Germany: ESC: Jewish Life for Young an dOld

About the local hosting organization

Masorti e.V. , 2002 gegründet, ist eine gemeinnützige Organisation mit Sitz in Berlin, die durch Bildungsangebote für Juden jeden Alters zur Vielfalt jüdischen Lebens in Berlin, den deutschsprachigen Ländern und Europa beiträgt. Masorti e.V. betreibt als Träger der freien Jugendhilfe zwei Masorti Kindertagesstätten als Verbundeinrichtung in Berlin mit zur Zeit 80 Plätzen, organisiert Aktivitäten zu jüdischen Fest- und Feiertagen für Kinder und ihre Familien ebenso wie Konferenzen, Seminare und Angebote für junge Erwachsene, ehrenamtliche Gemeindemitglieder und Rabbiner*innen. Seit 2013 werden am Zacharias Frankel College, der Masorti Rabbinerausbildungsstätte als einem An-Institut der Universität Potsdam, Masorti Rabbiner*innen ausgebildet. 2018 wurde die Masorti Grundschule gegründet, deren Trägerschaft inzwischen auf die Masorti gGmbH, deren alleiniger Gesellschafter der Masorti e.V. ist, übergegangen ist. Im Schuljahr 2020/2021 werden in der Masorti Grunschule 50 Schüler*innen in den Klassenstufen 1-6 beschult. Der Verein ist Teil eines europäischen und internationalen Netzwerkes von Masorti Organisationen und engagiert sich auch in der inter-religiösen Arbeit, ist bspw. Teil des Berliner Forums der Religionen und plant die Gründung eines Dreireligionenkitahauses in Berlin. Die Vereinsprojekte für Gruppen und Einzelpersonen finden im Rahmen der Einheitsgemeinden des Zentralrats der Juden in Deutschland statt. Eine besondere Kooperation besteht mit der Synagoge Oranienburger Straße der Jüdischen Gemeinde zu Berlin, in der Rabbinerin Gesa Ederberg, Gründerin von Masorti e.V., als Gemeinderabbinerin amtiert. --- Masorti e. V. is a non-profit organisation founded in 2002 in Berlin. Our goal is to provide comprehensive Jewish education and Jewish lifestyle opportunities for children, students and adults throughout Germany and Europe. Masorti gives Jews of all backgrounds the opportunity to experience Jewish learning and Jewish life. Masorti runs two Jewish kindergartens in Berlin with 80 children in five bilingual mixed-age groups (German-Hebrew and German-English) and organises activities around the Jewish holidays for children and their families as well as conferences, seminars and other events for young adults, volunteers, community members and rabbis. The Zacharias Frankel College was founded as an affiliated institute of the University of Potsdam in 2013. It trains Masorti rabbis for Germany and abroad. The Jewish International School – Masorti Elementary School, founded in 2018, is a state accredited full-day school for grades 1 – 6 with about 50 children which welcomes diverse Jewish families that seek a welcoming and pluralistic learning environment. Masorti e. V. cooperates with European and international Masorti communities and organisations and is involved in inter-religious activities, for example in the founding of the Gardens of Three – three independent kindergartens – Christian, Jewish and Muslim – under one roof. Masorti e. V. runs projects within the framework of the Einheitsgemeinde – the local Jewish communities. It cooperates with the Synagogue Oranienburger Strasse in Berlin where Gesa Ederberg, the founder of Masorti e. V. officiates as a rabbi.

Presentation of the programme

Our Jewish Masorti Kindergarten in Berlin runs mixed-age bilingual groups (German-English/Hebrew), with altogether 50 children coming from families with diverse cultural backgrounds. The volunteer will be integrated in one of the groups and will assist the teachers on a daily basis. Spending a year in our kindergartens is a unique opportunity to get in touch with early childhood pedagogy, to become part of a multicultural team and to discover and experience Jewish life in Berlin!

About the accomodation

Our volunteer will have a separate room in a centrally located fully equiped flat. The volunteer shares the flat with max. two other young persons. During the week she/he will have breakfast, lunch & the afternoon snack in the kindergarten. For dinner and weekend meals she/he will receive a monthly allowance. A monthly ticket for public transportation (Deutschland Ticket) will be provided as well.

About the leisure activities

The volunteer will receive a pre-departure training by her/his sending organization before the start of the activity. The volunteer will participate in two EVS seminars while in Germany (on-arrival and mid-term-meeting). Additionally, Masorti e. V. will guide the individual learning process of the volunteer. The volunteer will have regular meetings with the coordinator/ mentor on different topics (every 2-3 months). The volunteer will also have the possibility to do a language course.

Requirements

The Participant profile: We are looking for a volunteer who is happy to be surrounded by children, is creative and shows initiative. Flexibility, responsibility and reliability are equally crucial characteristics necessary in this kind of activity. As for language skills, English is of importance for the everyday use; German would be a big advantage. We are asking volunteers from Programme Countries and Israel to apply.Deadline: 30/09/2026 23:59