(live here) – The "Savala Haifa" project is much more than a pot of hot soup — it is a bridge of compassion, giving, and human warmth, connecting volunteers with the city's senior citizens. It is an exciting initiative founded by Eldad Bendatovich, in which generous residents cook hot meals for the elderly towards the end of the week, making sure they don't go hungry — neither in body nor in heart.
Bendatovich tells in an interview with "Hai Pe" how the idea was born: "I started the project five years ago. At the time, I had a few projects to help people — young guys who helped me distribute holiday vouchers to families. They wanted to do more, so I offered them a few ideas. From there it all unfolded, until we established this project and ran with it. It started in Haifa, and today we operate from Haifa to Dimona. The focus is on the elderly from the Jewish sector."
Irit Galili, 61, a Sabbath-keeper and dedicated activist, currently coordinates the city's activities. "We are already an organized and expanding group, with great potential to expand further — and it's all from the heart," she tells Haifa in an interview.
Cooked with love, delivered with a smile
Today, 15 volunteer cooks operate within the framework of "Sabala Haifa", each of whom prepares a kosher and thoughtful meal for an elderly man or woman at home - usually towards the end of the week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The meals are customized according to the requests of the elderly, whether it is chicken with polka and vegetables, vegetarian or even vegan dishes, according to the personal taste, health needs and dietary preferences of each individual.
"There is strict adherence to kosher, including separation of meat and milk," Galili emphasizes. "The cooking is done Wednesday through Friday, and the distribution is done on Friday. We also have about 15 volunteer movers who are responsible for the transportation — each of them coordinates in advance with the elderly and makes sure that everything is in order. The connection that is created with the elderly often becomes something much more than just delivery — it is a human, caring, and deep concern."
According to her, listening is a particularly important key in the work. "Eldad personally questions the elderly — asks about medical limitations, allergies, preferences. Over time, we also discover deeper needs — sometimes it's a feeling of loneliness, a need for conversation. It goes far beyond a meal."
"Just like cooking for my mom"
The personal connections that are made along the way are particularly moving. "I cook for an elderly vegetarian who loves fish and keeps kosher," says Galili. "I make him soups, vegetables — specially tailored for him. It's like I'm cooking for my mother, and that's how all cooking is — as if it's a dish that's served to my mother."
Volunteering in the project is flexible and does not require a permanent commitment. "We ask that each volunteer take part at least once a month, or volunteer when there is a shortage or distress. Everything is done in a good spirit, out of love and a sense of mission."
As of today, the project is working for nine seniors, but Galili emphasizes that the potential is much broader. "I contacted the municipality and the Department of Social Welfare, and asked them to help us map out additional seniors who need a hot meal. We also invite residents to contact us — if you know an elderly person who needs food, write to us. It's just important that it be genuine, and not exploitation — because unfortunately there have been such cases, and we have had to stop the service for them, and that's unpleasant."
According to her, one of the most exciting phenomena is seeing how an entire community is built from people who have never met face to face. "We are a group of volunteers who act out of giving. Many of us only know each other through WhatsApp, but the feeling is that of a family. It's a message of caring, mutual responsibility and simple human warmth."
I have the privilege of volunteering in this simple and important project.
It is a great privilege to do a favor and make sick elderly people who have no family or children happy. One such weekly meeting with them does them and us good for our hearts.
Only by spreading the light will we win.
An Irish woman simply triumphs over everything, even more so as a strong and powerful woman.
Good luck to everyone
Invited to join
I brought food to this stingy old Ashkenazi man who lives in a 15 million shekel villa in Yafa Nof... fraud.
A blessed project! Well done, my sister, Irit, and all the other volunteers.
We divided it up into a few. We stopped when they referred us to an "old man" who had previously rented his apartment to us.
The man has 7 apartments for rent in Haifa. And he really doesn't lack for anything. He lives in garbage by free choice.