Volunteering at Ebenezer Home

Dear volunteers/applicants,

Volunteers in Kitchen

Preliminary Note

During the years we have enjoyed our wonderful volunteers so much! However, we find that some of the volunteers do not take their obligation to the Home seriously and make sudden changes in plans because of personal preferences etc. Due to various procedures that have to be done with the Ministry of Interior for each volunteer (to do with visas etc), it is extremely difficult for us to make those immediate changes if a volunteer changes his plans in short notice. In addition to that, if one volunteer makes sudden changes in plans, this can cause a situation where we do not have a sufficient amount of volunteers. Therefore, we bid you to take this application seriously and prayerfully, and to make a commitment to the length of time you stated.

Furthermore, Ebenezer Home will gladly accept volunteers from around the world. Please note though, that because of difficulties and restrictions imposed on us from the Ministry of Interior, it is hardly likely for us to be able to receive a volunteers' visa for volunteers from Africa and Eastern Europe. The reason for this is that the State of Israel has experienced that in general, people coming from these areas overstay their visa and work illegally, so this works against sincere Christian volunteers as well. If you do come from these areas, please understand the difficulty and note that though we would gladly accept you, some things are beyond our control. Perhaps the Lord will lead you to help in another place which He has chosen for you.

Application Procedure

1. Please download the application forms from our Download Page Please also make sure to fill out all the details precisely and in clear handwriting, following all the instructions.
2. It is recommended to contact the organisation representing the Ebenezer Home in your home country and apply through that organisation. You will find the list of supporting organisations on our Links page. If you are unable to do so, please send your application to us by regular mail.
3. The management will consider your application according to the regulations of the Ebenezer Home and send you an answer (by e-mail if possible).
4. Once we have approved your application, we will apply for a volunteer's visa for you. Please note that we depend on the Ministry of Interior for this visa; without it you will not be able to volunteer in Ebenezer Home. If approved, the visa confirmation will be sent to the closest consulate in your country. When you arrive in Israel, you might only receive a visa for 1 month of more. During this period, Ebenezer Home takes care of extending your visa for the required period.
5. You must make sure your passport is valid until 6 months after your visa expires. Example: If you have a visa to stay in Israel until February 1^st 2005, your passport must be valid at least until August 1^st 2005.
   
6. When you enter the country with the Volunteer's Visa, you will be under the ultimate responsibility of the Ebenezer Home, and must comply with the rules of the Home. If you are unable to comply with these rules we are sorry, but we won't be able to accept you. When you leave the Ebenezer Home we are required by law to notify the Ministry of Interior, even if your volunteer visa is still valid!

Requirements

All volunteers must take Health/Travel Insurance before arriving in Israel. It may be possible to obtain information from a travel agency or a mission society regarding a special health insurance. The Ebenezer Home is covered for any work related accidents.

Accommodation

• Female volunteers live in a flat in the same building as the manager's family, near the Ebenezer Home. The flat has a living room, kitchen, bathroom and three large bedrooms for 2-3 persons and one single bedroom.
• Male volunteers are housed in a single or double room flat.

Rules of the Ebenezer Home & Volunteers' Flat

1. The Home requests that the volunteers, on arrival, sign a 'Work Agreement' and a 'Pledge of Silence'.
2. The local religions, cultures and feelings should be respected in clothing & behaviour. The volunteers are requested not to date or start a relationship with a boyfriend/girlfriend during the time of the work agreement with the Ebenezer Home. If a problem arises in the mentioned matters, and if necessary, the manager may reserves the right to terminate the volunteer's stay.
3. The Ebenezer Home is a non-smoking area.
4. Visitors to the volunteers' flat are welcome on the following basis:
   • Other volunteers' privacy should be considered and all should be informed ahead of time regarding the visit.
   • Overnight guests are allowed for up to 2 days, and this only with the manager's permission, and if a place is available.
   • Male guests can visit the females' flat only as an exception and during reasonable hours, Prior permission of the manager is necessary. The same applies to a visit of female guests in male volunteers ' flat.
   • Dating between volunteers or between volunteers and locals is forbidden.
5. It is strictly forbidden to keep animals in the flat or on the premises of Ebenezer Home.
6. Volunteers must respect one another's needs and privacy, quietness at reasonable hours and to keep the flat and the staircase clean and tidy.

What do we provide?

• Lodging (accommodation).
• Food: 3 meals a day. Please note, the food is not rabbinically kosher.
  
• Bed linen and towels, soap, sanitary napkins, shampoo and toothpaste.
• Work uniforms (not including shoes). Volunteer nurses may bring their own uniforms.
• Pocket money of approximately 400 Shekels per month.
• Communication: we have a computer for the use of the volunteers. If you have a laptop with WIFI (wireless communication) enabled, you can connect through wireless internet in the Home or in the girl's volunteer flat (not provided for in the other volunteers' flats).
• The Home is close to two local congregations which you may attend in your free time. There are other congregations in Haifa which you can attend (information will be given if needed).
• Twice a month the volunteers have a Bible study with the manager, Johnny.
  
• A periodic volunteers' trip is arranged and paid for by the Home.

Work

• Boys in the Kitchen

  Work is about 40 hours per week, including evening and night shifts. There are three main work areas.
  • Kitchen Work (males and females)
  • Nurse Aide (males and females)
  • General Maintenance (usually males)
• Special projects, such as preparations for feasts and gardening may be included in the work schedule.
• Male volunteers may assist in maintenance, but should be willing to take on the regular work responsibilities of the volunteers.
• Volunteer nurses (Nurse Aides) work with the nursing staff. Note for Registered Nurses: according to Israeli law, you cannot receive professional responsibility as a volunteer.
• Plans for holiday and travelling should be discussed shortly after arrival with the head nurse and the housekeeper so that it can fit into the work schedule.

  Maitenance Work

• Certain times of the year are more comfortable to travel, so this can also be taken into consideration. Travelling abroad should be planned and in agreement with the manager.
• There are opportunities in the Home to use one's talents, so please bring your musical instruments. Experience in crafts can also be very helpful.
• The volunteers are expected to help with preparations for the feasts and to participate in the celebrations (favourite cake and/or cookie recipes are welcome).
• Sabbath and Feasts: the volunteers are expected to work on Sabbath and Feasts as usual. If there are special preferences, we will try to take them into consideration, but we cannot guarantee.
  

Travelling to Haifa from the Ben-Gurion Airport

1. The Home's address is: Me'ir Rutberg 41, Haifa (in the German Colony).
   
2. The easiest way to get from Ben-Gurion to Haifa is by train. You need to get off at Haifa Merkaz-Hashmona train station in Haifa. From there ask for a taxi to Ebenezer Home (or Beit Ebenezer). It only takes a few minutes to get here and should not cost more than 20-25 NIS.
3. The second option is to ask at the airport for the shuttles (called also 'Sherut') to Haifa. Take a shuttle taxi from the airport to the volunteers' flat, which is at HaGanim 44 st. in Haifa (or Ebenezer Home's address if so requested). It costs approximately NIS 60.- which is ~ $17-$18. You may have to wait until more passengers come to fill up the shuttle. In case the driver wants to leave before the shuttle is full, the passengers may agree to pay a little more.
4. You can also take the bus from the airport to the 'Egged' bus station in Haifa ('Egged' is Israel's main bus company). From there you need to take a taxi to the volunteers' flat on HaGanim 44 st. (or to Ebenezer Home at Meir st. 41 if so requested). Busses stop running on Friday afternoon until Saturday evening.
5. A special taxi (commonly called just "Special") is the last option but this is rather expensive (a few hundred shekels). If you choose this option, it's important to agree on the price and currency in advance. Please notify the driver ahead of time that you need a receipt, though he may give it to you only when you arrived at your destination. If you suspect you were charged more than the normal fare, write down the number of the taxi.

Important: In any case, please ask for a receipt and keep it.

For any other questions, please contact us by email, phone or fax.