SJM’s volunteer callout

THE Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) has begun its biggest ever recruitment drive for volunteer guides in what will be a huge year in its history.

The callout for extra volunteers is in response to growing visitor numbers, school group visits and an anticipated spike in attendance when the new permanent Holocaust exhibition opens in March.

About 25,000 students visited the museum last year and that number is forecast to rise in 2017.

Expressions of interest are open to become volunteer guides.

An SJM spokesperson said new recruits will complete a tailored training program called Generation to Generation, designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge of Holocaust history, Judaism and the history of Australian Jewry, so they can provide visitors with a meaningful and enriching experience.

“Guides are integral to the success of the museum’s education program, they help students make sense of the exhibitions and encourage them to think deeply about the items on display and the historical context and meaning surrounding them.”

Volunteers are motivated to work as guides in the museum for different reasons.

Retired teacher Gloria Wecksler became a guide in 2014 as a way to keep using her skills while expanding her knowledge of Jewish heritage. In doing so, she said she is “discovering a part of myself”.

Wecksler added that guiding students from different backgrounds around the museum is particularly rewarding, as they often arrive not knowing what to expect.

“I love watching their reactions as they discover this history and consider its impact and relevance in today’s world,” she said.

Gerald Abelsohn also became an SJM guide in 2014, after a friend of his spoke passionately about his own experiences in the role.

“I did not initially see myself as a guide,” Abelsohn said.

“It was intimidating at the beginning (but) what surprised me was the pleasure I received from connecting with the students. It was an eye opener.”

The Generation to Generation training program begins on Tuesdays from February 28 to August 1 and includes lectures, artifact exploration and practical sessions on the museum floor. Applications close on January 30.

Meanwhile, the museum’s CEO Norman Seligman confirmed that space would be provided as part of the museum’s expansion program for a permanent exhibition about Australian Jews who came from Arab lands.

For more information or to apply, visit https://tinyurl.com/p3zxzah or email volunteer@sjm.com.au.

SHANE DESIATNIK