Jewish Volunteer Opportunities: A Guide to Tikkun Olam in Action

From Value to Action

Judaism does not distinguish between faith and action. The Hebrew word mitzvah means both “commandment” and, colloquially, “a good deed.” The concept of tikkun olam (“repairing the world”) has become a central organizing principle for Jewish communal engagement. And the tradition of chesed (loving-kindness) — one of the pillars upon which the world stands, according to Pirkei Avot — demands that compassion be expressed through tangible acts.

Volunteering is where these values become real. This guide surveys the landscape of Jewish volunteer opportunities, helping you find the right fit for your interests, skills, and availability.

Hunger and Food Security

Feeding the Hungry

The Talmud (Bava Batra 9a) teaches that providing food to the hungry is among the highest forms of tzedakah. Jewish organizations addressing food insecurity include:

• Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger: Advocates for policies to end hunger in the United States and Israel. Opportunities include advocacy campaigns and policy education.
• Tomchei Shabbos / Shabbat food programs: Local organizations (often synagogue-based) that deliver Shabbat food packages to families in need. Volunteers pack and deliver boxes weekly.
• Jewish community food pantries: Many Jewish Federations and JCCs operate food pantries that serve all community members, regardless of religion. Volunteers sort, stock, and distribute food.
• Leket Israel: Israel’s national food rescue organization. Volunteer opportunities include gleaning fields, packing rescued produce, and supporting distribution centers.

Elderly Care and Companionship

Honoring the Aged

The commandment to “rise before the aged and honor the face of the elder” (Leviticus 19:32) is a foundational Jewish value. Volunteer opportunities include:

• Bikur cholim (visiting the sick): Visiting elderly, homebound, or hospitalized community members. Many synagogues have bikur cholim committees that coordinate visits and provide meals.
• Dorot: An organization connecting volunteers with isolated elderly people through phone calls, visits, and package deliveries.
• Jewish senior care facilities: Assisted living and nursing homes with Jewish programming welcome volunteers to lead activities, read to residents, celebrate holidays, and provide companionship.
• Meals on Wheels (through JCCs): Delivering meals to homebound seniors, often including kosher and culturally appropriate food.

Education and Youth

Investing in the Future

• Tutoring and mentoring: Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters programs pair adult volunteers with young people for mentoring relationships. Many Hebrew schools seek volunteer tutors and classroom assistants.
• PJ Library: The Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s program distributing Jewish children’s books. Volunteers assist with book distribution, community events, and reading programs.
• Camp counselors: Jewish summer camps (Ramah, URJ, NCSY, Young Judaea, and others) depend on volunteer and paid counselor staff. Serving as a camp counselor is one of the most impactful Jewish volunteer experiences available.
• Holocaust education: Organizations like the USC Shoah Foundation seek volunteers to help with testimony cataloging, community screenings, and educational programming.

Social Justice and Advocacy

Pursuing Justice

“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20) is the rallying verse for Jewish social justice work.

• AVODAH: A Jewish service corps placing young adults in anti-poverty organizations across the United States for a year of full-time service, combined with Jewish learning and community.
• Repair the World: Mobilizes Jewish young adults for community service, offering volunteer days, service learning, and fellowship programs.
• Religious Action Center (RAC): The Reform movement’s advocacy arm, organizing legislative action on civil rights, immigration, environmental, and economic justice issues.
• HIAS: Originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, now a global refugee assistance organization. Volunteer opportunities include refugee resettlement support, ESL tutoring, and community welcome programs.
• American Jewish World Service (AJWS): Supports human rights and development projects globally. Volunteer trips and advocacy campaigns are available.

Environment

Caring for Creation

• Hazon: The Jewish lab for sustainability, offering environmental education, food justice programs, and the annual Jewish food conference. Volunteer opportunities include community gardens, composting programs, and sustainability education.
• Jewish National Fund (JNF): Volunteer programs in Israel focused on forestation, water conservation, and land development.
• Teva: Outdoor Jewish environmental education programs for school groups and families. Volunteer facilitators lead nature-based Jewish learning experiences.

Israel-Related Volunteering

• Sar-El: A volunteer program placing participants on Israeli military bases for civilian support work (logistics, maintenance, packing).
• Magen David Adom: Israel’s emergency medical service accepts international volunteers for ambulance service, first aid, and blood bank support.
• Kibbutz volunteering: Some kibbutzim still welcome short-term volunteers who work alongside community members in agriculture, hospitality, or education.
• Archaeological digs: Universities and organizations offer volunteer positions on archaeological excavations throughout Israel.

Getting Started

Finding Your Fit

Consider:

• Time: Can you commit weekly, monthly, or for a one-time event? Some organizations need regular volunteers; others have drop-in opportunities.
• Skills: Do you have professional skills (legal, medical, financial, teaching) that could serve a specific need? Skills-based volunteering maximizes impact.
• Interests: Are you drawn to direct service (cooking, visiting, tutoring) or systemic change (advocacy, policy, organizing)?
• Location: What organizations and opportunities exist in your community? Start with your synagogue, JCC, or local Federation.

Start Small

You do not need to join a formal organization to begin. Visit a homebound neighbor. Volunteer at a community Shabbat dinner for isolated individuals. Pack food boxes at a local pantry. Sort clothing at a community thrift store. Small, consistent acts of chesed have enormous cumulative impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does volunteering fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah? Volunteering fulfills the broader mitzvah of chesed (loving-kindness) and gemilut chasadim (acts of kindness). Tzedakah specifically refers to financial giving. The Talmud considers acts of kindness greater than tzedakah in some respects, because they can be done with one’s body (not just money), for rich and poor alike, and for the living and the dead (as in chevra kadisha work).

Can my bar or bat mitzvah child do a volunteer project? Yes, and it has become a meaningful tradition. Many b’nei mitzvah choose a tzedakah or chesed project as part of their preparation — volunteering at a food bank, collecting supplies for a cause, or raising funds for an organization they care about. This connects the milestone to real-world impact.

How do I find Jewish volunteer opportunities near me? Start with your local Jewish Federation, JCC, or synagogue. Websites like werepair.org (Repair the World), volunteermatch.org, and your local Jewish community calendar list opportunities. Chabad houses often coordinate chesed projects in their neighborhoods.