Volunteering — a true definition of a mitzvah

By Irwin Weinberg, MCA Member

In Judaism, a mitzvah refers to a commandment or religious duty that is required of Jewish people. It’s often translated as “commandment” but can also be understood as a “good deed” or “act of kindness.” The concept of mitzvah is central to Jewish law and practice, with 613 mitzvot (plural) detailed in the Torah.

AI (artificial intelligence) provided me with the above definition. What the definition doesn’t address is how good doing a mitzvah makes one feel. Oddly enough, in a way, a selfless act makes one feel just a little bit selfish. At least it does for me.

A number of years ago, I retired and lived in Boca Raton. I’m not a golfer, pickleball didn’t exist and there were only so many hours of TV I could even absorb. I needed something to distract and interest me to fill the sudden available time. Volunteering somewhere was the answer, but I also wanted to be in charge of my time and not be permanently scheduled for a specific day or days of the week. I certainly had enough of that throughout my career.

I stumbled upon the Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services organization, which offered numerous volunteer opportunities as a means of “giving back by lending a hand.” I started to drive folks to and from their medical appointments and quickly learned how important my “job” was to them. Not too soon after, I discovered how important and meaningful it was to me.

Frequently many of the individuals I drove would tell me I was performing a mitzvah. I would acknowledge their compliments but really didn’t give it much further thought — that is until I moved to Naples.

I began to miss driving those in need and realized that it wasn’t the time filler that I missed so much as it was the selfish feeling — that I needed the compliments, the pats on the back and the warm and fuzzy feeling that I was performing a mitzvah.

I was then extremely fortunate to discover Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN) and, through them, joining Men’s Cultural Alliance (MCA). Both provide me with many opportunities to learn, socialize and feed my selfish desire to accumulate mitzvot.

I then discovered another great organization that offers quite a number of volunteer opportunities, welcoming them with open arms and training them — Baker Senior Center of Naples (BSCN). What all three organizations have in common is their overwhelming desire to give back to the community. Whether your personal motivation is social, selfish (like mine), or both, you will find what you need when you volunteer.

The following are several examples of the many opportunities that exist within each organization.

Men's Cultural Alliance

With more than 900 members and a wide range of programs and activities, there is something for everyone through MCA. All members are encouraged to share their ideas and expertise and volunteer their time to make those programs and activities successful. Below are just a couple of volunteer activities that have become integrated within the framework of the MCA organization.

Habitat for Humanity (weekly) –MCA members can partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a home for a family in need.

Meals of Hope food bagging – We need you to give two hours of your time to pack bags of food so Meals of Hope can restock their 13 food pantries in Southwest Florida. These bags provide much needed nutritious food to help those struggling with food insecurity. Let’s show Southwest Florida that MCA is doing its part to end this crisis. The mission of Meals of Hope is to inspire and empower communities to come together to end hunger.

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples – Reaching out beyond MCA volunteering, there are numerous options to invest your time and talent for the good of others within our larger Jewish community.

Special events – Volunteering for JFGN’s special events is a wonderful way to meet people! Volunteer to be a greeter or usher at an event. Requirements: a desire to help with JFGN’s goals, an interest in devoting a few hours a week and maintaining confidentiality in all positions. Training is provided.

Annual Community Campaign – Volunteer to help JFGN’s Annual Community Campaign by soliciting five to 10 donors, or more if you'd like. Or help make some thank you calls. Requirements: 1-2 hours, at your convenience. Training materials are provided.

MLK Day Parade – March in the MLK Day Parade. Join us as we walk on behalf of JFGN in the MLK Day Parade.

Are you interested in volunteering for these or other programs? Please contact JFGN at info@jewishnaples.org.

Baker Senior Center of Naples

Do you have a talent you can share or something to teach? Do you want to contribute to your community in a safe and nurturing environment?

Join BSCN’s friendly, sociable team of dedicated volunteers to help provide confidence, connection and support to people ages 60 and older, regardless of background, religion, beliefs or financial status.

Interested? Schedule a tour by contacting BSCN at 239-325-4444 or info@bakerseniorcenternaples.org.

Volunteer positions at BSCN can be scheduled to meet both your personal calendar as well as the needs of the organization. They include:

Brookdale Cognitive Health Services – Dementia respite and brain joggers assist our professional staff working with older adults dealing with early to mid-stage dementia. Programs include computer games, memory activities, chair exercises, music and art therapies, serving lunch and more. Author’s note: (I am reminded of the centuries old quotation: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” I have never received more personal satisfaction than my volunteering for this specific service provided to the community.)

• Art assistant

• Art instructor

• Café host

• Deliveries

• Entertainment

• Fitness class instructors

• Food pantry host

• Foreign language instructor

• Friendly driver

• Friendly visitor

• Melodious Echoes members (dementia friendly choir)

• Memory support

• Renewal calls

• Tour guide

To summarize, all three organizations have given my life in Naples great satisfaction in so many ways. Forget all the normal excuses for not volunteering. Find something that you think you might enjoy, and you’ll be surprised how much you will. Go ahead and be a little selfish. It’s truly not only a mitzvah, but also a win-win for everyone!