Your Country Needs You – #Volunteer Now !
As I anticipate the pending arrival of Tisha B`av, the 25 hour fast, where Jews the world over mourn tragedies in our history, particularly the destruction of both Temples as well as a number of other tragedies that befell our people over the centuries, I am reminded that 100 years ago today, the Great War began.. a date that also coincided with the 9th of Av – the saddest day in the Jewish Calendar.
Tonight as we read from the Book of Lamentations in dimly lit synagogues, I can’t but also reflect on the words of the British Foreign secretary, Lord Edward Grey of Fallodon, who observed upon the outbreak of the First World War that “The lamps are going out all over Europe we shall not see them lit again in our time”
WW1 was a human tragedy which saw the loss of millions of lives; many of those who died had volunteered to join the British Army and were volunteers not conscripts; of these men, 2.67 million joined as Volunteers and 2.77 million as conscripts. At the outbreak of the war, many women were inspired to also volunteer to support the War effort and trained to help the sick and wounded. 
They needed to be taught first aid, home nursing and hygiene by approved medical practitioners. They also took classes in cookery.
The indelible marks left by both tragedies urge us to remember – To recall the Destruction of our holiest site, the Temple & the loss of Jewish sovereignty. Tisha Bav reminds us that causeless hatred,–hating someone else for no reason – was the true root of the Temple’s destruction, according to both the Talmud and contemporary historian Josephus.
Causeless hatred is particularly insidious and can only be fought with causeless love: listening to one another working together putting others before ourselves.
Volunteering in all its guises is perhaps one of the best ways of achieving causeless love…consideration of others through giving time, and as in the case of WW1 those who lost their lives did so through volunteering for what they saw as a just cause and in pursuit of better world for everyone.
Volunteering is today even more an important contributor to collaboration and shaping our local community and the wider agenda. If you would like to volunteer, our Community and the charity sector needs you and has many opportunities available.
Visit www.jvn.org.uk to register and view various volunteering opportunities to match your skills and interests. Also make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news, updates and everything volunteering !
We will volunteer – We will Remember !
Leonie Lewis – Director Jewish Volunteering Network
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