About

Volunteers play a vital role in all facets of our operation and create a warm and friendly atmosphere for our visitors. The National Museum of American Jewish History offers a range of volunteer opportunities for people with a variety of interests, schedules, and skills. Thank you for your interest!

We are now accepting applications for the following positions:

• Docents
• Visitor Services
• Museum Store
• Other Departments

Docents act as ambassadors between the Museum and visitors, group tours, donors, stakeholders, and other constituents. Docents become experts in American Jewish History and share these stories with visiting groups, drop-in tours, gallery enhancement, off-site presentations, outreach events, family days, and more. Additionally, docents create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds, helping them to reflect on American Jewish history and consider its relevance to their lives today. Docents pay particular attention to relating the immigrant experiences of Jews in America, to other immigrant and minority groups in this country. Docents explain how Jews – as a religious and ethnic minority in America - have participated in and influenced American culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead at least one tour or off-site educational session each month;
• Complete the Docent Training Course and stay up-to-date on scholarship and museum education pedagogy through monthly continuing education sessions;
• Be enthusiastic ambassadors for the Museum and its mission;
• Check email at least once a day in order to receive schedule updates, respond to questions, stay up-to-date on Museum news, learn about upcoming opportunities, and field last minute tour requests.

Characteristics

Docents are energetic, enthusiastic, insightful, and warm. They know how to connect with people of all backgrounds, perform, and tell great stories. Docents are also flexible, concise, quick-thinking, and respectful towards others. They should be willing to learn and to work with people of all backgrounds, especially middle and high school students. Experience in history, Jewish studies, and formal and/or informal education can be helpful, although not required.

We encourage all interested applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, parental status, or veteran status.

Training

The 2020 Docent Training Course will last from mid-March to late September, with breaks for summer vacation and holidays. The training will combine topical lectures, skills development, on-the-floor training, peer mentorship and evaluation, and more. Once the pre-service Docent Training Course ends, in-service trainings continue on the second Monday of most months.

Benefits

• Free or reduced admission to many of the Museum’s public programs;
• 20% discount in the Museum Shop and Café;
• Ability to audit adult education courses and workshops when space permits;
• Free admission to many museums in the United States;
• Option to arrange free private tours for a group of 10 or less;
• Access to Docent lounge equipped with refrigerator, water station and lockers;
• Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event;
• Option to attend Greater Philadelphia Area Docent Consortium events.

Apply to become a docent here!

Would you like to help create a positive experience for all visitors who pass through our doors? The majority of volunteer opportunities at the Museum are in this department.

As a Visitor Services volunteer, you would serve on the Museum’s front-line, greeting, directing, and otherwise assisting guests, to ensure that their visits are easy and enjoyable ones. Volunteers can be stationed by the Museum entrance, in the coatroom, throughout exhibit areas, or elsewhere out on the floor, and must demonstrate ongoing willingness and flexibility to work in any of these areas as required. 

No special education or knowledge base is required. The only requirements are that you:

• Are friendly, outgoing, polite, and helpful.
• Genuinely like interacting with people of ALL ages and backgrounds, and are comfortable addressing groups.
• Can and will remain enthusiastic and courteous while conveying the same information (or performing the same basic tasks) repeatedly.
• Are at least 16 years of age.
• Can remember and convey directions and instructions clearly.
• Are responsible, dependable, and punctual.
• Can commit to working at least one 4-hour shift every other week (although weekly is strongly preferred) for a minimum of six months

Apply to become a volunteer here!

Limited openings may also be available in the Museum Store (welcoming & assisting customers, cleaning & arranging displays, etc.). These positions have the same minimal requirements as above, including the ability to stand for your full shift. *
 
* We are happy to accommodate those in wheelchairs/scooters who otherwise qualify.

Apply to become a volunteer here!

Volunteer opportunities may arise in additional areas, but are not currently (or frequently) available. Please feel free to check back here periodically for any updates.

Our college internship program has been suspended in the interest of the health and safety of students and staff.