Susan R. Eisenstein: English B’Yachad: Flagship Program of Skilled Volunteers for Israel
It all began with one woman—Marla Gamoran. And her passion for Israel. Marla Gamoran grew up in a secular Jewish home, synagogue youth groups, or Zionist camps. were not part of her childhood. But a six-week trip to Israel with her family, during the summer of 1972 when she was 16 years old, changed the direction of her life. This trip would become one of the catalysts that would lead Marla Gamoran to establish the 501(3)(c) non-profit Skilled Volunteers for Israel (SVFI) and become its Executive Director.
An even greater catalyst would come in 1998 when Marla and her family spent six months in Israel on a half-sabbatical. “During that time, I volunteered with an Israeli organization. That deeply meaningful experience influenced me and ultimately led me to establish Skilled Volunteers for Israel,” Gamoran said. “As I approached retirement, I wanted to return regularly to Israel to volunteer. What surprised me was that there was no structured pathway for older adults — retirees with professional expertise and a desire to contribute — to serve meaningfully in Israel. I believed strongly that retirees possess not only time, but decades of professional skill, wisdom, and a deep desire for purpose. Rather than finding a way to volunteer on my own, I founded Skilled Volunteers for Israel to create that pathway.”
Marla continued, “my love for Israel wasn’t shaped by formal programming. It came from somewhere deeper. I simply felt that Israel was where I was meant to be. In the years that followed, I learned Hebrew, studied in Israel, and began making plans toward Aliyah. In the late 1970s, I spent two years living in Israel— one year on Kibbutz Yahel and another teaching English in Sderot, then a small town largely populated by Israelis of Moroccan origin. Teaching English there — seeing firsthand how language can open doors — left a lasting impression. Between 2005 and today, I have returned to Israel at least once a year, often more. Israel has never simply been a place I visit; it has always been part of who I am.”
Established in 2011 by Executive Director Marla Gamoran, SVFI is headquartered in the United States. SVFI’s purpose is to connect the wisdom and experience of Jewish retirees with societal needs in Israel. SVFI’s original model placed Jewish retirees from North America with Israeli non-profit organizations for in-person volunteer assignments. Retirees could volunteer in various nonprofits, schools, social services and in various sectors such as strategic planning, refugee service and English tutoring. A thriving program until COVID abruptly ended international travel, at that point, everything needed to pivot And that pivot became English B’Yachad, the flagship program of Skilled Volunteers for Israel, born out of Marla Gamoran’s question (which she says was a simple question) “What can we do for Israel from home”?
And Marla’s answer to that question? “I realized we possessed two powerful assets: native English fluency and a deep love for Israel. Combined, they could become a bridge. From my years of involvement in Israeli society, I knew that English proficiency is often a significant barrier to academic and professional advancement. For many Israelis — especially those facing personal and societal barriers — English is not just another subject. It is access: to higher education, to global careers, and to confidence in international spaces.”
“We piloted the concept with alumni volunteers from our in-person program, who were English as a Second Language (ESL) professionals. The pilot helped us discover something important: English B’Yachad is not an English class. It is a relationship-based, confidence-building partnership. Volunteers serve as conversation partners and mentors, not formal teachers. No Hebrew is required. There is no fixed curriculum. Each pair meets virtually, typically once a week, focusing on conversational English — everyday fluency, professional language, and real-world communication.”
“We began with Ethiopian Israeli women pursuing academic degrees. Many had limited opportunities to practice English in their daily lives and lacked a safe, encouraging space to build fluency. The pilot was tremendously successful. In June 2020, we reached out to Tech Career, and they offered the opportunity to their students, staff, and alumni. 50 people signed up within 30 minutes. We recruited 50 volunteers from our network of North American retirees, and English B’Yachad was born.”
“English B’Yachad began with the Ethiopian Israeli community, largely because of our connection to Tech Career. We have since expanded to collaborate with additional organizations serving this community, including Empowering Ethiopian Women, LaMerhak, Ono Academic College, and Keren Hanan Aynor. In late 2025, we piloted the program with ReStart Global, working with wounded Israel Defense Force soldiers rebuilding their civilian futures. These participants seek English skills both for career advancement and to share their stories internationally. Participants are referred by our partner organizations and interviewed by English B’Yachad to ensure they have a basic level of English. Because the program is conversational rather than formal, curriculum-based, participants must have a foundational level of comprehension and grammar. Most are young adults and working-age adults, typically between the ages of 21 and 45. The commitment is a minimum of 10 sessions with a volunteer mentor, though many mentor-participant partnerships continue well beyond that. In fact, several pairs matched in our first two years are still meeting regularly. As we grow, we see potential to expand to other less advantaged communities in Israeli society, seeking greater workforce opportunity through better English.”
Currently, English B’Yachad is in its sixth year. With the support of over 650 volunteers, the program has already served over more than 1,000 Israelis. Many of the mentor-participant pairs have gone on to surpass the 10-session minimum commitment to the program, some lasting for years, and some even growing into friendships. Marla Gamoran notes, “because most of our volunteers are between 60 and 80 years old, English B’Yachad creates a rare and powerful intergenerational bridge that strengthens confidence, perspective, and connection far beyond English fluency.”
And what is ahead for the English B’Yachad program? The focus for this year is on growth, quality and sustainability.
Program Growth & Reach
- Increase active mentor–participant matches by 10%.
- Strengthen new partnerships and identify additional Israeli collaborators. Quality & Impact
- Offer 2–3 mentor training sessions annually.
- Track measurable improvement in English confidence through program surveys.
- Monitor retention and participant satisfaction to ensure continued depth of relationship.
And up ahead, reaching into the next 3-5 year range, English B’Yachad is not stopping! Marla Gamoran said, “our long-term vision centers on scaling thoughtfully while preserving the personal nature of the program.”
Scale with Intention
- Double the number of participants served annually.
- Build consistent referral pipelines with Israeli universities and nonprofit organizations.
- Develop a scalable infrastructure that maintains the depth of the 1:1 mentoring relationship.
Deepen Impact
- Create a formal pathway model: English → Confidence → Academic & Career Advancement.
- Document longitudinal outcomes such as academic success and career mobility.
Strengthen the Organization
- Secure multi-year funding commitments.
Bridge Israel and the Diaspora
- Position English B’Yachad as a premier people-to-people bridge between North American Jewish retirees and emerging Israeli leaders.
- Expand visibility through impact stories and strategic partnerships.
Commenting on the state of Israel and diaspora relations today and the role that English B’Yachad can play in deepening this much-needed connection that seems to be strained today, Marla Gamoran said, “especially in recent years, strengthening meaningful connections between Israel and the Diaspora has taken on renewed importance. English B’Yachad does more than improve language skills. It builds confidence. It builds relationships. It builds connection. At its heart, the program reflects a simple but powerful idea: when people come together across continents — sharing language, experience, and care — both sides grow stronger.”
For more information, visit: http://www.skillvolunteerisrael.org
Marla Gamoran Executive Director Skilled Volunteers for Israel mgamoran@skillvolunteerisrael.org
