Rabbi Hillel said, “If I am not for myself, who is for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”  

This famous quote, along with core values like tikkun olam (Hebrew for repairing the world) and gemilut hasadim (Hebrew for acts of loving kindness) elucidate how Jewish people are asked to balance self-reliance with social responsibility and empathy for others. Although Rabbi Hillel was sharing lessons like this during the end of the first century BCE, the meaning is just as pervasive in 2025. Jewish people are called by our forefathers, our beliefs, and our community to act in the name of bettering our world. Many choose to partake in tikkun olam through donating the invaluable asset of their time. 

Volunteers with the Jewish Community Center of Denver (JCC Denver) assist year-round with a variety of Engagement programs and Mizel Arts and Culture Center events. For example, PrideFest is a weekend-long event that supports the LGBTQIA+ community in Denver. The JCC Denver is honored to lead the Jewish coalition at PrideFest, which represents over twenty Jewish organizations in the city. The Jewish coalition runs a booth at the festival in Civic Center Park to craft friendship bracelets and answer questions like, “How do I convert to Judaism? Where should I send my child to summer camp? What programs will help my gay, Jewish son find a husband?” Staff and volunteers work all weekend long to interface with the community, commiserate over where to find the best bagel in town, and offer advice. Rabbi Melissa Hoffman, a representative with the Center for Jewish Food Ethics, volunteered at the Jewish Community booth at PrideFest this year. She said, “I want to support our community at large. As a Jewish person, a local, and a rabbi, I see being at Pride and supporting our broader community, friends, and family as part of my Jewish imperative.” Another PrideFest volunteer, Ariel Nassau, is a staff member at Valley Beit Midrash. He says, “Personally, I think that volunteering time, energy, and resources is one of the best ways to have a happy and fulfilling life. You do things for others and at the end of the day, it not only helps others, but it helps you too.”  

Ariel concludes, “I believe our Judaism calls for us to help others. Being Jewish is being out there, volunteering, and serving those that need. [Volunteering] is just another way of living a Jewish life!” The JCC Denver extends gratitude to all the volunteers that continue to make events possible and successful.