GJ Prizes: Celebrating Collaboration. Sparking New Connections
Do you know of a collaboration happening between members of the Global Jewry network? Apply for yourself or nominate someone for GJ Prizes, an initiative from Global Jewry that celebrates cooperation and awards partnerships new and old. Visit https://globaljewry.org/prizes/ to submit your application today.
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TL;DR: OneDay began with a mission to make volunteering in Israel easy, inclusive, and meaningful, bringing together diverse groups for one-day service projects. Over time, it evolved into a movement for community resilience, training civilian rescue teams for crises like earthquakes or war. Now, OneDay is expanding through partnerships with organizations like Global Jewry with the aim of turning solidarity into a worldwide force for resilience, because emergencies don’t wait, and OneDay is always one step ahead.
When I founded OneDay in Israel, the vision was simple: to make volunteering accessible, joyful and meaningful for everyone. Too often, people want to help but don’t know where to start or feel that volunteering requires a long-term commitment. We set out to change that.
Today, One Day Tikun Olam runs hundreds of one-day volunteering experiences across dozens of cities in Israel, engaging thousands of young adults, companies and communities. Each activity brings together people from different walks of life; religious and secular, Jewish and minority communities, new immigrants and native Israelis, all working side by side to strengthen the fabric of our society.
Over time, our mission evolved from promoting social engagement to building community resilience. Living in Israel, we understand that solidarity and preparedness are inseparable. In 2024, we launched the OneDay Emergency Preparedness Program, which trains and equips volunteer rescue units across the country. Led by professionals from Israel’s Home Front Command and disaster-management experts, these civilian teams are prepared to respond to crises, from earthquakes to wartime emergencies, when every second counts.
What began as an initiative for local resilience is now growing into a vision for global Jewish cooperation: a network of trained community rescue teams capable of assisting one another in times of need. We believe this approach, blending volunteering, leadership, and preparedness, reflects the timeless value of Tikun Olam in a very practical way.
Joining Global Jewry feels like a natural step in that journey. We see this network as a space where connection meets action, where Jewish leaders and organizations can inspire, support, and strengthen one another. Through this partnership, we hope to share what we’ve learned in Israel about mobilizing communities, while learning from others who are doing remarkable work across the globe.
We are also eager to explore partnerships that can help us expand and truly build this international network of community-based rescue teams, connecting Jewish communities worldwide through action, resilience and mutual support.
In a world that often feels uncertain, community is the ultimate safety net. Together, through acts of service, empathy and shared responsibility, we can turn solidarity into a global force for resilience.
Emergencies don’t wait — luckily, we are OneDay ahead.
Shavua tov and may this be the week all of the fallen hostages return home,
Elad Blumental
Founder & CEO, OneDay
Have an achievement (e.g. publications, awards, appearances, etc) you would like highlighted in a future GJ Connections? Let us know by emailing sandy@globaljewry.org.
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