Volunteerism and service are cornerstones of Jewish life and enduring expressions of our deepest values. We are commanded to pursue justice and taught that “the world rests on three pillars: Torah, Avodah (service), and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness)” (Pirkei Avot 1:2). These principles have guided Jewish communities for centuries and continue to shape our engagement with the world around us. As we recently commemorated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is an ideal time to reflect on the vital role service plays in strengthening communities and repairing the world.
For generations, Jewish leaders and community members have found meaningful ways to serve, making volunteerism a powerful force for communal care and civic engagement. Rooted in the values of tzedek (justice), chesed (loving kindness), and tikkun olam (repairing the world), Jewish tradition teaches that caring for others is not optional, but a sacred responsibility and that spiritual life must be measured not by words alone, but by how we treat the most vulnerable among us.
A Shared Vision of Justice and Service
These ideals resonate powerfully with the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At the heart of his vision was the beloved community–a society rooted in justice, compassion, and mutual responsibility. This vision aligns closely with tikkun olam, the Jewish mandate to repair what is broken in the world. For Dr. King, service was inseparable from faith and moral responsibility.
This shared commitment to justice was embodied in Dr. King’s profound partnership with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. When Rabbi Heschel marched alongside Dr. King from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, he famously reflected, “I felt my legs were praying.” His words remind us that service to others is not merely action–it is a form of prayer itself. Like prayer, service transforms both the giver and the receiver, affirming the belief–shared by both traditions that human dignity is non-negotiable.
Service in Action at JFCS
At Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS), this sacred tradition of service comes alive every day through our volunteers the heart of our agency and the fabric of our community. Students, parents, professionals, retirees, and veterans share their time and talents to ensure that no one faces life’s challenges alone. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, more than 200 volunteers contributed an extraordinary 16,036 hours of service, valued at $592,855.
Yet these numbers tell only part of the story. The true impact of JFCS volunteers can be seen in the shelves stocked at the Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantry; the holiday meals delivered to Holocaust Survivors and homebound seniors; the support provided to survivors of domestic abuse through Project SARAH; and the companionship offered to seniors and veterans attending critical medical appointments. Through their dedication, our volunteers transform compassion into tangible care and affirm the dignity of every individual they serve.
The Gift of Giving
Volunteerism benefits not only those who receive support, but those who give it as well. Research consistently shows that volunteering improves physical and mental health, reduces stress, combats depression, and fosters a strong sense of purpose. A study from Carnegie Mellon University found that older adults who volunteer at least 200 hours per year reduce their risk of hypertension by 40 percent. Many volunteers describe a “happiness effect,” discovering that the more they give, the more fulfilled they feel. Time and again, we hear that volunteering gives as much as it receives. An Invitation to Serve
As we reflect on Dr. King’s enduring call to service, we are invited to broaden our understanding of personal growth. What if success were measured not only by individual achievements, but by the lives we touch and the community we strengthen? At JFCS, we witness daily how acts of service both large and small–help repair life’s fractures and build a more just and compassionate community.
We invite you to be part of this work. Your time and talents can create lasting change. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit jewishsouthjersey.org/volunteer
You can also meet our staff and volunteers at Jewish Federation’s Super Sunday and Community Mitzvah Day on Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Katz JCC.
Dr. King’s legacy challenges us to pray with our feet, to serve with purpose, and to see justice not as an abstract ideal but as lived commitment. As Dr. King so powerfully reminded us, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” You don’t have to change your life to volunteer–but volunteering just might change your life.
