Volunteer Spotlight:
Sabina Wasserlauf

 

Sabina Wasserlauf has been volunteering in the Ottawa Jewish community for over 20 years. She has donated much of her time to a wide range of community services from coordinating holiday celebrations at Congregation Beth Shalom, to serving on the Executive Board of Beth Shalom, Co-Chair of YRHS, working on the amalgamation of Hillel and YRHS, Board Co-Chair of OJCS, to being the current Chair of the Board for the SJCC.

 

We are excited to invite Sabina to share her story with us for the first Volunteer Spotlight!

 

My Volunteerism is Inspired by a Desire to Give Back

 

Whenever I interact with an organization/service that is of purpose to me, I operate with the belief that I am obliged to balance what I get from the service with what I give back.

 

Devoted to the notion of Big Tent Judaism, I have a deep interest in Jewish continuity and promoting inclusion and broad collaboration. As a perpetual student, these days I am interested in learning about innovation in outreach, collaboration, and programming that is engaging and inspiring to young Jews.

 

What I’ve Gained as a Volunteer

 

As a volunteer I have learned many new skills, even acquired skills I wasn't looking to learn! I’ve had the pleasure of working with and getting to know people of various ages and backgrounds, many of whom I might not have encountered otherwise. Some of these individuals have become my beloved friends.

 

I have learned to be humble and tolerant of imperfection. Not everything works as planned, or will be completed by me. I am guided by the wisdom in Pirkei Avot: "You are not required to complete the task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it." I derive great satisfaction knowing that I have contributed to a communal effort or cause. I believe that "when we give, we get" a value shared with my husband, John Kershman, and we are heartened to see that value manifest in both our sons' lives.

 

Thank you Sabina!

 

If you’d like to recommend someone doing amazing things for the community, contact Lindsay at lgottheil@jewishottawa.com

Sabina Wasserlauf