Declaration of Accessibility

ESRA does all it can to ensure that its website, esra.org.il, is accessible. Accessibility adjustments have been made to allow every visitor to enjoy a high quality and friendly browsing experience.

This website complies with all Regulations for Equal Rights for the Disabled (adjustments for accessibility to services) 2013, subject to the following qualifications:

• Accessibility adjustments were carried out per recommendations of Israel Standard (5568) "Guidelines for Accessibility to Internet Content" at the AA level and according to guidelines of international document WCAG2.0.

• Tests were built for highest possible compatibility for browsers.

• The website provides a semantic structure for technical assistants and technical support regarding accepted use and operation via a keyboard including the keys Enter and Esc for exiting menus and windows.

• Compatible with popular browsers.

• Compatible with screen reading software NVDA.

Dear Visitors,

 As stated, we are doing all we can to ensure our website offers the greatest accessibility possible as part of our commitment to enable use of the site by the general public, including those with disabilities. Nevertheless, it could happen that you encounter parts of the site that are not accessible or contain errors with regard to its accessibility.

In the event that you encounter any such accessibility problem while browsing our Internet website, we would be happy to receive your comments and requests which you can send to us via email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In order to enable us to deal with the problem in the best way possible, we request that you include in your mail as many details as you can, such as the following:

• Description of the problem
• Link to the page in question
• What action you tried to accomplish
• The browser you use and its version (e.g. Internet Explorer, Chrome, etc.)
• Your operating system (e.g. WIN XP, WIN 10)
• Type of assisting software (e.g. JAWS, NVDA)

ESRA will make every effort to ensure that the website is as easily and completely accessible as possible and to reply to your mail quickly and professionally.

At our secondhand shops, you'll find a wide variety of collectibles, accessories, household goods, clothing and home appliances, while our secondhand bookshops have everything you want to read at rock-bottom prices. All proceeds go toward supporting our Education and Welfare Projects in the community. Donate your unwanted possessions and let them turn into someone else's treasure. Or lend a hand in one of the secondhand shops.

Join our happy ESRA Shop Volunteers

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We believe that through education, we can influence children's lives both now and for a lifetime, and through them we impact society.
The majority of ESRA funds is earmarked for educational projects with proven success. Each project we initiate and run is in cooperation with a local authority. Our Projects Committee is headed by Nina Zuck, a long-term ESRA volunteer working together with a small professional administrative staff. 

ESRA AGM and Executive

The ESRA Annual General Meeting 2017, held on 13th June at the Kiryat HaSharon Community Center in Netanya, ‎was very well attended and we were delighted to have members there from all over the ‎country, - even from the rejuvenated branch in Eilat, our southernmost outpost (at least until ‎ESRA Friends is established in South Africa).

Unfortunately, our Life President and Founder, Merle Guttmann was unable to attend our ‎AGM due to the illness of her sister in the USA. We send her and her family our warm wishes ‎at this difficult time.‎

Following a short film showing some of ESRA’s wide-ranging activities, Baruch Tanaman ‎gave the Chairman’s Report. Roger Lavender presented the Finance Reports with his usual ‎aplomb and these were approved, as were the appointment of the Control Committee and the ‎External Auditors, Stark and Stark.‎

A lively discussion on Membership and Volunteering was led by Stephen Jacobs. All points ‎raised and discussed will be considered by the new Executive.‎

Sunny Marshansky gave the General Manager’s Report. ‎

Richard Stein ensured that the Elections for the new Executive were run efficiently.‎

We owe thanks and appreciation to outgoing Executive members, Rene Goldstein and Ed ‎Wolfe, who have contributed so much to ESRA during their years of volunteering.‎
Rene Goldstein has been a stalwart of the Fund-Raising Committee, an Executive member ‎for several years and spends countless hours contacting lapsed and new members. ‎
Ed Wolfe has been active with our ESRA Nearly New stores since 1997, together with his ‎wonderful wife, Betty, and has been a member of the Executive for many years. No praise ‎is enough for his hard work. We wish Rene and Ed many healthy years of volunteering.‎

Sam Kirsch, a long-standing member of our Internal Control Committee, recently had an ‎operation and has decided not to stand for the Committee again. Thanks for all the volunteer ‎hours, Sam, and get well soon.‎
Janet Kiesari, our Southern Branch Coordinator, has also been unwell and we wish her a full ‎recovery and that we will soon see her attending Executive Meetings again.‎

We are extremely pleased that Terry Morris will be continuing as Vice-Chairman and Chair ‎of the Media Committee; his support is invaluable. ‎

Thanks to all who attended and contributed, and thanks to the ESRA Netanya Branch for ‎hosting an enjoyable, well-organized meeting.‎

Baruch Tanaman, ESRA Chairman

ESRA would like to express its appreciation and gratitude to the partners that have made our education and welfare projects possible, from municipalities, to community centers, and education and welfare organizations. Your partnership and care help us achieve the aims of all of us – creating a better society.

ESRA has numerous branches throughout the country, each with its own character and pet projects. Every branch offers a range of social and cultural activities as well as volunteering opportunities that benefit the wider community. ESRA continues to grow, as new branches spring up wherever English-speakers get together for mutual benefit as well as for the benefit of others in their community.

Choose your branch and enjoy its activities in the knowledge that you are also supporting ESRA's work.

Branch News

ESRA is an independent non-profit organisation run by volunteers.

ESRA is dedicated to making Israel a better society. We do this through our volunteer work, creating special projects aimed at any sector of society that can benefit from our help. We are devoted to helping immigrant groups in a wide variety of creative ways, as well as helping the needy, the disabled, or talented youngsters who need a boost toward self realization. Our volunteers enrich Israeli society and in so doing are themselves enriched. We welcome all newcomers to our ranks.

Active since 1979, ESRA is a non-profit organization with a difference. Our mission is two-fold: We help each other, and we help others. Ultimately that means being actively involved agents of change for the betterment of Israeli society. Originally established as a self-help organization, ESRA aimed at creating an active social and cultural community that would help English-speaking immigrants acclimate to life in Israel. This soon branched out to helping other waves of immigrants, from Russians to Ethiopians, and finally to helping any needy sector of Israeli society. And talk about acclimating into society… what better way than volunteering in the community to help others.

Today Israel's largest English-speaking volunteering organization, ESRA has several thousand members in 20 branches from Nahariya to Eilat, and is run by some 800 volunteers, augmented by a small administrative staff. Our volunteers help organize activities, run ESRA's management committees, work in the office or in our various charity shops, deliver the ESRA Magazine, tutor schoolchildren in English, and engage in a wide range of other volunteering activities in ESRA's numerous education and welfare projects.

 ESRA is a pluralistic organization. It is has no religious or political affiliation, and respects everyone's needs. We are totally supported by donations through fundraising drives and membership dues, as well as by proceeds from our secondhand shops. We are proud that our projects are backed by proven success and are funded together with strategic partners. And we keep our running expenses to a uniquely low minimum.

Each of our members makes ESRA the multi-faceted organization that it is. And each member knows that while they are enjoying ESRA activities, they are also helping meet the needs of Israel's disadvantaged. ESRA and founder/honorary president, Merle Guttman, have received numerous awards, including the President's Award for Volunteering, for contributions to Israeli society and immigrant absorption.

For nearly 40 years ESRA has been aiding the integration of countless immigrants while enhancing the lives of thousands of needy Israeli families.

If you are interested in volunteering close to you, in flexible hours Contact us

 

ESRA is proud to introduce its superb 108 page magazine featuring articles and information for English speakers in Israel and abroad.

Click on the logo below for more about the ESRA Magazine.