Sermon: Parashat B’Midbar – The value of volunteering

Written by Rabbi Hannah Kingston — 30 July 2024

Over the past couple of weeks since the announcement of the next general election, the conservative party have set out a plan to require all 18 year olds to take part in some form of national service. Whilst this is not a formal conscription, the scheme would compel young people by law to complete a community volunteering programme over a 12-month period for services such as the NHS, ambulance or fire services, or to enrol in a year-long military training scheme, when they turn 18.

 

Failure to comply with this new legislation will result in punishment of some description, although it is unclear exactly what this will look like.

 

The scheme has been met with a great deal of criticism, with former chief of the naval staff, Admiral Alan West, labelling the plan as “bonkers” and adding that it would deplete the defence budget.

 

Many young Britons have taken to social media to show their disapproval of the current proposal. But the older generation are far more supportive of the move with 63% of people thinking it is a good idea.

 

As we marked the 80^th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday, we were reminded of wartime Britian, where all were obligated to serve their country. Through these acts of service community spirit was born and many of our older generation grew up with a great sense of pride in being British and a true feeling of belonging.

 

Whether we support the idea of national service or not, the act of volunteering has been proven to have a positive effect on people’s mental health. It is human nature to feel good after helping others, and when giving back to the community we often feel happier. Volunteering also helps us to learn new skills and gain new experiences. Plus we can be inspired by the new people we meet and the new situations we encounter.

 

Through the obligatory act of national service Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, hopes that the younger generation will find a ‘shared sense of purpose’ and feel a sense pride in our communities. He hopes that this scheme will encourage a culture of lifelong volunteering offering young people the chance to develop vital skills and gain valuable experience.

 

However, is enforced national service truly an act of volunteering? Surely forcing someone to volunteer is a contradiction and may well not result in the surge in volunteering the government is hoping for.

 

The idea of enforced national service is not new or unique to us in the United Kingdom. Even in the Torah portion we read today we see the idea of each person needing to contribute for the good of the collective.

 

Parashat Bmidbar is on the surface a census, the counting of the first born male Israelites as they made their way through the wilderness. Alongside the numbers we are given a detailed description of their travelling configurations, the way each tribe should arrange themselves around the mishkan. Every person had their place, and along with their position their own unique role in the transportation of the tabernacle.

 

So we read a parasha that seems to be somewhere between a list and a map, that feels terribly mundane and devoid of much meaning.

 

But beneath the directions is a deep sense of duty and obligation for each tribe. The 13th century Spanish commentator, Ramban, explains that all these details were there so that each tribe knew their role in watching over and caring for the mishkan. The Mishkan was a place of infinite sanctity which symbolised the ethical and spiritual core of Judaism. With each tribe in their place they could act as shomrim, guards, of its sanctity. Through their careful guarding they could protect the glory and honour of this special place.

 

Each tribe learned to keep their space and partake in their role in the transportation of the mishkan and through doing so the community of Israel learned to function as a unit with all invested in society.

 

And whilst this was an act of volunteering, there was no payment for their role, there was a no option for a tribe to back out of their duty due to the knowledge that when one tribe fails to do their role, the civilisation ceases functioning in the way that it should. And from this we learn that in some sense, volunteering does need to be enforced.

 

But through the act of volunteering, whether enforced or not, there is a hope that each person begins to feel a sense of ownership and belonging, leading to the strengthening of our communities and a sense of shared purpose.

 

 

We are coming to the end of National Volunteers’ week, a week to celebrate the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK. An estimated 14.2 million people in the UK volunteered through a group, club or organisation over the last year, and almost one in five people report to volunteering at least once a month.

 

This week gives us a chance to recognise and thank all the volunteers who contribute to our communities, and to society as a whole.

 

Regardless of whether you agree with the proposal of mandatory national service or not, we can see from our own community, sustained by members giving their time to help with the running of communal life, the importance of volunteering. Our young people begin to volunteer post Bar/Bat Mitzvah, helping them to develop essential leadership skills and confidence in their own abilities. And many of our young people have followed in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents who are already entrenched in community volunteering.

 

We are lucky to live our lives in community. But our way of life is not that of the majority anymore. Many people live their lives isolated from others, not feeling part of community, nor surrounded by people who share a set of values. Perhaps for them, mandatory national service would be a way to help them feel that sense of belonging that we are so lucky to have.

 

And for us who often take for granted the community of support around us, as National Volunteers’ week joins to a close, perhaps we can take extra time this week to thank those who have made our Shabbat morning to work.

 

Our wardens, who support us through the service, our welcomers who help us to feel at ease when we arrive, our security who keep us safe through the morning, our choir who fill our sanctuary with beautiful song and our tech support, who help those who are not able to get her physically feel part of our community.

 

And perhaps we too can think of ways that we can give back to a community that often gives us so much. There are opportunities to volunteer within our community for all ages, skills and abilities. Opportunities to help once in a while or to make a more regular commitment. And whilst we cannot obligate you to volunteer in community, there will be no prison sentence for not partaking, we can urge you to consider ways you can volunteer. Because even the smallest commitment of an occasional phone call to someone in need, someone who is elderly, or who has recently faced a bereavement, may make a huge difference. And the act of bringing a smile to the face of another, could also help you to feel good about yourself.

 

If you would like to volunteer in the community, please take a flyer from the foyer, speak to Lynette or to one of the clergy and we would be delighted to help you find your space to help.

 

And through giving back, may we all realise that we are an integral part of our community. May we feel a true sense of belonging. And may we grow in confidence, in experience and in skill.