, First Workday
Kenny Pauses At Lunchtime	Shira (Carol) Looks Bedraggled After Long Day of Inspecting Filters	Ladies of Room 207, in Front of Gas Mask Hangar After Work	Closeup: Ladies of Room 207, After Long Day of Work
Lunchtime Sunning Task Force, Bigger Every Day	Lots of Work to Do at the Gas Mask Hangar!	3 Languages, 3 Guides at Yemin Moshe... English, French, Hungarian	Yemin Moshe -- Street Corner at Night
Jerusalem at Night, from Yemin Moshe	Adrienne (UK) and Tor (Norway) -- Birthday People -- Raise the Flag!	General Aharon Davidi, Founder of Sar-El, Shares His Views	General Aharon Davidi (Ret.) Shares His Views With Us
Hajim (Chaim) from Belgrade and Friend Work on Gas Masks	Ladies' Society Prepares Goodbye Celebration -- We Scavenged Junk Food...Yum!!!	Ori, Our Madrich (Leader), Makes a Point	The Group, Last Night Together in the Moadon
Today's News: And About the Strike, and Your Flights Home... No News!	Ronnie, Michele et. al.	Avi & Kenny Worked on Tanks Part of the Time...	Crew at the Filter Processing Table, Last Day of Work
Ori Helps Tzvika (Henry) Demo a Gas Mask	Our Bosses at the Gas Mask Hangar	For Doing Two Weeks' Work in 3 Days...A T-Shirt, Hat and Pin! Oh, Boy!	Walking Up To The Lions' Gate to Enter the Old City
Ori & Eitan Direct Traffic at the Lions' Gate	Excavation of the Roman Cardo (Main St) in the Old City	Susan (Washington, DC) and Hajim (Belgrade) With the Gold Replica in the Roman Cardo	Crossing the Main Square; Very Quiet Today (Friday in Ramadan)
Stop to Buy Challah Inside the Lions' Gate? Looks Good!	Only in Jerusalem: Strictly Kosher Internet Cafe in the Old City	Kenny Overlooking the Temple Mount	Susan Overlooking the Temple Mount
Worshippers and Police Vans at the Kotel (Western Wall) on Friday in Ramadan	All Types of People Visit the Kotel (Western Wall)	Leaving Jerusalem -- Typical Suberb