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"When I Tell Israelis I'm Not Jewish but Here to Help, Grown Men Cry"

(Telegraph-UK) Jamie Shapiro - "The day after Oct. 7, I saw the people celebrating in Birmingham," says Gordon Biggerstaff, 61, a nurse from North Wales. "They were dancing and they were singing. I have never been so ashamed of my country....I thought, 'These people don't represent me,' and I needed to do something about it myself." He immediately looked into volunteering in Israel and found an organization called Sar-El, which assists at IDF bases in non-military logistical roles. "I want the people in Israel to know that they are not alone, they are not ignored and there are others in the world who see their pain and are prepared to come into the water." Leigh Humpage, 64, who co-ordinates the volunteers from the UK, says they also reach out into the civilian population. "They help with all kinds of things, from painting nurseries to helping to rebuild shattered homes and buildings....Many help out on farms to help with the harvests....One of our Sar-El volunteers is a 'medical clown,' helping to brighten up the lives of traumatized children. Others are carpenters, teachers and therapists who bring their skills to contribute to rebuilding and healing." Volunteer Keenan Simms says: "You walk into a coffee shop in Israel, and you tell people that you're not Jewish but you're here to help and you see grown men cry."
2025-10-09 00:00:00
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