Baltimore, MD - May 10, 2016 -  Many of our readers, no doubt, know who Harold Rosinsky is. But, how many of you know that the skilled plumber who has serviced hundreds of Baltimore residents’ homes, for decades, is planning to put down his wrench and hacksaw here at home to volunteer on an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) base in Israel?

Harold Rosinsky is but one of a group of several volunteers living throughout the United States who is eager to join the program coordinated by Philadelphia-based Gil Travel, in conjunction with Volunteers of Israel, which partners with Sar-El, The National Project for Volunteers for Israel, an organization that is part of the IDF. He was inspired to do so, two years ago, when he saw a flyer about a Ner Tamid Greenspring Valley group which took part in it back then.

The program that Mr. Rosinsky hopes to join is VFI Plus, an all-inclusive 17-day tour, scheduled to run from November 18-December 4, that combines volunteering on an IDF base--contributing such civilian duties as: repairing machinery, building fortifications, cleaning, painting, and maintaining the base--with touring in Israel.

“I would like to see if there are others who would like to join me from Baltimore, so we can go together as a unified force and feel comfortable with each other, instead of being with a bunch of complete strangers,” noted Mr. Rosinsky. “I would like to find something that is unifying. I’m not looking for any particular types of people, just people from my hometown.”

Volunteers for Israel (VFI) is an organization which was founded in 1982, during the first war with Lebanon when Israeli farmers in the Golan Heights were at risk of losing their crops, since most able-bodied men and women were called up for army reserve duty. To save Israel from a disastrous agricultural loss, since ripening crops were left unattended, Israeli General Aharon Davidi (z”l) recruited volunteers from the United States to come to Israel right away to harvest the crops. Thanks to over 600 volunteers who responded immediately, the crops--and the Israeli economy--were saved. Since then, thousands of Americans have volunteered to do civilian work on IDF bases.

VFI representatives recruit, assist and process volunteers. After that, Sar-El takes over and places them on bases and oversees their activities while on the program. Today, approximately 1,200 Americans join thousands of volunteers from more than 60 countries around the world for this life-changing experience.

“I do a lot of tzedaka and mentoring, but it’s all for K’lal Yisrael,“ concluded Mr. Rosinsky. “I wanted to do something for Medinas Yisrael, the State of Israel. I always felt an obligation for the State, itself, even though I have no one there.”

For further information about the VFI Plus tour program, visit: http://www.vfi-usa.org/program-options/vfi-plus/ and contact Fallon Robinson of Gil Travel fallonr@giltravel.com, 1-800-223-3855 ext. 373.