New Orleans is an incredibly special place, sometimes thought of as one of the most honest places in the country. Our roads have more potholes than road, our streets flood, things move slowly, there are celebrations in the street, and everyone is a storyteller if you stop and listen. There is magic in abundance.
The city is on the ancestral homelands of the Chitimacha, Houma, and Choctaw peoples.
Jewish Service Corps Members turn their passion into action by serving in cities across the country at local organizations doing critical economic justice work at the community level. Communities in New Orleans are affected by intersectional social justice issues, some of them inflated by the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina. Corps Members in New Orleans work on a wide range of issue areas like environmental justice, access to healthcare, and the criminal legal system.
Placements can change year to year, but check out the organizations our Corps Members are currently serving:
Swipe to see all placements
Housing Insecurity
Healthcare
Criminal Legal System
Housing Insecurity
Other
Education & Youth Development
Criminal Legal System
Housing Insecurity
Food Insecurity
Housing Insecurity
In each city, Avodah provides a fully furnished, rent-free, communal home where Corps Members work collectively to form communities where everyone can have their needs met, their authentic selves are seen, and their growth pushed in loving ways. Learn more about living communally in the Service Corps.
This year, the New Orleans bayit features 1 single bedroom and 3 double bedrooms.
New Orleans Corps Members live together in the vibrant neighborhood of Milan (pronounced MY-lan). Milan puts the “neighbor” in “neighborhood.” It’s a close-knit community of friendly folks who look out for each other. The St. Charles streetcar can quickly whisk you to any number of restaurants, nightlife, and arts & culture options. The neighborhood also borders one of the main Mardis Gras parade routes, bringing the party right to you!
Nearest Public Transportation
St. Charles Streetcar and the 9 bus line. It’s about 35 minutes via public transit to downtown New Orleans.
Driving & Parking
Sometimes, there is room for 1-3 cars in the driveway. There is also ample street parking surrounding the bayit. It’s about 15 minutes via car to downtown New Orleans.
New Orleans is a colorful city full of DIY creativity and lively celebrations. The warmth of the climate is reflected in its people and find them enjoying free festivals, tons of live music, community barbecues, second lines, and art walks. Like the jazz that the city is known for, it’s recommended that Corps Members come in with flexibility and openness to embracing Southern culture.
Looking for green space? You’ll find lush greenery at every corner including City Park, Garden District, Crescent Park, and Armstrong Park.
Corps Members meet regularly with Program Directors who are happy to share their local knowledge and recommendations! If you have a New Orleans-specific question you’d like answered, you can reach New Orleans Program Director, Ed at neworleans@avodah.net.
Grab a coffee from Pagoda Café, a local worker-owned cooperative
See a show at Hi-Ho Lounge
Order a Highlife from Milan Lounge
The Jewish community in New Orleans is large and very welcoming to new Avodahnicks looking to plug into religious or Jewish communal life. The bayit is located within walking distance of two synagogues, but there are plenty to choose from. Some congregations and groups include:
Congregations
• Touro Synagogue (Reform)
• Anshe Sfard (Orthodox)
• Temple Sinai (Reform)
• Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie (Reform)
• Shir Chadash in Metairie (Ashkenazi Conservative)
• Beth Israel in Metairie (Ashkenazi Modern Orthodox)
Community Organizations
• Kol HaLev is a pop-up Shabbat Group specializing in meditative Shabbat practice
• JNOLA: Professional networking, community service, and educational and social engagement for Jews in their 20s & 30s
• OneTable: Provides financial and programmatic resources for Shabbat Dinners.
Every year, Jewish Service Corps Members put their values into action, serving at organizations doing critical justice work in Chicago, New Orleans, New York City, and Washington, D.C. At Avodah, we believe in the power and importance of developing deep, authentic...
When Representative Larvadain III asked Sam if people of her generation would make Louisiana a home under these conditions, the subtext of the question seemed to be: Will you settle down and accept this proposed injustice as the new status quo? Sam said, emphatically, no. Continue reading
Last week, our community in New Orleans commemorated Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall 20 years ago along the Gulf Coast. We reflect on Avodah’s presence in New Orleans and the lessons we’ve learned about community in the wake of disaster.
