WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AND CONNECT...

One of the benefits of participating in a relatively new congregation that isn’t very large yet is that “everybody knows your name.” At Ahavat Torah, you sense the sincere caring and community support each time you are at services or a class or a celebration event.

In this congregation, there is also a strong sense of volunteering and creativity. You will notice that at the pot-luck dairy buffet lunches in the social hall immediately after Shabbat services, people bring their favorite delicacies to share and they help clean up afterward with enthusiasm.

Each Saturday morning you will also notice that a large number of congregants bring one or more bottles of cooking oil to the social hall kitchen that is later delivered to SOVA for helping families (from all ethnicities) that need free food during these tough economic times.

You will also notice that at each Shabbat service there are volunteers who enjoy saying “Shabbat Shalom” and making sure everyone has a copy of our interactive, customized “Prayers of the Heart” and the easy-to-read Etz Hayim version of the Torah portions with updated interpretations.

In addition, there is a very active Bikkur Cholim committee that reaches out to those who are ailing or who are caring for a loved one.

Plus several committees of volunteers who help design classes, study groups, and fun gatherings, and who help design inspiring and effective social action/tikkun olam projects for the entire congregation.

Yes, we have a wonderful Rabbi and Cantorial Soloists who inspire us with their singing and teaching, but we are not a congregation that sits back in order to be “entertained.” Instead, you will notice that at each Shabbat service and High Holyday service there is an amazing amount of participation and passionate singing.

There are numerous talented people who help plan and add the beautiful touches to each of our gatherings. These is also a constant effort to include as many people as possible in getting close to the Torah, in chanting from the Torah, in speaking about the various ways of viewing and interpreting each Torah portion.

The motto of our congregation is “One Torah, One People, Many Teachers.” So whether you consider yourself liberal or conservative, religious or spiritual or skeptical, knowledgeable or new to Jewish study, hawkish or dovish, you will find that your ideas and opinions are encouraged and welcomed. We each learn a lot from one another, so please feel free to offer your insights and questions.

In addition, if you would like to volunteer to help out or to get to know people better through your volunteering, there are numerous opportunities:

--Whenever you see someone doing something interesting at a congregational event (the greeters, the participants in the Shabbat service, the co-leaders of various classes and celebration events, the organizers of the food and decorations, the phone teams and face-to-face visitors for those in need), feel free to ask them, “What person do I speak with to get more involved in this particular activity?”

--Watch the newsletter each week or listen to the announcements at the end of Shabbat services to find out which committees and which activities are meeting on this particular week. You can participate in any committee or any activity. You don’t need to be part of any clique or any special status to put in your ideas and your enthusiasm.

--Or if you have a good idea on how to add one more element of caring, connection, or spiritual depth to our growing congregation, please feel free to discuss it with any member of the Board of Directors (whose names are listed on the front page of the weekly newsletter) so that your ideas can be presented at an upcoming monthly board meeting.

In other words, please know that if you have ever felt isolated or left out in other communities, we hope that you will find a way to nourish your soul and share your gifts with this particular community, Ahavat Torah.