Volunteer

Through volunteering our members meet one another and strengthen our congregation.  Opportunities to volunteer vary from sharing one’s talents on time-limited, specific tasks to assuming leadership positions of many types.  All are important.  All provide a connection to other congregants.  All provide a way to express one’s creativity and commitment to Judaism.  All are fun!

 

Below is a list of the various areas of temple life with volunteer opportunities.  Please contact our office manager, Phyllis Maffucci at phyllis@sholom.net or call the temple office 973-239-1321, to express your interest or learn more about an area.

 

Ad Book:  Help to sell ads, compile material and/or proofread an Event Ad Book.

 

Adult Education:  Participate in identifying the educational needs of our adult congregants and planning programs of interest to this group.

 

Brotherhood:  Become involved in the services this group provides such as breakfasts, socials, fund raising, outings, blood-bank drive, scholarships, High Holy Day and Sabbath ushering

 

Caring Connection:  Join a group of congregants who bring cheer and comfort to those who are hospitalized or ill at home.  Help to arrange social programs for adult congregants.

 

Chavurot:  Help to organize groups of interested congregants with similar interests into self-directed groups which meet regularly to pursue those interests.

 

Congregational Shabbat Dinners:  Organize or host one of several Shabbat dinners held during the year prior to Friday night services.

 

Fundraising:  Become involved with one of the events which raise funds to supplement revenue from Temple dues and the High Holy Day campaign.

 

High Holy Day Fundraising:  Become part of the group which ensures our High Holy Day campaign reaches all of our members.

 

House:  Contribute your expertise to determining the needs of our building and grounds and ensuring they are met.

 

Membership:  Help reach out to potential new members and/or to integrate them into the congregation after they join us.

Challah Haulers:  Deliver challah on occasion to a new member or family on a Friday for Shabbat.  A wonderful way to meet others and do a little good work for the temple.  Contact our Membership committee.

 

Be a Buddy:  Remember how you needed a buddy to go into the water at camp?  It can work on land as well and we are eager to create this concept for new members and families.  Volunteer to be a buddy to a new member.  Be the person they can turn to for all things Temple Sholom:  questions, car pools, attending services and events, religious school homework dilemmas, etc.  Meet new members with similar interests and delight in supporting a temple member in “maneuvering the waters.”  

 

Publicity:  Help us to become well known in the communities we serve by preparing and placing articles and/or calendar items in local and Jewish publications as well as on the internet.

 

Religious School:  Be part of the group that supports the congregation’s Religious School.

 

Ritual:  Collaborate with the clergy regarding worship, prayer, spiritual and Jewish holiday activities. Help make worship experiences accessible and meaningful to all congregants.

 

Sisterhood: Become involved in the many social and fundraising activities this group runs to support the congregation

 

Social Action:  Help to put Tikkun Olam into action through hands-on volunteering in the community, as well as by raising congregational awareness about social issues of major concern.

 

Ushers/Greeters:  For many years volunteer Ushers & Greeters at Temple Sholom of West Essex have played an important role on Friday Shabbat services, Saturday Bar/Bat Mitzvah servicse and especially during the High Holy Days services. In general role of a Temple Sholom’s Usher or Greeter is to greet congregants and guests, answer their questions and assist the clergy by maintaining the solemnity of the service.  Contact the Ritual Committee or the temple office for more information.

 

Youth:  Become involved with our programs for youth from K through 12^th grade.