October 7, 2023, shook Israel, traumatized it—and simultaneously triggered an unprecedented wave of solidarity. The Hamas attack on Israeli territory, with brutal acts of terror against civilians, not only marked the start of a new war but also the largest reservist mobilization in Israel’s history. Over 300,000 people were called up in a matter of days. The country’s economic, social, and logistical balance was thrown into disarray.

And SAR-EL stepped forward—unobtrusively, but determined and effective. Amid this national effort, the volunteer program became a cornerstone of the civilian home front.

New locations, new tasks

After October 7, 2023, SAR-EL’s operations were thrown off course. As the country was in a state of acute alert and much of society operated under immense pressure, improvised structures emerged everywhere. Volunteer assignments shifted—both in location and scope—far beyond what had been standard until then.

Instead of warehouses and workshops on regular military bases, many teams suddenly worked in empty schools, sports halls, basements, or parking lots behind hotels. Some garages were turned into sorting stations, former storage rooms into basic...

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