Many people think Sherut Leumi, Israeli National Volunteer Service Program, is for religious girls trying to avoid Israel Defense Force army service, however, volunteers come from all over Israel and from overseas. Work can be done on a special tourist visa, Sherut leumi participants do not have to be citizens, though that program may be not available in the future.

Service typically requires working 30–40 hours a week, over 12 to 24 months. While volunteers work in schools, positions available are diverse, in special education, administration, hospitals, law, geriatrics, nursing homes, health clinics, teens at risk, internal security, disadvantaged communities, immigrant assistance, and many other organizations. One award winner was Liora Cohen, who came from France to volunteer. While Israel Guetta, haredi awardee, came to Israel from Italy at age of 12, when his family made aliyah. Other winners represented a wide spectrum of Israeli population.

Agriculture Minister MK Uri Ariel who holds the portfolio responsible for the Sherut Leumi program, added that during the Nine Days, it is especially important and good to see "Ahavat Chinam" and not "Sinat Chinam."

Sar-Shalom Gerbi, the Director of the National Civilian Service Administration (NCS) presented numbers of volunteers at 18,000 young people, 8,500 from national religious backgrounds, 4,500 Arabs and 1,500 Haredim.

After meeting with President Rivlin and speaking in Arabic for cameras, Ahmed Zatrah answered in Hebrew, "This is my country" when asked why he volunteered for Sherut Leumi.

On Monday, BJL attended a  meeting with Arab Sherut Leumi volunteers at Sherut Leumi main headquarters.  Along with Gerbi, Bara'a Abed, 20 year-old volunteer, and A. H., 21 years old volunteer from Shufat who did not want his full name used, spoke about their experiences. Arab volunteers work in their communities and these young people were pleased with their "jobs" and benefits they are to receive in the future. Stipends and salaries are similar to IDF soldiers.

Hagit Tsur, Director of the Immigration and Population department at the Interior Ministry for east Jerusalem, has Arab volunteers playing an important role in her offices. Tsur mentioned that volunteers must know Arabic and Hebrew to do the work properly.

Zeinab Abu Swaid, Coordinator for national service in the Arab sector in Jerusalem, is a Bedouin woman from the North. With her teaching background Swaid feels she has found a positive way to contribute. Though some religious leaders are opposed to their Arab population volunteering, the numbers are growing. What started in the North, seven years ago, is gaining momentum, as happy and satisfied volunteers share their experiences. Change in the Jerusalem area is slower and only started three years ago, but co-existence is occurring daily working together in government offices to help the public. The Bedouin population in the south with fewer volunteers, is also changing slowly with numbers doing national service growing.