“Zach started working at Sinai Temple 4 weeks ago. He walked in as a timid, shy young man. Zach assists in our weekly yahrtzeit mailings, and works in our religious school office, helping in all projects, from Rosh Chodesh programs to Tu Bishvat Seder prep. He not only completes these jobs with a smile, but he brings a presence and joy that he is now sought out from our Sinai Temple Rabbis and staff to help in their projects as well.  Last week, Zach came with me into the pre-school classrooms to teach them about Tallit. He was our “tallit model.” The next day, Zach also came with me to our chapel for our pre-school Shabbat party. The children walked in shouting his name. “Zach!! Zach!!!” They all know him as the “tallit man.”  Sinai Temple is honored to take part in this sacred work and are so happy that Zach is part of our team.

E. Sherman, Rabbi at Sinai Temple

The Ezra Ba’Ir program allows our team at Camp Ramah in Ojai to take their years of summer vocational experience and extend it to year-round vocational experience.  We support our participants and transfer the vocational skills they learn and practice during the summer, to vocational skills they can learn and practice during the year.  Our participants will learn new skills, hone and develop the skills they already have and feel a part of the wider Jewish community of Los Angeles.

Each intern is placed in a paid internship in a Jewish institution in the Los Angeles area.  With initial support and weekly check-ins from the Ramah Vocational Adviser, the intern will apply for and interview for a job, set up job goals and systems to make the job the most successful it cam be.  The intern will also take part in activities with other interns throughout the year.

The Ezra Ba’Ir program supports our interns with job coaching and job support; connects them to the larger Jewish community through cohort activities; helps them find meaningful work within out Jewish community and creates a group of  qualified members of our Jewish communal work force.

For more information about Ezra Ba’Ir, to inquire about participating as a workplace, or to inquire about being an intern, please contact Elana Naftalin Kelman (elana@ramah.org)