Exploring Volunteerism Among Jewish Seniors
Review by Shanie Levin
Photography by Regina Lvovski
On Tuesday, March 7th, the third in the 2018-19 Jewish Seniors Alliance Empowerment Series took place at the Weinberg Centre. This year’s theme is “Renewing and Reinventing Yourself as an Older Adult”. JSA continues to partner with other seniors groups in the community to bring them information, education and entertainment.
On Tuesday, we heard from Eireann O’Dea, who wrote her Master’s Thesis on senior volunteers in the Jewish community. With the use of a power point, Eireann explained the extent of volunteerism among seniors, especially within the Jewish community. She started out by relating how she herself became involved in volunteering with seniors which eventually led to her choosing this topic for her thesis. The summary of her research is included at the end of this review.
After Eireann talked about her thesis she briefly interviewed Larry Shapiro, one of the volunteers who participated in her research.
She explained the extent of volunteerism and some of the motivations for volunteering. Eireann has recently joined the Board of Jewish Seniors Alliance. She is presently pursuing a PhD at Simon Fraser University.
After Eireann and Larry concluded their remarks, Jessica Bruce, the volunteer coordinator for the Weinberg and Louis Brier, spoke about volunteering with these programs.
The Weinberg provided wonderful pastries and tea and coffee that was enjoyed by all.
Older Jewish adults who volunteer:
Creating a “social infrastructure” of support, reciprocity, and concern for others.
Written by Eireann O’Dea
It is relatively common knowledge that volunteering provides tremendous benefits to individuals and to the community at large. Volunteers have the opportunity to bring an increased sense of meaning and purpose to their lives, expand their social network, exercise unique skills and hobbies, and of course help others in need. The presence of volunteers within a community increases social cohesion, builds trust, and creates a “social infrastructure” of support, reciprocity, and concern for others.
But what do volunteer roles really mean to those who participate in them? How does one start volunteering, and why do they continue? The Jewish community is exemplary in its provision of services and volunteer opportunities for children, youth, adults in mid to late life, and the elderly. Yet the personal experiences of those who volunteer here, from a research standpoint, is largely unknown. This fact, along with my own experiences of working and volunteering within the community, inspired my master’s thesis, titled, “An exploration of pathways, motivations, and experiences among older Jewish volunteers in Vancouver.” The findings reflect interviews with 21 volunteers.
The majority of participants have volunteered for most of their lives. They described having parents who were community minded, as well as adolescent experiences of being a part of Jewish youth organizations or women’s groups dedicated to community service. The expectations from others to volunteer was also discussed. Often, participants were asked volunteer by their peers, rather than seeking out opportunities themselves. Over the years, this allowed them to experience multiple volunteer roles, as they would often be exposed to another role as a result of their status as a volunteer in the community.
Participants found volunteering to be personally rewarding, describing how their roles made them feel better about themselves, kept them
busy and productive, as well as mentally fit. Participants were also motivated to volunteer for generative reasons, that is, to help the next generation and the community at large. The desire to pass on Jewish culture was evident, with many describing their efforts and desire to serve organizations that preserved historical documents, worked to support Jewish infrastructure, and educate children in the community. They felt that volunteering represented an important part of Jewish life and cited the importance of helping others within Jewish culture and religion. Tzedakah, a Hebrew phrase meaning justice or righteousness, was frequently referenced.
Participants described the connections formed with their fellow volunteers and to the community. Friendships were maintained both within and outside of the context of the volunteer role. Caring for seniors was another common experience among participants. Many took on roles that involved working with older adults, whether it was making home visits to isolated older adults, or assisting with recreational programs. It was also found that participants gravitated towards leadership roles within volunteer organizations, and in some cases had founded their own initiatives. Participants also found their volunteer roles to be an opportunity to engage in personal interests and hobbies, as well as a chance to utilize skills they learned during their professional careers.
Volunteering is a highly productive way for older adults to increase their level of activity, foster their interests, help others, and continue to be social and connected to their communities. As Canada continues to diversify in terms of ethnic composition, it is essential that volunteer opportunities must be made accessible to and inclusive of older adults from all backgrounds. To achieve this, it is imperative that future research in this area encompasses the experiences and stories of older adults themselves
Eireann O’Dea is a PhD student in Gerontology at Simon Fraser University. Her research interests are related to community engagement among older adults, ethno-gerontology, and environmental accessibility. When she is not studying, Eireann enjoys doing yoga, playing soccer, and listening to music from the 1960’s.
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