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Our volunteers are our lifeblood. Everything we do as a
congregation requires support from our volunteers and we very much appreciate
the small core of regulars that support every function.
However, we are now running at capacity and for 2010 we are actively
seeking even greater participation from our members and supporters to ensure we
can continue to provide the increasing level of support demanded by our
community.
Please click on a link below to find out more information on the volunteer
roles available in Brisbane Progressive Jewish Congregation. Even if you can fulfil
one task once a year, you will be helping to share the load.
To find out more or to offer your assistance, please contact our Secretary
or the designated contact.
This page was last updated 5 August 2010
Brisbane Progressive Jewish Congregation
volunteer opportunities
Details of Jobs
|
Chevra
Kadisha
|
| The job: |
Say
prayers, recite psalms, prepare the body for burial (bathe and
dress it according to ritual practice) |
| Why it is
important: |
Jewish
burial rituals require it. |
| Time
commitment: |
about
1.5 hours, upon notification of a death |
| Number of
people required: |
4-6
each time
This is a good job for adults.
|
| Skills
needed: |
physical
strength/stamina |
| Training (if
needed) will take place: |
Through
the Chevra Kadisha |
| What’s in
it for you? |
it’s a mitzvah
feel connected to the past and present |
| Contact: |
Secretary |
|
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Cheder
Assistant
|
| The job: |
support
classroom activities as needed, help families feel connected |
| Why it is
important: |
to
enrich the Cheder learning experience |
| Time
commitment: |
up
to 2 hours twice per month |
| Number of
people required: |
1-2
This is a good project/job for adults.
|
| Skills
needed: |
communication |
| Training
(if needed) will take place: |
on
the job (you will need a Blue
Card) |
| What’s
in it for you? |
you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community
you’ll enrich your child/ren’s Cheder experience
you’ll meet new people
fun events (if you plan them)
family time |
| Contact: |
Cheder
Director |
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|
Read
for Torah Services
|
| The job: |
Read
Torah for Shabbat and holiday services |
| Why it is
important: |
because
participation on the Bimah gives qualified congregants an
opportunity to learn and practice and enhance their synagogue
skills and play an active role in the ritual life of the
congregation |
| Time
commitment: |
Initial
preparation can take a few hours. Opportunities are available
up to twice per month. |
| Number of
people required: |
1
at a time |
| Skills
needed: |
Hebrew
language
trope (of your choice from recognised tropes)
chanting |
| Training
(if needed) will take place: |
Tutors
are available |
| What’s
in it for you? |
you’ll meet new people
you’ll learn a new skill
you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community
you’ll feel connected to the ritual and spiritual life
of the congregation
you’ll practice and enhance your synagogue skills |
| Contact: |
Service
Coordinator |
|
|
| The
job: |
Support service leaders |
| Why
it is
important:
|
to ensure our customs are observed and
that people participating in the service understand
what is expected of them. |
| Time
commitment: |
15 minutes prior to the service plus 2
hours for the service (Shabbat service) |
| Number
of people required: |
1 |
| Skills
needed: |
Obtain agreement of service leader and
approach volunteers for service honours – special
prayers, aliyot, Haftarah, hakafa (open Ark / parade
Torah), hagba’a (raise Torah), gelilah (roll and
dress Torah).
Call up aliyot (preferably in Hebrew)
Assist Leader / Torah reader during Torah service as
required (e.g. holding etz chayyim (scroll handle),
following in Chumash etc). |
| Training
(if needed) will take place: |
on the job |
| What’s
in it for you? |
It's a Mitzvah
Feel connected to the BPJC community
Improve your understanding of our rituals and
customs |
| Contact: |
Rituals
Committee |
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|
Festivals
Coordinator
|
| The
job: |
plan
and oversee all the tasks related to a single
Festival (e.g.. Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah,
Purim Megilla reading, Pesach, or Shavuot) |
| Why
it is
important: |
to
make sure things run smoothly |
| Time
commitment: |
Depends
on the festival / event |
| Number
of people required: |
1-2
(job can be shared)
This is a good project/job for adults. |
| Skills
needed: |
knowledge
of the festival and its rituals
ability to think creatively about ways to observe
the festival
people and organisational skills
|
| Training
(if needed) will take place: |
on
the job
mentor present |
| What’s
in it for you? |
you’ll meet new people
yummy food
it’s a mitzvah
you’ll learn a new skill
you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community |
| Contact: |
Social
Director |
|
Top
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|
|
Functions Set up and Breakdown
|
| The job: |
Help
to set up and pack up (breakdown) rented facilities for
functions |
| Why it is
important: |
so
the right atmosphere can be created in a temporary space |
| Time
commitment: |
about
1 hour immediately prior to and 1 hour immediately after the
function |
| Number of
people required: |
at
least 3
This is a good project/job for a family with older children |
| Skills
needed: |
physical
strength/stamina
ability to follow directions |
| Training
(if needed) will take place: |
On
the job |
| What’s
in it for you? |
it’s a mitzvah
family time
you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community
a little exercise |
| Contact: |
Social Director
|
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|
Historian
|
| The job: |
Document and organise our congregational history |
| Why it is
important: |
to ensure we have an enduring record of our
people and our achievements |
| Time
commitment: |
Ongoing. |
| Number of
people required: |
1 or 2 |
| Skills
needed: |
Ability to organise electronic files, including
documents and photos |
| Training
(if needed) will take place: |
on the job |
| What’s
in it for you? |
It's a Mitzvah
Be closely connected to the BPJC community
Play an important role in our history |
| Contact: |
President |
|
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|
Kabbalat Shabbat Helper
|
| The job: |
Help
to set up and pack up Kabbalat Shabbat services |
| Why it is
important: |
We
can't
conduct a service without chairs and kiddush |
| Time
commitment: |
About
1 hour before and 1 hour after the service |
| Number of
people required: |
2
(with more people, it will take less time)
This is a good project/job for a family with children in
high school
|
| Skills
needed: |
physical
strength/stamina
ability to follow directions |
| Training
(if needed) will take place: |
On
the job |
| What’s
in it for you? |
it’s a mitzvah
family time
you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community
play an important part in the celebration
shmooze time if you bring family, friends to help |
| Contact: |
Secretary |
|
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|
Kabbalat
Shabbat Supplies Shlepper
|
| The job: |
Transport
supplies from Coorparoo to Fig Tree Pocket and back |
| Why it is
important: |
so
siddurim, kiddush supplies and paper goods are available |
| Time
commitment: |
less
than 1 hour, up to five times per year |
| Number of
people required: |
1 |
| Skills
needed: |
physical
strength
access to a car
ability to collect supplies from Coorparoo at the previous
Shabbat service, deliver them to Fig Tree Pocket up to one
hour prior to the service, and return them to Coorparoo for the
next Shabbat service. |
| Training (if
needed) will take place: |
Via
written instructions |
| What’s in
it for you? |
it’s a mitzvah
yummy food, assuming you stay for dinner
you’ll feel connected to the BPJC community |
| Contact: |
Secretary |
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Kiddush
Set-up and Breakdown
|
| The job: |
set
up and take down a simple kiddush |
| Why it is
important: |
for
blessings after Shabbat services and for fellowship |
| Time
commitment: |
twice
per month. one hour each time. |
| Number of
people required: |
2
This is definitely a good job for a family with children ages 6
and up. |
| Skills
needed: |
none |
| Training (if
needed) will take place: |
on
the job - Saturday mornings
with a mentor |
| What’s in
it for you? |
it’s a mitzvah
meet new people
Eat delicious food
spend time with family
feel connected to the BPJC community |
| Contact: |
Secretary
|
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|
Lay Leader
|
| The job: |
Assist in
the Leading of a Shabbat service |
| Why it is
important: |
Because
Shabbat services are one of the most important activities we do
at BPJC |
| Time
commitment: |
2 hours for
the service (plus preparation) |
| Number of
people required: |
1 (but a lot
easier with at least two) |
| Skills
needed: |
Prepare for
service, identify correct Parashat and Haftarah, develop a
drasha (or arrange another person to develop a drasha), arrange
any pre-service volunteers necessary (e.g. Torah translation,
Haftarah reading etc). Identify any special prayers e.g. prayer
for Rosh Chodesh, prayer for the sick etc.
Lead service (with assistant or chazzan, as required).
Read from Torah (or arrange for another person to do this).
Present drasha (or have volunteer present it).
Lead or nominate a person to lead the Kiddush. |
| Training (if
needed) will take place: |
Tutoring and
mentors are available |
| What’s in
it for you? |
it's a
Mitzvah
feel connected to the BPJC community
improve your understanding of the rituals |
| Contact: |
Rituals
Committee |
|
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|
Organise
Library Collection
|
| The job: |
Catalogue
our collection so that members can easily borrow resources |
|
| Why it is
important: |
because
we have some interesting resources to share |
|
| Time
commitment: |
on-going |
|
| Number of
people required: |
1
This is a good project/job for an adult. |
|
| Skills
needed: |
Clerical
skills to establish and maintain a database of resources |
|
| Training (if
needed) will take place: |
on
the job |
|
| What’s in
it for you? |
it’s
a mitzvah you’ll get to know the BPJC library collection |
|
| Contact: |
President |
|
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|
Shammash |
|
|
| The job: |
Bring the service together |
| Why it is
important: |
Because there is a lot of coordination required to
conduct a smooth service. |
| Time
commitment: |
about 3 hours (45 minutes to set up, 2 hours for
the service, and 15 minutes to pack up) |
| Number of
people required: |
at least 1 but better to have more for set up and
pack up |
| Skills
needed: |
Open the shul / hall.
Set out benches, tables and chairs.
Lay out siddurim, papers and tzedakah box / kipot.
Greet / welcome arrivals.
Assist the leader, as required.
Return / pack away at conclusion of Service and Kiddush
(except for Cheder furniture).
Collect tzedakah from box and give to Treasurer. |
| Training (if
needed) will take place: |
on the job |
| What’s in
it for you? |
It's a Mitzvah
Feel connected to the BPJC community
Get to know our congregants and visitors |
| Contact: |
President |
|
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