Bet Tzedek Legal Services
One of the nation’s premier legal services organizations since 1974, Bet Tzedek provides free, high quality legal assistance or representation to more than 10,000 people of every racial and religious background in the Los Angeles area. With a dedicated staff and more than 400 active volunteers, Bet Tzedek makes a crucial difference in the lives of the most vulnerable members of the community. Volunteer attorneys, volunteer law students, volunteer para-professionals, volunteer lay professionals, volunteer pre-law college interns, volunteer accountants, volunteer law librarians and volunteer office workers make it possible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services to fulfill its mission of equal access to justice.

For more information on volunteering, email humanresources@bettzedek.org.

Chai Lifeline
Families of children with serious illness face a host of challenges on numerous fronts, challenges that immeasurably compound the difficulty of their arduous struggle of combating the disease itself. Chai Lifeline addresses the full spectrum of these families’ needs, from logistical to social, recreational to psychological. It is an organization comprised of caring, compassionate individuals sensitive to the unique needs of each individual they help. When families feel alone and overwhelmed, Chai Lifeline staff members extend a helping hand, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on – and a loving heart. At the end of the day, Chai Lifeline is about fighting illness with love.

For more information on different volunteer opportunities with Chai Lifeline, call (310) 274-6331.

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, now in its 90th year, enriches the lives of thousands of children annually by providing excellence in mentoring through its innovative and impacting programs and services, which facilitate lasting mentoring relationships and improve a child's self esteem and learning. Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles volunteers gain a sense of enjoyment, accomplishment, and appreciation derived from supporting an organization that develops lasting friendships, and makes a positive change in a child's life.

For more information on becoming a Jewish Big Brother or Big Sister, contact Lindsey Rabinowitz, LRabinowitz@jbbbsla.org or (323) 761-8675 ext. 220. For more information on volunteering as an Art Buddy or Sports Buddy, contact Alba Arzu at alba@campmaxstraus.org or (323) 761-8675 ext. 223.

Jewish Historical Society of Southern California
The Jewish Historical Society of Southern California works to preserve and create awareness of local Jewish history while reaching out to the larger community. The Society conducts tours to sites of Jewish historical interest in the Los Angeles area, maintains an archive of community records, and helps produce film series, lectures, exhibits, publications, and oral histories.

The current major project of the Jewish Historical Society is rehabilitation of the Breed Street Shul in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East Los Angeles. To learn more about this project and to volunteer, please email jhsociety@aol.com.

KOREH L.A.
According to the Los Angeles Times, nearly 89% of fourth graders in Southern California don't read at grade level. KOREH L.A. is the non-sectarian volunteer children's literacy program created by the Jewish Federation's Jewish Community Relations Committee to respond to this crisis. "Koreh" is the Hebrew word for "read." Each volunteer spends one hour, once a week, reading with a pre-school or elementary school child. KOREH L.A. volunteers receive a three-hour training to prepare them to become "reading partners."

To learn more about volunteering with an elementary school student through KOREH L.A., click here or call (323) 761-8153. For more information volunteering with a preschool child through Pre-K KOREH, call (323) 761-8164.

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
Founded in 1961 by Holocaust survivors, The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust was the first museum of its kind in the United States. Since then, the Museum has been active in the Los Angeles Jewish Community and has worked tirelessly to tell the story of the Holocaust to younger generations. Volunteers play a vital role in every aspect of the Museum, from leading tours and assisting in cultural events, to supporting the archival and library staff. 

For more information about volunteering for LAMOTH, please contact Education Director Megan Mathews at (323) 651-3704 or megan@lamoth.org.

National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW)
The National Council of Jewish Women is a volunteer organization that, inspired by Jewish values, courageously takes a progressive stance on issues such as child welfare, women's rights, and reproductive freedom. NCJW/LA offers many ways to volunteer: general support, web page maintenance, e-mail, conference calls, and one-day volunteer opportunities such as the Annual Clothing Giveaway, Fabulous Flea Markets, or even staffing a booth in support of NCJW/LA's advocacy agenda. Those with a little more time can volunteer for NCJW/LA’s direct services – like the Counseling Talkline, numerous tutoring, enrichment and mentoring opportunities, or professional counseling support.

For more information, contact Suzanne L'Amoureux, Director of Development & Outreach at (323) 651-2930 or ncjwla@ncjwla.org.

Skirball Cultural Center
The Skirball Cultural Center is dedicated to exploring the connections between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals. It welcomes and seeks to inspire people of every ethnic and cultural identity in American life. Volunteers welcome and direct visitors to the Center, inform them of the variety of cultural programs available to them there, write memberships, and answer phones. In addition, Skirball volunteers serve as hostesses in Zeidler's, the in-house cafe; assist in sales in Audrey's, the museum store; work at family festivals; log and photograph museum objects; and assist the staff in all manner of clerical duties.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, call the Volunteer Services Coordinator at (310) 440-4689.

Vista Del Mar
Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services and its affiliated divisions are dedicated to the well-being and care of children and families in Southern California who suffer the emotional, physical, psychological and social consequences of abuse, neglect and abandonment. The organization offers a comprehensive range of services that include psychiatric residential treatment, day treatment, individual and family counseling, medical and dental services provided on site by doctors and registered nurses, community treatment units, educational and vocational services, foster care and complete adoption services.

Volunteers help Vista Del Mar provide the highest quality of care to emotionally disturbed, abused and neglected children and their families. Through their efforts, volunteers provide services to the residential program, the school and related agency divisions. Volunteers wishing to work directly with our children must be at least 21 years of age, willing to make a commitment of at least six months, undergo extensive screening and attend orientation and training sessions. For more information on volunteer opportunities, call (310) 836-1223 x385.

Zimmer Children's Museum
The mission of the Zimmer Children's Museum is to promote values that help make a better society through interactive learning, creative self-expression and art experiences for children and families. Incorporating Jewish and community values and ethics, programs and special events at the Zimmer challenge both children and adults about what it means to be part of a larger community and how we live in and share in a diverse world.

The Zimmer Children’s Museum is looking for friendly people who want a rewarding volunteer experience in a unique environment.  For more information contact our Program Coordinator, Amy Williams, at amy@zimmermuseum.org.