Hashomer HaChadash is leading a new Zionist revolution

This summer, the organization is leading a series of programs and projects to support Israeli society. Zilberman, 40, is married to Tal, a doctor, and is a father of five. He was called up to the Home Front Command’s mobility division, which he commands.

“There were times, like in Bat Yam, when I was at a demolition site in my army role, and at the same time, in my civilian capacity as CEO of Hashomer HaChadash, I was overseeing patrols and security to prevent looting of property left behind by evacuees,” he recounts after 12 straight days of working around the clock, splitting his time between army duty and managing the organization he co-founded 17 years ago with partner On Rifman, now the group’s vice president of Education.

Alongside the military’s actions beyond enemy lines, civil society organizations are taking innovative to support Israeli citizens. Zilberman continues to lead Hashomer HaChadash in large-scale volunteer efforts, making it the country’s largest volunteer organization today. Since October 7, the organization has mobilized 400,000 volunteers.

This civic-Zionist activity connects people to land and nation. The organization is now launching new community initiatives along Israel’s borders, while also leading extensive aid and volunteer efforts in affected areas. Much of this work is driven by youth from across the country who study at the organization’s agricultural schools, Adam VeAdama (Man and Land), and through its rapidly growing youth movement, HaTnuah HaChadasha (The New Movement).

In the early hours of the war, hundreds of the organization’s volunteers were sent to key locations. In Bnei Brak, where residential buildings were damaged, Hashomer HaChadash worked with the Lev Echad (One Heart) organization to recover personal belongings and stabilize damaged structures. In Bat Yam, where residents had to evacuate their homes, volunteers patrolled and guarded against looting.

At the same time, the organization shifted its focus to the agricultural crisis. With many farmers drafted and other barred from their land, Zilberman’s team sent dozens of pre-army academy students back to the fields to protect and recover the crops. These young people, enrolled in Hashomer HaChadash’s agricultural schools are now helping vineyards in the Galilee and farms in the Golan Heights.

“In these difficult days, our volunteers are living out that commitment: protecting homes, supporting farmers, and standing firm in the face of adversity. More than ever, we must unite in responsibility and purpose.

“We are proud to lead a generation that recognizes service to the land as the way to secure Israel’s future. Now is the time to invest in youth; they are the driving force that will lead Israel in the coming decades. This is a wise investment in our collective security, economy, and society,” says Zilberman.

Alongside its emergency response efforts, Zilberman has outlined a clear strategic plan for Hashomer HaChadash: strengthening communities along Israel’s borders.

In recent years, he established community hubs in Arad and other regions, and now the organization is launching a new initiative to develop communities in Shtula in the Western Galilee and in the Jordan Valley. This effort is being carried out in partnership with local authorities in the Golan, Upper Galilee, Ma’ale Yosef, Jordan Valley, Megilot, and Central Arava regions.

“This is about reinforcing sovereignty and agriculture at a critical moment,” Zilberman explains. “Choosing to live and raise families on the borders is a powerful Zionist statement. Border communities will economically revitalize these areas, strengthen Israel’s food independence, and even allow Israel to become a food supplier for neighboring countries in the Middle East,” says Zilberman.

“We aim to establish new communities, reinforce existing ones, and provide every family who wishes to join with the tools to succeed. Mitzpe Yonatan in Arad, which we established with the city’s support, is a model of success, and we’re moving forward from there.”