Creating Connection Through Service: Pozez JCC’s New Volunteer Services
Pozez JCC’s New Volunteer Services brings volunteers together to assemble essential care packages for their community.
At the heart of Jewish tradition lies a commitment to service – a principle that the Pozez Jewish Community Center (JCC) has woven into its newly launched Volunteer Services. Partnering with Repair the World, this initiative demonstrates how Jewish values, community engagement, and innovative programming can drive meaningful change.
Repair the World spoke with Emily Braley, Volunteer Services Manager at the Pozez JCC and an alum of Tzedek: Jewish Service Learning Cohort, to explore how the partnership has transformed their approach to service.
“When developing the Volunteer Services program, it was important to lead with Jewish values,” Emily shared. “We wanted to create something that unites our community while serving our neighbors and the wider world. This program builds on our community’s rich tradition of volunteering, from our NV Rides volunteer drivers to the intergenerational energy at our annual Challah Bake. Now, we’re expanding those efforts into a broader, more inclusive initiative.”
A Vision Rooted in Jewish Learning and Action
The Pozez JCC’s Volunteer Services program is a direct reflection of the tools and frameworks gained through its participation in Tzedek: Jewish Service Learning Cohort, an initiative powered by Repair the World. This partnership provided Emily and her team with the resources to strengthen their Jewish service efforts.
“Tzedek gave us the language and texts to engage with service from a Jewish perspective,” Emily noted. “While many associate service with repairing the world, tikkun olam, we chose to focus on acts of loving-kindness, gemilut hasadim. Repair the World helped us center this approach, creating programs that inspire Jewish joy and connection.”
Volunteers gather through Pozez JCC’s New Volunteer Services, coming together for the Northern Virginia Great Big Challah Bake, where they bond over baking and community engagement
By integrating Jewish values into every aspect of its programming, the department invites community members of all ages and backgrounds to take part. “We want people to feel like the JCC isn’t just a place to log service hours, but a community where they belong,” Emily explained.
Building Bridges and Addressing Antisemitism Through Service
Emily emphasized how Repair the World’s influence has extended beyond programming to create opportunities to strengthen ties within and beyond the Jewish community. “With rising antisemitism, it’s powerful to create interfaith and intergroup partnerships. When the goal is feeding the hungry or cleaning a park, differences fade, and we come together. Volunteering as a Jewish group also allows us to show up proudly as Jews, building bridges and promoting understanding.”
Public recognition from partner organizations and the visibility of Jewish branding during service projects amplify this impact. “Whenever a nonprofit tags us on social media or thanks us publicly, it’s a moment of pride. We’re not only contributing meaningfully but also shaping perceptions of the Jewish community,” Emily said.
A Growing Movement
The Volunteer Services program is already experiencing remarkable engagement. As a founding member of the Jewish Service Alliance (JSA), the JCC Association joins more than 40 organizations nationwide in their shared commitment to expanding and elevating Jewish service. Participants are discovering a renewed connection to Jewish values, their local community, and one another.
“We’re seeing younger Jews drawn to social change as a core part of their Jewish identity,” Emily shared. “But it’s not just one group—everyone, from kids to seniors, is getting involved. The energy at our events is incredible.”
When asked what could further amplify the program’s success, Emily had a simple answer: “Join us at a program – or tell us what’s holding you back. We want to build a rich, active community that helps people lead Jewish lives in ways that resonate with them.”
The Volunteer Services program at the Pozez JCC is a testament to the power of service to create connection, inspire kindness, and strengthen Jewish identity. With programs that combine meaningful action and Jewish learning, it’s transforming how individuals engage with their community – and with Judaism itself.
Join the Movement
Want to learn more about the Tzedek Service Learning Cohort or how Repair the World can support Jewish service in your community? Connect with Celia Livshin, Senior Director of Field Activation Strategy to explore how you can make an impact through Jewish service.
