By Magna Elmendorf, Jewish LearningWorks’ Director of Operations
Last week the Jewish LearningWorks team spent the afternoon volunteering at the Alameda County Food Bank (ACFB). Our CEO, Dana Sheanin, is a new board member for the ACFB and when she suggested the activity, we were all excited at the prospect. Last year we visited the botanic gardens at Filoli, which provided a stunning backdrop for what was a lovely and zen experience. This year we all seemed to have the sense that volunteering would give our souls much needed nourishment, and the experience at the ACFB provided exactly that.
Judaism teaches that helping others is not just an act of kindness but a moral responsibility. When you volunteer, whether it’s at a food bank, a shelter or other charitable causes, you are actively participating in tikkun olam (working to improve the world). You’re extending compassion and care to those who need it most — promoting the Jewish value of kehillah (building and supporting community) which fosters a sense of unity and shared responsibility.
Our team was given the responsibility of bagging a pallet of carrots. I was at a table with three Jewish LearningWorks staff members, all willing volunteers, and a stranger who was there to complete a community service requirement. It didn’t seem to matter why we were called to volunteer, we worked harmoniously as a team. We learned that our new teammate has a special needs child and that she and her partner got a dog to help soothe the child when she’s struggling. We learned that she works the overnight shift at Tesla and that she had never actually met a group of Jewish people before. We filled the time bagging carrots with conversation, listening to the oldies that were being played, and experiencing the joy of laughing with a stranger (“laughing with a stranger” was a phrase my colleague Liora Brosbe used to describe her experience).
Volunteering is a way to live out the commitment to social justice, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, is treated with dignity and care. The fulfillment that comes from this type of service is profound, as it connects you not only to the people you are helping but also to the broader mission of bringing light and healing into the world.
Here’s to laughing with a stranger!
