People-to-People Community Service: Shalom Corps and Mitzvah Makers

GOODNESS GOES GLOBAL

This past May the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara was delighted to announce a year-long partnership with Shalom Corps. Established by Mosaic United, a collaborative program of the Government of Israel, the Ministry of the Diaspora, and the Jewish Agency for Israel, Shalom Corps is a global Jewish volunteering movement with a deep commitment to carrying out Jewish values.

Sharing a belief with the Jewish Federation that volunteer service advances social responsibility and deepens intercultural understanding, Shalom Corps is dedicated to promoting impactful people-to-people community service, aspiring to become the Jewish “Peace Corps.”

To advance the goals of Shalom Corps, Federation launched its very own community volunteer program—Mitzvah Makers. This fun new program promotes building a vibrant Jewish community through meaningful activities and quality family time, giving participants the opportunity to learn about Jewish values and practice them together.

As part of our partnership with Shalom Corps, Jewish Federation committed to signing up 140 volunteers to work on a variety of projects and activities. Volunteers are asked to commit to 60 hours for the year (roughly one hour per week) and there is still time to sign up. VOLUNTEER

SERVICE

ADVANCES

SOCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY

AND DEEPENS

INTER-CULTURAL

UNDERSTANDING

FAQS

Who can become a Mitzvah Maker?

Anyone who wants to gain Jewish knowledge and perform good deeds! The program is open to Jewish community members of all ages. We offer projects suitable for young adults, seniors, teens, empty-nesters, singles, couples, and families.

A family will count as one volunteer unit and we offer a variety of projects that family members can work on together. This is great for parents of young children who are looking for meaningful activities that will complement their Jewish upbringing. Projects focus on Jewish values including Jewish learning, celebration of holidays, and other Jewish traditions.

What counts towards the volunteer hours?

Community Volunteer Projects

• Hours worked on community volunteer projects such as Schmooze Room and Schmooze-in-a-

Box preparation, distribution and deliveries, challah deliveries, computer training and assistance, and board/committee participation.

Jewish Value: Kehila (Community)

• “Jewish Service Learning Time” spent on classes such as “Introduction to Judaism” taught by

Rabbi Debi Lewis, viewing the entertaining educational videos that we send to volunteers, completing worksheets, reading Jewish-themed books (e.g., PJ Library,) attending special Zoom sessions, and even some of the Bronfman Family

Jewish Community Center’s general programs. Independent Activities

We provide lists of Jewish values and suggestions for activities that can be done alone or as a family. Many of them are activities you already perform which may include:

• Bake a challah and drop it off at a neighbor’s house to honor the Jewish value of community: Kehila • Plant a garden to honor the Jewish value to protect nature: Sh’mirat Ha-teva • Keep our world safe, reuse and recycle to honor the Jewish value of do not destroy: Ba’al Tashchit • Walk or feed the dog to honor the Jewish value to protect animals: Tza’ar Ba’alei

Chayim and responsibility: Achrayut

Follow Mendy the Mitzvah Monkey and the rest of our amazing local Mitzvah Makers as we repair the world!

Visit jewishsantabarbara.org/ volunteer/mitzvah-makers for more information.