Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Center for Jewish History!

Volunteer Opportunities

Tour guides

A tour consists of a visit to the public areas of the Center (usually the auditorium, Great Hall, Reading Room, Genealogy Institute) and the exhibitions of the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (Yeshiva University Museum has a separate docent program). Guides who lead these tours are knowledgeable about the facilities and the mission and scope of activities of the Center for Jewish History, and they are able to describe the exhibitions in the Partner's exhibition cases. Tour guides give approximately one 2-hour tour each week, and attend frequent training sessions.

Information Docents

Information docents work at the Information Desk in the 16th Street lobby. They are responsible for greeting and orienting visitors and distributing literature about the Center and the five partner organizations. Each information docent is responsible for one 4-hour shift per week.

Gallery Guides

Gallery guides circulate throughout the public spaces in the Center. They wear identifying badges and answer visitors' questions about the Center, its Partners and current exhibitions. They are trained by the volunteer coordinator and by the curators from all five Partner organizations. Each volunteer is responsible for one 2.5-hour shift per week.

Ushers

Ushers work at special events held at the Center. They take tickets and escort guests to their seats. The usher is welcome to stay and view the performance. Most events requiring ushers are held in the evening. Each usher is responsible for being available 45 minutes before the event to several minutes after the end of the event; the length of most events varies from 1 to 3 hours.

Office/Library Assistants

Office assistants work in various offices throughout the Center. Tasks may include coordinating mailings, addressing and stuffing envelopes, writing, filing, answering phones and making phone calls, handling RSVPs to events, data entry and related office tasks. Some offices are seeking researchers and assistants for special projects. Librarians may need volunteers to catalog books and related tasks. Each volunteer is responsible for at least one 4-hour shift per week.

Requirements For Volunteers

• Time commitment level: either on a project/event basis, or consistently, with at least one
  4-hour shift per week, ideally same day each week, minimum 1 year.
• Attire: professional/casual, unless otherwise specified.
• Communication skills: must have excellent speaking skills; knowledge of foreign languages a plus, though not required.
• An interest in Judaism, education, culture, the arts, and history.

Orientation And Training

• The Center will provide training and orientation sessions for all volunteers.

Benefits For Volunteers

• Discounted tickets to concerts and films and complimentary tickets when available
• Discount at Gottesfeld Heller Book Store
• Discount at the Constantiner Café
• Use of volunteer lounge
• Contact with a broad spectrum of individuals and groups

Contact

If you are interested in volunteering at the Center, please contact:

Julie Kaplan
Volunteer Coordinator
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone: (917) 606-8226
Email: cjhvolunteer@cjh.org