Importance of volunteering

GAYLYN YOUNG

On May 26, Congregation Har El recognized several people for their outstanding volunteer commitment. Each person was given an opportunity to speak about what led them to make such a great contribution to the synagogue. I was one of those recognized and, when I started to write my speech, my first thought was that I should say, “Thank you.” However, I realized that the evening was about saying thank you to us, and so, while I was grateful for the recognition, the better response was, “You’re welcome.... Most welcome.”

The volunteering I do is a lot of fun. The social committee is a ball, and I think the members of the committee have more fun planning and setting up events than at the events themselves. At the last ritual committee meeting, we had a guitar and singing. Not me singing ... Cantor Teron Shalom Cohen and others were singing. It wouldn’t have been so much fun for everyone if it had been me singing. But I don’t volunteer for the fun.

Being the editor of the Har El Star has been a fantastic creative outlet. Since I starting working on the Star, I’ve had two articles published in the Jewish Independent. I wouldn’t have written them without cutting my teeth on the Star. But I don’t volunteer for the creative outlet.

Volunteering is satisfying and adds something meaningful to my life. I’ve had calls and e-mails from people for whom I have knit shawls when they were recuperating from severe illness. It makes a difference for them and connects them back to Har El in their time of need. But I don’t volunteer to add meaning to my life.

I don’t volunteer because I feel guilty or bad about not being able to pay the full membership dues. I think people should pay what they can and they shouldn’t be required to volunteer to make up for the money they can’t pay. I don’t believe that people who donate a lot of money should receive a “get out of volunteering card” either. Or, if you happen to have a spouse who volunteers, that doesn’t let you get out of volunteering yourself. And, just for the record, I don’t believe people who volunteer a lot should receive a “get out of donating card” by volunteering. The bottom line is that I don’t volunteer as payment either.

I volunteer because it’s a mitzvah. A commandment. I have to volunteer.

We all do what we can with the resources we have. In terms of volunteering, you could tell your synagogue president that you travel a lot and can’t get around to being a volunteer, or the Hebrew school teachers that you have a small child and you’re just too tired to volunteer, or a committee chair that you have teens and they’re worse time thieves than toddlers and so you can’t volunteer, or one of the youth coordinators that you have kids and a job and a husband who’s away working a lot and there’s already too much for you to do.... You get the point. Sometimes, like with money, you have to dig deep to volunteer.

At the Har El recognition evening, we heard some wonderful stories of volunteer commitment being passed on l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation.

Michael Berger spoke about being inspired to volunteer by his parents, who were outstanding members of the Ottawa Jewish community. His mother, Ruth, was chair of a Soviet Jewry campaign and led successful protests for the Jews to be freed. His father, Gerald, was president of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and helped acquire and build the Jewish community campus. This campus now forms the foundation of the Ottawa Jewish community and includes a school, community centre and the nursing home where Michael’s grandmother lived until she recently passed away.

Larry Hack told us about how his father, Len, was deeply involved as a volunteer with the chevra kadisha and Durban United Hebrew Congregation. He also volunteered his time to work with the Jewish welfare organization for many years and Jewel House, a home for Jews who are physically challenged. Working alongside Larry’s father was his mother, Masha. For 20 years, she did weekly visits to Jewish patients in Durban hospitals. For the past 10 years, she, at 80 years old, is still volunteering every week at a local Durban elementary school, helping with reading and math.

I know that, while many of you reading this are committed volunteers already, some people will be feeling a little uncomfortable reading this – a little guilty that they aren’t fulfilling this mitzvah. Relax. It doesn’t have to be a lot.

How about letting your social committee chair know that, while you can’t be on the committee, she or he can take your name and call on you to help at an event. Or let your ritual committee chair know that, when the High Holy Days approach, you’d be happy to help with greeting or ushering for one of the days. Or call your executive director, office manager or rabbi and tell her/him that, if phones calls are needed, you’re available for an evening to help. And, of course, there’s always the Hebrew school – you don’t even have to have kids. There are also a lot of Jewish organizations in Vancouver where I’m sure you could lend a hand for a day or an evening.

There is a season for all things and maybe right now you don’t have a lot of time, but it all counts. To everyone who volunteers in whatever way he/she can – thank you.

Gaylyn Young is marketing and administrative coordinator for the Hebrew Free Loan Association, assistant editor of Canadian Human Rights Reporter and editor of the Har El Star newsletter.

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