Volunteering

HOURS

Reading Room
Mon-Thurs: 9:30am-4:30pm

Genealogy Institute
Tues-Thurs: 9:30am-4:30pm

Exhibit Spaces
Mon-Wed: 9:30am-4:30pm
Thurs: 9:30am-8pm
Fri: 10am-3pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: 11am-5pm

Please note: The Center will be closed to the public on December 5 for a private event.

Make sure to check our holiday closures prior to visiting.

Last entry to the Center for Jewish History Exhibitions, Reading Room, and the Genealogy Institute is 30 minutes before closing. The last call to page items in the Reading Room and Genealogy Institute is 3pm.

Volunteer Opportunities

Tour Guides (Docents)

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

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.

Visitor Experience Volunteer

The Center for Jewish History seeks Visitor Experience Volunteers to support the Events and Visitor Experience team, ensuring the delivery of excellent customer service while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for all visitors.

Responsibilities

Greet visitors and welcome them to the Center, answer questions about the Center and the five in-house Partner organizations, and share information about current exhibitions and programs.
Answer and direct phone calls to Center and Partner staff.
Log visitors through internal systems, including Eventbrite and tracking forms.
Check visitors in to Reading Room and Genealogy Institute, including scanning IDs, printing badges, and logging data.
Assist with sorting and sending mail using internal mail systems.
Help guests check their coats and belongings.

Requirements/Working Conditions

Strong communication skills
Proficiency using a computer
Walking around the Center buildings
Shifts are 4 hours per week, either all on 1 day or as two 2-hour shifts split over 2 days

Requirements For Volunteers

Time commitment level: either on a project/event basis, or consistently, with at least one shift per week, ideally same day each week.
Attire: professional/casual, unless otherwise specified.
Communication skills: must have excellent speaking skills; knowledge of foreign languages a plus, though not required.
An interest in Judaism, education, culture, the arts and history.

Benefits For Volunteers

Complimentary tickets to concerts, films and other events when available.
Free admission to museums in New York City and elsewhere for the volunteer and a guest.
Invitation to our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and other special events.
Contact with a broad spectrum of individuals and groups.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Center, please contact Julie Kaplan, Manager of Public Programs and Volunteers, at jkaplan@cjh.org or call (917) 606-8226.