Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

This is what ESRA means to me.

What an amazing organisation we are with more than 1,000 registered volunteers working in so many areas of Israeli society, each in their own small way contributing and improving our country. In ESRA's 40 years we have grown from the embryonic idea of our founder, Merle Guttmann, into a national organisation with branches from the far north to the extreme south of Israel.

ESRA is servicing the needs of the English-speaking community by providing a huge variety of social activities while at the same time offering opportunities to volunteer in the wider community. There are ESRA volunteers absolutely everywhere – more than 300 tutoring English in schools nationwide in our ETP program which is recommended by the Ministry of Education. Over 200 volunteers are involved in production and distributing our unique ESRAmagazine and many many others are effectively concerned in initiating and operating our social events and activities; running our offices and administration; fundraising and working to create, maintain and improve our wonderful and extensive program of more than 40 projects. In total ESRA recorded almost 95,000 volunteer hours during 2018.

Mention of ESRA’s projects is a special source of personal pride. The sheer joy of seeing the good that our dedicated workers and volunteers are bringing to those in need provides a huge sense of satisfaction. In ESRA it is not just a matter of providing the funds. It is about finding new opportunities. It is about day-to-day, hands-on involvement on the ground, working within the communities, getting to know the people and providing for their needs, and making long-term commitments.

So here we are ‘doing the impossible’, and offering a real contribution towards making Israel an even greater country. As so many people have told me, it really is an honour to be a part of the ESRA organisation.

Join us. Support ESRA. Support Israel.

Terry Morris