Strengthen Your Jewish Muscles – A Volunteer Initiative

Every time I walk into the synagogue kitchen, I wash whatever dishes, cups, or lunchboxes are left in the sink. I do it because I have a dream for this community.

We often say that Westminster Synagogue is a welcoming place. And it is. But I dream of something even greater—a community not only of welcome but of mutual service.

For me, washing those dishes is a sacred act. It is a spiritual exercise in caring for others without expecting anything in return. It stretches me, shapes me, and makes me a better person—a better Jew.

We recently read in the Torah: "Speak to the children of Israel and let them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart moves them, you shall take My offering." (Exodus 25:2)

The Torah teaches us that generosity isn’t about the size of the gift, but the heart behind it. A true offering is one given freely, out of love.

With this in mind, we are inviting you to stretch your Jewish muscles. Over the next few months, our team will offer simple ways for you to contribute to the daily life of our community. Small acts of generosity. A few moments of your time. Click here to volunteer.

Our goal? To have each member volunteering in small easy but meaningful ways at least twice a year.  To help, we’ve specifically chosen to do a focused push on six areas of service at various times of the week:

• Weekdays: Lending a Hand at Events
• Saturday Mornings: Volunteering on the Kiddush Rota
• Friday Evening/Saturday Mornings: Being on the Welcome Team
• Friday Evening/Saturday Mornings: Security
• Friday Evening/Saturday Mornings: Shabbat Zoom Tech
• Weekdays: Keep Kent House Shining

But of course if there is a different area you want to connect with, speak with me, one of our lay leaders or a member of staff and we'll be happy to discuss with you. There are lots of different opportunities all with varying degrees of time commitment.  

Now, you might be wondering: Why should I volunteer?

You pay membership fees. You come to synagogue to enjoy, to connect, to be nourished. Isn’t that enough?

Let me ask you this—do you have a gym membership? A tennis club? A yoga class?

If so, did you expect to get fit the moment the payment left your account? Did you become a great tennis player just by purchasing the membership and equipment? Of course not.

You know it takes effort. Stretching, sweating, bending, lifting. You know that’s how you grow stronger.

The same is true in Jewish life.

Paying synagogue dues, which is in itself an important part of keeping our community thriving, is simply the first step. Even showing up to services or events is only half the journey. True growth comes from engagement, effort, and involvement.

So, here’s my invitation: own your time with us. Sign up here for a small act of service. Stretch your Jewish muscles. And let’s build something beautiful—together.

Looking forward to seeing what we create.