Yom Kippur Avodah

All Avodah roles for Yom Kippur have now been filled.

Find Purpose in the Community

Many of us hunger for a sense of belonging – to be part of something bigger than ourselves. At Wilderness Torah, we encourage you to weave yourself into the fabric of people doing service and working behind the scenes together. It is the secret sauce to building community!

The Avodah work-exchange program is intended for both participants with financial need as well as anyone who wants to weave into the tapestry of the Wilderness Torah community.

Participating in Avodah is a great way to meet amazing people, save money, and cultivate a sense of purpose and belonging.

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UPDATE: We are no longer accepting Avodah applications. Avodah roles are now full!

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AVODAH TICKET OPTIONS:

Avodah Full: 10 hours of service for $36.00 ticket
Avodah Half: 5 hours of service for $125.00 ticket

Combine two 5-hour positions to create a FULL

Avodah Terms & Conditions (MUST READ)

IMPORTANT: Each Avodah role is integral to the health of the whole system. The hours you contribute with Avodah serve as payment for the event. When you are absent or late for your shifts, or you do not arrive at the festival by the agreed-upon time, your absence affects many others. Therefore, if you do not fulfill your agreed hours, you will be charged the difference after the festival at the rate of $25 per hour.

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Application: You must apply for Avodah by submitting the Avodah application. Once your application is processed, the Avodah Coordinator will email you a position offer and a special registration invitation email.

Confirmation: To hold your Avodah position you must reply with a “yes” to the offer email from the Avodah Coordinator within 48 hours. You must then register for the event within one week of receiving registration instructions.

Sickness or Injury: In order to attend our programs, Avodah participants must be healthy. If you must leave the event due to sickness or injury, you will not be responsible for making up your hours. If you become injured onsite and are unable to complete your Avodah hours as planned, but stay for the remainder of the event, you will be responsible for making up your hours at a later date or paying the difference (see “Completion” below).

Sharing Hours: You are not permitted to share hours with others as we are tracking each person’s commitment of Avodah hours. If you are not able to complete your hours, another person doing Avodah cannot take on your missing hours and vice versa.

If you need to change your Avodah hours because of scheduling conflicts or emergencies, please speak with the Avodah Coordinator to discuss other options.

Cancellations: If you register for your Avodah position and then cancel after Sunday, September 17 (one week before festival preparations begin), you will be required to pay the lowest adult registration fee ($250) and will not be allowed to participate in Avodah at future festivals until your debt is settled. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis for emergency situations, as well as for covid and other illness.

If you cancel before the above dates, refer to our event cancellation policy.

Completion: All Avodah hours must be completed within the two weeks following the event. If you are not able to complete them within this period you will be charged $25 per hour missed. Failure to pay this fee may affect your ability to participate in Avodah at future events.

Avodah Position Descriptions

PRE-FESTIVAL POSITIONS

Storage Work Party Day: Friday, September 22 (10am – 3pm) HALF

Have weekday availability and want to get a shift in before the event? Come help us inventory and organize our gear to get it ready to be packed up and loaded on the truck! Will likely require some heavy lifting.

Loading the Truck: Saturday, September 23 (9am – 2pm) HALF

Everything that is part of our village is transported in a big truck, loaded at our storage in Richmond. This position allows you the freedom to enjoy the holiday without working during the event! Will likely require some heavy lifting.

Unloading the Truck for Setup: Saturday, September 23 (4pm – 6:30pm) QUARTER

Meet us onsite at our venue in Sebastopol to unload everything from the UHaul so it’s ready to go for setup in the morning! This is a short shift that’s ideal for folks who live close to the venue. Will likely require some heavy lifting.

Setup: Sunday, September 24th (9am – 2pm) HALF

We will be getting ready for the holiday, erecting all structures, setting up the hearth, and putting up decorations. Come be a part of our pre-festival community and help build the village! This position also allows you to enjoy the holiday without working during the event.

Welcome Team: Sunday, September 24 (2pm – 7pm) HALF

Be a part of our wonderful welcome team! Check people in, help with orientation, and assist people with gear setup if needed.

MAIN FESTIVAL POSITIONS

Children’s Mentor: (various times) HALF

We are looking for friendly people to work with our children and teens for a few designated times during the festival. You must have experience working with young people ages 4+, ideally in an experiential, outdoor, and/or in a Jewish context. Please read through the Families section of our event before you apply and tell us about your experience on your Avodah application.

Hearth: (various times) HALF or FULL

Help our hearth (kitchen) nourish the village by lending your chopping, prepping, serving, organizing, and cleaning skills.

POST FESTIVAL

Breakdown: Monday, September 24 – Tuesday, September 25th (9pm – 10pm on Monday and 9am – 1pm Tuesday) HALF

It takes a village to build a village, and also to break it down! This position may require some heavy lifting and may include taking apart our modular structures, lighting, decorations, hearth, hand-washing stations, and all program related gear. Breakdown will begin during the final programming but primarily happen after the gathering.

Unloading the Truck: Tuesday, October 10 (10am – 3pm) QUARTER

After Sukkot, but you can also count this shift towards Yom Kippur! The whole village must be tucked away in our storage unit in Richmond until our next festival. This position will involve some heavy lifting.