In conjunction with our upcoming event, JewCE: The First Annual Jewish Comic Book Convention, we will be mounting an exhibition called The Museum and Laboratory of the Jewish Comics Experience. The exhibition will run from October 9, 2023 through January 1, 2024. We are seeking volunteers who will be stationed in the exhibition to guide visitors. Visitors and group leaders will receive printed guides, but there are elements for which a Museum Guide will provide useful information and leadership. You will be provided with training before the exhibition opens and you’ll be expected to volunteer for one 2 1/2-hour shift per week.

A tour consists of a visit to the exhibitions of the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (Yeshiva University Museum has a separate docent program) and the public areas of the Center (usually the Leo & Julie Forchheimer Auditorium, the Paul S. & Sylvia Steinberg Great Hall, Lillian Goldman Reading Room, Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute, and the Shelby White & Leon Levy Collection Management and Conservation Wing). Guides who lead these tours are knowledgeable about the facilities and the mission and scope of activities of the Center for Jewish History, and they are able to describe the exhibitions in the Partner’s exhibition cases. Tour guides give approximately 1 -2 tours each month and attend periodic training sessions on new exhibitions.

Ushers work at special events held at the Center. They take tickets and give out programs and may perform other tasks, as needed. The usher is welcome to stay and view the performance. Most events requiring ushers are held weekday evenings or on Sundays. Each usher is responsible for being available 45 minutes before the event to several minutes after the event begins. They may occasionally be asked to stay after the program to help with a reception or book sales.

The Visitor Experience Volunteer sits at the desk in our main lobby, assisting staff with tasks such as greeting and orienting visitors, answering and directing phone calls and keeping track of visitor statistics. Visitors to the Center for Jewish History typically include researchers using our library/archive, visitors to our exhibitions, and people arriving for appointments with staff. Shifts are usually 2 hours long and applicants should be comfortable using a computer. Occasional standing to direct guests is required.