Who volunteers? The hidden network sustaining our community

For many people, everyday life depends on the care of others, for physical essentials, including food and for emotional needs like companionship. Much of this work is unpaid and taken for granted, although society and the economy depend on it. 

Volunteering has always been essential to Jewish life, but there is often little understanding of who provides this care or what it takes to sustain it. 

While volunteers are not paid, their commitment becomes like a job. They receive training, must commit to shifts and follow organisational protocols. Those who run volunteer programs often carry the load of human resources managers in large organisations.  

“I think people totally underestimate what it means to actually volunteer in any capacity,” says Lesley Ber, Vice President of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Victoria. “It’s a huge commitment that comes with responsibility.” 

Rabbi Allison Conyer, Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Israel (TBI), says volunteering is both an act of giving and a communal responsibility, but it is not just one way. People contribute money, skills or time, and gain the satisfaction of connection.  

“The more people volunteer, the more connected they feel to the community. The more they feel connected, the more they feel valued,” she says.  

NCJW Victoria President Anna Serry describes Jewish values such as tikkun olam, the responsibility to repair the world, as a powerful motivation for volunteers, alongside belonging and collective responsibility. 

She says being part of the organisation provides a place of connection and belonging, supporting women’s social and emotional wellbeing through life’s transitions and creating opportunities for community through shared experiences and events.