JVN Blog

JVN Director, Leonie Lewis

A refrain made popular by the Beatles was surely meant for the Festival of Chanukah!

Of course a week has seven days, but Chanukah is about the extraordinary; the miracle of a small container of oil that burned beyond its one day lifespan for an additional week.

The number eight is itself an extraordinary number in Judaism. It is symbolic of that which is above the natural order, above nature and its limitations. The world was created in seven days and therefore, in Jewish thought, the number seven represents the natural, physical world, the world that we can touch and smell and feel. The number eight, on the other hand, represents that which transcends the natural world. It represents a higher, more spiritual world, where Chanukah’s eight days represent the spiritual elements of the Jewish people; the core beliefs, the sense of community, and the purpose of being “a light unto the nations”

While many of us see volunteering as mundane or merely an “extra,” we at JVN see it as something special. Volunteering can be a transformative act, transforming the lives of both the volunteer and the recipient. Like Chanukah, volunteering provides a beacon of light in a society that often lacks cohesion and meaning. And, like Chanukah, by volunteering we are doing something that transcends the physical world and reaches into the heart of what being part of the Jewish people is about.

Volunteering, however, is not restricted to a day, a week, a year. It can be done in one’s community, one’s workplace, or indeed from in front of a computer at home. Granted, volunteering is usually more sporadic and episodic these days, but, like the lighting of the Chanukiah, where we add an extra light each night, the rewards from volunteering  are increased with frequent commitment. These rewards manifest themselves physically, psychologically, and spiritually within individuals and the community as a whole.

To find an opportunity that will not only make a difference to another and a charity, but also yourself, visit the JVN site www.jvn.org.uk, where seasonal opportunities are promoted along with one-off and regular volunteering opportunities.

Remember: the act of volunteering is for life, not just for Chanukah.

Chanukah, like volunteering, bringing light to the darkest time of year.