The Joy of Giving: A Volunteer’s Journey

When Dahlia first started volunteering with Jewmanity, she didn’t think what she was doing was anything special. Sometimes she cooked a meal. Sometimes she helped out during surfing activities. Simple things, she says. But the appreciation she received from the soldiers she served touched her more deeply than she could have imagined.

Dahlia volunteers with groups of Israeli soldiers living with PTSD who come to San Diego through Jewmanity’s Heads Up retreat program. Every one of them carries a whole life story, she says — they come from all ages and backgrounds, men and women, married and single. Each one matters deeply to her.

What started as small acts of service became something transformative — not just for the soldiers, but for Dahlia herself. She describes the experience as giving her heart, her time, and her presence, and somehow receiving so much more in return. The connection she builds with each group reminds her how powerful simple human presence can be.