Service Corps Members live, learn, and work at the intersection of justice and Jewishness. Corps Members are placed with Avodah's placement organizations in Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Washington, DC, and contribute to our partners' work on crucial justice issues like immigration, hunger, education, public health, and domestic violence. Corps Members' work is supported by frequent programming and community-building. Avodah's trusted, innovative curriculum ensures that Corps Members are developing a systemic analysis around poverty, are engaging in critical self reflection/growth, and are looking at justice work through a Jewish lens. Corps Members build intentional, pluralistic Jewish communities and live communally in a bayit (communal home.)
Service Activities
-Create lasting Jewish community. Home-cooked Shabbat dinners, late night conversations, and holiday celebrations make living in the bayit (communal home) memorable and meaningful. Corps Members co-create intentional, pluralistic communities that help them vision and embody how the world could be.
-Launch your career in social justice. After matching with a placement organization, you'll contribute meaningfully to on-the-ground efforts on crucial justice issues such as immigration, housing insecurity, education, healthcare, the criminal legal system, and more. Gain a year of hands-on experience with a supportive community by your side.
-Dive into deep learning. Through experiential programming, you’ll explore different visions for movements for justice, the role of community in creating a more just world, and how you want to show up as a Jew in justice work. Our dynamic curriculum will deepen and contextualize your day-to-day work, while supporting you in finding your place in broader justice movements.
-Have your basic needs met. Avodah takes care of the most important things. Corps Members receive furnished housing, a monthly living stipend, health insurance, an exit stipend, and a travel allowance. Corps Members can also tap into the economic access fund to support unmet financial needs.
-Join our active alumni network for life. Our community of over 1,500 Jewish social justice professionals and activists across the country are there to help with apartment hunts, job references, Shabbat dinner invites, mentorship, and everything in between.
Community Need Addressed
The Jewish Service Corps places Corps Members at leading social and economic justice organizations in Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Washington DC,. Placement organizations work on critical domestic poverty issues such as immigration and refugee resettlemnt, food insecurity, gender based violence, the criminal legal system, healthcare access, education, and more.
Position Outcomes
Placement organizations will increase capacity and will fill meaningful positions in their organizations with top-talent Corps Members. Corps Members will gain critical experience working directly with the communities they serve while having a direct impact in the fight against the causes and effects of poverty.
Benefits
Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Stipend, Training
Service Corps Members access activism, job opportunities, professional development, housing opportunities and Jewish opportunities for life through continued programming and an active alumni community.
Education Benefits
Corps Members will receive the training, tools, systemic analysis, communal support, resources, Jewish social justice insights, and networking opportunities to stay in justice work for the long haul.
Skills you will gain
Community organizing, public speaking, project management, communications, community-building, service learning, conflict meditation, fundraising, program facilitation
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment