The sweltering heat from what was dubbed the “Sizzling Sodom” heatwave did not prevent some 100 immigrant volunteers from gathering in a school hall in the central Israeli city of Modi’in in mid-August to prepare “snack packs” for IDF soldiers, including Druze servicemen, based in northern Israel.

The volunteers, mostly olim (immigrants) from South Africa and Australia, wanted to show their gratitude and solidarity with IDF soldiers. The “Packing with a Purpose” event was organized by Telfed, the Israeli branch of the South African Zionist Federation, together with local student volunteer, Maeghan Fisher.

“It’s packing with a purpose,” Telfed’s executive director Dorron Kline told JNS. “It is a way to get our olim (immigrants) to come together, to have a good time, to support each ot

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