Too Much?
Jewish volunteers turn out en masse on
Christmas, but also during the year.
LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER
H
ow many times have you
said, "It's a mitzvah" when
volunteering your time?
But the Jewish obliga-
tion to perform acts of tzedakah
may not be the primary motiva-
tion for many Jews who volun-
teer. Chances are that timing and
availability of child care may be
stronger influences for area Jews
who offer a helping hand.
"It is a commandment to help
other people," says Joanie Berg-
er, senior staff associate in the
Jewish Federation's Communi-
ty Outreach and Education
Department. "It's also directly
Jewish-valued, not only to help
people in need but to help non-
Jews."
On Christmas Day especially,
almost all U.S. businesses shut
down, and Jews have nothing to
do except the proverbial movie
and Chinese food. This year, the
Jewish Federation of Metropoli-
tan Detroit sponsored its fourth
Volunteer Extravaganza, placing
500 individuals at 30 sites to feed
the hungry, help the elderly
and relieve workers who
wanted to celebrate Christ-
mas at home.
Everyone who volunteered
was given a job, Ms. Berger
says.
Last year, 600 volunteers
offered to help with Federa-
tion's Volunteer Extravagan-
za. Half that amount came out
in 1994, prompting last year's
coordinators to expect about
450 people. As a result, they had
to deal with unexpected overflow,
and "many people couldn't be
placed," Ms. Berger says.
But that did not stop more vol-
unteers from helping out this
time around.
"Finding 450 slots on Christ-
mas Day already is a huge feat
because everybody wants to vol-
unteer on that day," says Ms.
Berger.
Being overbooked "doesn't
make the agencies happy because
they are too crowded." Volunteers
are also disappointed because
Left: Michael Silverton dresses a turkey
at the Ronald McDonald House.
they do not feel useful, adds Ms.
Berger.
Federation volunteers last
week helped out with several ser-
vices for the elderly and the
homeless, mostly serving food.
Also last week, Temple Beth
El, The Jewish News and guber-
natorial hopeful Doug Ross spon-
sored a massive coat drive,
providing clothing, food and
housewares to Detroit's needy,
and several synagogues spon-
sored Christn y efforts.
But Temple L ..a El's Rabbi
Daniel Syme believes Jews vol-
Center: Becca Rosen, Julie Boykansky
and Edna Phillips play a game at the
West Bloomfield Nursing and
Convalescent Center.
Right: Abby Schock stirs the pot at the
Ronald McDonald House in Detroit.
unteer consistently year-round.
"It just gets covered more by the
media during the Christmas sea-
son," he says.
While the prominent holiday
brings out a bevy of Jewish vol-
unteers, it does not seem to be the
Christian influence over the sea-
son that inspires Jews to lend a
hand. Rather, participants say
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