Rachelli Royde is a volunteer tutor for the telephone-based learning programme that matches Jews who want to learn more about their heritage with a tutor for up to an hour a week. Rachelli is also a volunteer for Camp Simcha. For the past five years she has been a teacher at Naima Jewish Preparatory School in Maida Vale
Why Pal?
I decided to register with Pal after American minister Rabbi Paysach Krohn came to London to give a lecture in memory of a friend, a community activist who had passed away at a young age. He spoke about an American organisation called Partners in Torah and suggested it should be launched in England. As soon as I heard about it, I knew I’d be interested in volunteering. I love making new friends and talking on the phone and felt that as well as spending time chatting, Pal would allow me to use my mobile for something good! I began tutoring for Pal after its UK launch in 2005.
What does your volunteering involve?
At an arranged time each week, I telephone my Pal learning partner. We spend about an hour on the phone, learning about kashrut. Generally we spend the first few minutes chatting about our week and then move on to studying. If any questions crop up that I feel out of my depth to answer, Pal can always put me in touch with a rabbi for guidance.
What do you most enjoy about being a volunteer?
I find that not only am I giving, but I am gaining so much myself. The Pal hour gives me the opportunity to improve my own kashrut knowledge, while guiding someone else at the same time.