Youth & Family Volunteering Programs

Tikkun Olam - Repairing the World (Making the World a Better Place)

Tikkun Olam is a basic tenet of Judaism rooted in the concept that while the world is innately good, there is still room for improvement. Any person, any age can play a role in tikkun olam. By engaging in gemilut chasadim (acts of loving-kindness) and tzedakah (charity), we contribute a tikkun (repair, improvement) to the world and bring us one step closer to a world in which greatness outshines the bad. Tikkun Olam often presents itself in the form of social action that offers assistance to what/who is most vulnerable in society-people, animals, and the environment.

Shalom Families Mensch Village is focused on engaging families in opportunities rooted in the value of tikkum olam. Mensch Village is comprised of Chesed Circle, a service learning series (Learn more and register HERE), Shabbat visits at a retirement community (See below), and efforts to address food insecurity in Austin (Review upcoming opportunities HERE). There is something for everyone!  

TOVA is Shalom Austin's Teens-Only Volunteer Advisors inititaive. TOVA meetings include leadership training and the discussion of volunteering in the framework of Jewish values and leadership. The advisors will get to explore different ideas for volunteering projects and ways they can lead in the coordination and development of their projects for the Shalom Austin teen community and/or the general Shalom Austin community. Each TOVA members will take ownership of a volunteer engagement projects for teens-the planning and the implementation.