Shabbat Shuvah Panel: What Volunteering Means to Me

Volunteering can be a source of great meaning in our lives. On Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Repentance, we contemplate those changes we might want to make in ourselves and our priorities. Join us as members of the congregation Liz Dietz, Amy Nishide, Barnett Rosenblum and Ron Victor share their experience in choosing to become significantly involved in local organizations.

Liz Dietz has been a disaster volunteer for American Red Cross for 39 years. She has put her nursing skills to work in varied situations including 9/11, Super Typohoon Paka in Guam, and the Camp Fire in Paradise, California. This summer she was called to Texas to prepare in case of flooding.

Amy Nishide has been a regular weekly volunteer at Sacred Heart Community Service in San Jose for nearly three years. Sacred Heart provides essential services to the community, with the goal of eliminating poverty. She is currently work in the Economic Empowerment office, assisting clients in building resumes and applying for jobs on-line.

Barnett Rosenblum currently volunteers at the Tech Interactive, whose mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone. Volunteers at the Tech are mostly involved directly with visitors in the galleries helping with hands on learning. Volunteering at the Tech is a fun and educational experience as you teach visitors, both young and old, about science and technology.

For the past ten years, Ron Victor has been a volunteer with the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. The Park provides visitors with a taste of the sights, sounds, and stories of Pacific Coast’s maritime history. His work is focused on using traditional boat building and repair techniques for the restoration and maintenance of the Park’s magnificent collection of historic watercraft including floating vessels on San Francisco Bay. During the restoration work, Ron interacts with tourists from all over the world. In addition, he supports educational programs for students and the public in general.