1. Can I work just over the summer or for periods shorter than 1 year?
   Due to the in-depth nature or our assignments, it is not possible to have placements shorter than one year through the JSC.
2. Do you need NY office volunteers?
   Volunteers are currently not needed in our NY office. The JSC only places volunteers in overseas communities.
3. Are any positions available for adults or teens? What is the age-range requirement for potential candidates?
   Due to the nature of our placements, we do not place teenagers. We welcome adult applicants, from recent college graduates to retirees.
4. Can I specify where I work or is it assigned randomly? Can I specify the type of work I do?
   While you can certainly state a preference among available placements, it is to your advantage to remain open to various possibilities. Your particular skills and strengths are matched with the specific needs of a community, thus it is difficult to predict which placement will be most appropriate for your skills set.
5. Where are your placements located?
   For a complete list of overseas countries that are currently served by the JSC, please go to www.jdc.org/how_volunteer.html. No positions are available in Israel or Latin America.
6. Can couples volunteer together?
   Yes, if appropriate placements are available. There have been couples placed in the past. Note that each individual must submit a completed application and go through the complete application process. Both individuals must meet eligibility criteria, be ready to serve in the JSC program, and have the particular combination of skills needed in a given placement.
7. Can I keep my Orthodox observance standards and/or keep kosher during my placement?
   It is possible to keep your Orthodox standards and keep kosher overseas in most of our placements – many of our volunteers have done so. Where ready-made kosher food is not available, you will rely on food made in your own apartment. There are a few placements where being Shomer Shabbat would limit your involvement in a community, and we would not place you there.
8. Do I have to be a United States citizen in order to volunteer?
   The JSC accepts volunteers from all over the world. Those applying from the United Kingdom are welcome to apply either directly through JDC or through World Jewish Relief's Time for Life Program.
9. Is there a specific starting date for placements or do they begin when they become available?
   Most placements begin in the summer, but sometimes placements can become available at other times.
10. Where can I get literature with more information about JDC and the Jewish Service Corps? Where do I get an application?
    For more information about the current worldwide work of the JDC, see www.jdc.org/programs.html. For additional literature on the Jewish Service Corps, and to download an application, please go to www.jdc.org/how_volunteer.html.
11. Whom can I contact for additional information regarding the JSC?
    For a brochure or a personal conversation about your application, contact Melanie Levav, Director of Volunteer Programs at 212-885-0849 or via e-mail at volunteer@jdc.org.

12. How long does the application process usually take?
    All applications should be submitted complete with three required references, preferably by the end of January. The length of the process depends on the number of suitable candidates for each placement option. The process includes a phone interview, a personal interview, and an interview with the respective JDC country director. While we endeavor to complete each placement as soon as we can, our full, and careful screening process can conclude as late as May.
13. How many volunteers are placed in each country? Do volunteers work alone?
    The number of volunteers serving in each country depends on the specific needs of that country. Most of our volunteers serve alone, but in some cases, volunteers may serve in groups of two or three.
14. What is the support system like once you're overseas?
    JDC offers a short orientation program in New York and a mid-year group seminar somewhere in Europe or Israel. A JDC country director, usually based in Israel or Europe, provides supervision during the year. JDC staff in New York also provide support and volunteers work closely with local Jewish communal volunteer leaders and/or professionals.
15. Are there any other programs similar to JSC that you offer or are aware of?
    We urge you to consider a joint project of JDC and the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, which is generously funded by the family of Ambassador Milton Wolf - The Roslyn Z. Wolf Fellowship Program. See www.jdc.org/how_wolf.html. If our programs are not suitable for you, there are other service-oriented programs offered by other organizations. A good resource for finding these programs is the Jewish Coalition for Service, of which we are an affiliate. Go to www.jewishservice.org.

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