VOLUNTEER AT TEMPLE EMANU-EL

"Imagine what could happen if everyone gave a little time." -Rabbi David Stern

Scroll through the listings below, or download a pdf of the Volunteer Quarterly brochure >

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

Current and Upcoming Opportunities

Annual Campaign Preparation
With a new Jewish year upon us, the Annual Campaign will kick off mid-October with the all-Temple mailing. We are looking for 3 to 4 volunteers to assist with stuffing letters on Monday, Oct. 10 and Tuesday, Oct. 11. Shifts will be 10 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Time commitment: 2 hours
Contact: Melissa Tone, at 214.706.0000, ext.122, or mtone @tedallas.org.

WRJ – Sisterhood:
Decorate the Temple Sukkah
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Nasher Atrium west of Tobian Auditorium. The joy of Sukkot becomes an even more meaningful experience when you join the Temple community in helping to create and decorate the Temple’s beautiful sukkah. Bring your family and friends.
Contact: Caroline Bernstein at cbbntx@tx.rr.com or 214.696.8776.

WRJ – Sisterhood Chanukah Bazaar
Thursday, Dec. 1, Friday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 4. Pollman Hall. Volunteer opportunities include making baked goods, setting up Thursday, breaking down Sunday; and on Friday and Sunday, selling merchandise, serving food, and helping with check-out!
Contact: Leah Beth Kolni at leahbkolni@gmail.com or 214-373-8434.

Chanukah Volunteers
Our congregational Chanukah Celebration will be held Friday evening, Dec. 23. Join in the fun by greeting, helping with arts and crafts, or manning the menorahs.
Time commitment: varies, minimum 1 hour Contact: Shelly Gammieri at
sgammieri@tedallas.org or 214.706.0024.

Keepers of the Light
Become a Shomrei Ha-Or, a guardian in the tradition of maintaining the oil in the Eternal Light in the Olan Sanctuary. Help us by participating in this special ritual, blessing and refilling the oil in the lamp. Time Commitment: 15 minutes every 6-8 weeks
Contact: Shelly Gammieri at sgammieri@tedallas.org or 214.706.0024.

Durable Medical Equipment Initiative
25,000 underprivileged people in Dallas need low cost or free wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, hospital beds, and nebulizers – durable medical equipment (DME) annually. Join Just Congregations as we work together to create a sustainable solution for Dallas.
Contact Rabbi Knight at
rabbiak@tedallas.org.

Just Congregations
Last year we heard that concerns over healthcare were widely felt within our congregation. Now it’s time to act on the issues. Join Just Congregations and work with us on solutions to Durable Medical Equipment, the challenges of eldercare and caregiving, and healthcare access, accessibility and affordability issues. For info please visit: www.tedallas.org/justcongregations.
Contact: Barbara Hyman at bshyman@sbcglobal.net or Rabbi Asher Knight at rabbiak@tedallas.org or 214.706.0026.

Heart House: After School program for children in Vickery Meadow
Heart House is a nonprofit that provides free after-school programs providing a safe haven and academic support to at-risk children. Join other Temple members by volunteering on Wednesdays during the school year for at least 1 hour
3:30- 6 p.m. at the Wildflower Apartments near Park Lane and Greenville. Volunteers will help teachers with lesson plans, provide homework help, read to students and assist with activities. No previous experience required. Flex schedules available.
Contact: Saralynn Busch, Saralynnbusch@sbcglobal.net or 214.361.9013 or Diana Coben Einstein at deinstein@tedallas.org or 214.706.0000.

Fun Saturdays at Jill Stone Elementary
Help provide a safe place for Jill Stone students to play, provide opportunities to help children with English and understand basic problem-solving skills through games & crafts, while providing an opportunity for TE families to interact with a diverse population while having fun. Volunteers should be able to interact with elementary school children. TE members are encouraged to volunteer as families with their own children beginning in the 2nd and 3rd grades. Great chance to earn Mitzvah or community service hrs!
Contact: Karen Naseck, ksn90@aol.com or Diana Coben Einstein at deinstein@tedallas.org or 214.706.0000.

PRESCHOOL

Religious School Carpool (when Religious School is in session)
Assist with carpool on Sunday mornings or Tuesday afternoons.
Time Commitment: One time or ongoing- Sunday mornings (11:30 – 12:20) and/or Tuesday or Thursday afternoons (5:15–5:30 and 6:25 – 6:40 pm)
Contact: Frank Rosenbloom at
frank@classicce.com

Religious School Noshery (when Religious School is in session)
7th & 8th grade students meet each Sunday for a nosh and socializing. 3rd - 6th grade students gather before class on Tuesday afternoons for snacks and socializing. We need volunteers to supervise while they hang out to ensure their safety and the cleanliness of the space as they leave.
Time Commitment: One time or ongoing, Sunday mornings (10 – 11:30 am) or Tuesdays (4 – 5:15 pm)
Contact: Steve Buchalter at sbuchalter@tedallas.org or 214.706.0000

Religious School (when Religious School is in session)
Religious School is looking for enthusiastic volunteers for Sunday mornings and/or weekday afternoons. Volunteering during and on behalf of the Religious School is a great way to help ensure the successful operation of the school.
Time Commitment: One time or ongoing commitment on Sunday mornings (9:00 am – 12:30 pm) or weekday afternoons
Contact: Jan Timmons in the Religious School Office at 214.706.0021 or jtimmons@tedallas.org

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES

Baking for Onegs
WRJ/Sisterhood provides the culinary know-how and shares the support with Brotherhood for all goodies served at Shabbat Onegs. Join the measuring-mixing-baking fun every Thursday morning in Tobian Kitchen!
Time commitment: approx. 2 hours per week
For times and to volunteer, please contact Minnette Klein at 214.360.9333 or gkmk2@aol.com.

Vickery Meadow
Food Pantry/Distribution
Temple Emanu-El has partnered with Vickery Meadow Neighborhood Alliance (VMNA). In this new effort, our food pantry will have one location in Vickery Meadow. We are committing to staff the VMNA Food Pantry. If you are physically active and have a few hours a month to volunteer, this might be the project for you.
Time commitment: 2-3 hours once a month Contact: Rose Watel at 214.363.0484 or romarfa@sbcglobal.net.

Temple Docents Program
WRJ/Sisterhood is proud of our beautiful Temple and provides tours by docents trained in the art and history of Temple Emanu-El. This program conducts tours for many area schools and churches.
Contact: Kathy Aferiat at 972.490.7007 to volunteer.

Challah Angels
If you like to bake, please join Challah Angels as an occasional baker to provide fresh challah for the bimah on Friday nights in the Olan Sanctuary or for blessing after the Saturday service in Lefkowitz Chapel. Bakers provide challah as scheduled. If you would like to learn how to bake challah to become a member of the group, call Jo-Sandra. She can easily be talked into lessons.
Contact: Jo-Sandra Greenberg at 972.814.0777 or josandra1@gmail.com.

Bereavement
Volunteers reaching out to members who have had a death in the family.
Contact: Peggy Paper at
ppapert@tedallas.org.

Careline
Volunteers answer the Temple after hours phone line for emergencies.
Contact: Madelyn Rosenbaum at maddyrose52@yahoo.com.

Judaic Treasures Gift Shop
Volunteers are needed at the Judaic Treasures Gift Shop. The shop provides the bulk of the money that WRJ/Sisterhood uses to fund TE projects. Time Commitment: min. 3 hrs/week during shop hours
Contact: Kay Schachter at 469.230.5195.

Babies & Booties
Celebrating the birth of a new baby is a joyous occasion. Caring Congregation volunteers knit adorable baby booties which are sent to our new parents. More knitters are needed to knit these sweet gifts of love.
Contact: Shelley Rosen at shelleyr@rosensystems.com.

Oneg Shabbat Hostesses
WRJ/Sisterhood co-sponsors the weekly oneg with Brotherhood. Volunteers are needed to serve coffee, tea and punch by calling Doris Waterman at 214.361.8330 You can also join the weekly bakers on Thursday mornings by calling Minnette Klein at 214.360.9333

Birthday Cards
“Happy Birthday to you!” Volunteers send more than 1,000 personalized birthday cards to members age 70 and up each year.
Hours: varies
Contact: Jeanne Miller at bandjrm@hotmail.com

Kosher Meal Delivery
TE Brotherhood Volunteers have been delivering Kosher Home Delivered Meals to needy recipients for many years. The meals are certified Kosher and are distributed under the auspices of Jewish Family Service. The Brotherhood would like to develop a list of people who can be called on to aid in this project. If you would like to help, please contact Ito Perl at 972.239.9563 or ip1333@live.com. Your commitment involves driving a route and delivering meals as often as one time per quarter. The time commitment is 1 to 3 hours depending on the route and number of recipients. Meals are picked up at Jewish Family Service.

Meals on Wheels for VNA
Continue the connection between Temple Emanu-El and the Visiting Nurses Association. Deliver meals to homebound seniors and the disabled. Pick up meals at one of four locations: Northway Christian Church on Northwest Highway, Spring Valley UMC at Spring Valley and Coit Road, White Rock UMC near the Arboretum, and in Bachman Lake area near NW Hwy and Webb Chapel.Time Commitment: One hour once a month (multiple days appreciated). Deliveries are Mon- Fri and must be picked up and delivered between 9:30 a.m.-1p.m. Contact: Joseph Pinson at 214-821-8243

Mitzvah Cooking Program
Tobian Kitchen is the place to be at 6 am for a very tasty mitzvah as 10-12 volunteers, through Brotherhood, prepare about 3,000 meals for residents of Jonathan’s Place, Chai House and Bryan’s Place. If we didn’t cook these meals, the homes would have to raise funds to buy food and hire people to cook. Our efforts allow them to focus resources on helping people in need.
Time commitment: 6-8:30 a.m., usually the 1st Sunday of each month
Contact: Stephen Shore at sshore@tebrotherhood.org.

Caring Calls
“How can I help you?” Volunteers make calls to personally invite members to services of healing and as other needs arise.
Time commitment: varies
Contact: Cyndi Heller at cyndi.heller@nccmedia.com.

Caring Companions
Caring Companions is a project of Caring Congregation that matches congregants with our members who are either in nursing facilities or homebound. Compassion, patience and listening skills required. Good for Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and their families.
Contact: Bernie Maslow, 214.794.8918 or Peggy Papert at ppapert@tedallas.org.

Hospital Visits
We’re here for you. Visit our congregants in the hospital.
Time commitment: Once/week or 1-2 times/month
Contact: Alan Harris at alanharris100@hotmail.com

Mitzvah Meals
“Jewish penicillin” is always the best medicine. Deliver meals to those that are just out of the hospital or who have recently lost a loved one.
Time commitment: 1-3 hrs/mo or less Contact: Maloree Banks at
Maloree@banksfineart.com or Gilian Baron glbaron@swbell.net.

Senior Center Havdalah
Help lead a Havdalah service at a nursing facility. CD and service are provided. No experience is necessary. Perfect for families of all ages including Bar and Bat Mitzvah students.
Time Commitment: Once or twice/month or every other month
Contact: Ruth Klein at ruthbklein@sbcglobal.net

Torah Reader
Add to our Shabbat service by reading a portion of the weekly Parasha in Lefkowitz Chapel on Saturday mornings.
Contact: Shirley Fisher at 972.239.1659 or sfisher954@tx.rr.com.

First Sundays at The Bridge:
In memory of Rabbi Gerald Klein
Join members of the Temple Emanu-El Team at “The Bridge” - Dallas’ new homeless center on the first Sunday of each month when the team serves approximately 800 dinners to homeless men and women.
Time Commitment: First Sunday of each month, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Contact: Nancy Lubar at 214.363.0074 or nlubar@sbcglobal.net.

Help a Bare Apartment Become a Happy Home
Help “decorate” homes for women and children who have graduated from The Bridge (Dallas Homeless Center) into their own apartments- a perfect opportunity for families and friends to volunteer together! Collect needed items such as lamps, pictures, kitchen utensils, toys, books, knickknacks, etc and then furnish an apartment with these items for those making a new start.
Contact: Nancy Lubar at 214.363.0074 or nlubar@sbcglobal.net

Not sure where to start? Contact Linda Kahalnik, Membership Services Director at 214.706.0000 ext.139 or lkahalnik@tedallas.org. We can help you find a volunteer opportunity that is just right for you or your family.