At Clore Tikva School, pupils and parents collected toys for Camp Simcha and donated food for Chabad Aid. The children also brought to life the Mitzvah Day theme of 20 Years of Building Bridges, with youngsters from Years 5 and 6 reading and working with the younger pupils in Years 1 and 2.

The school’s Head of Jewish Studies Samantha Bendon said: “Mitzvah Day was wonderful, especially seeing our children building new friendships and connections. The most important thing is these good deeds will continue throughout the year.”

At Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School, families supported Mitzvah Day collections for Camp Simcha UK and Nishkam SWAT, the Sikh charity which distributes food to homeless and financially disadvantaged people in the local area.

WIJPS Jewish Studies Lead Deborah Harris said: “A huge thank you to our community, whose generosity will truly make a difference.”

Year 5 pupils then visited Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House in Ilford, sharing conversation and laughter with the residents – bringing plenty of smiles.

Wallace Leventhal, who lives in the care home, said: “It is so nice to interact with young people and see their amazing smiles.”

The children were equally enthusiastic, with young Isabella saying: “It was an amazing experience… finding out fascinating facts about them.”

Residents at Vi & John Rubens House also enjoyed a celebration funded by Cranbrook United Synagogue, with members’ artwork displayed throughout the week.

Children at the East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue Cheder made Mitzvah Day cards for the community’s Friendship Club, while the adults volunteered at Haven House Children’s Hospice. At both Ilford Federation Synagogue and Jewish Care’s Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, members collected food donations for Chabad Aid.

The anniversary was marked with a variety of good deeds well beyond Essex – with 40,000 volunteers taking part across the world. This year’s flagship project was the Big Soup Serve, reaching its goal of delivering 5,000 portions of soup for the homeless and vulnerable.

Looking back over the day and the last 20 years, Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks CBE said: “We know Jewish communities support local charities day in and day out. But what we saw on Mitzvah Day raised the bar, engaged new people and causes, strengthened essential bridges between communities, and maybe most importantly, felt great.”

• WIJPS and Clore Tikva pictures by Karen Zetter

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Pioneered by The Samaritans and brought to faith communities by Mitzvah Day, Brew Monday aims to dispel the myth that the third Monday in January is the most depressing of the year.

The goals of the day are to give people the chance to connect over a hot (or cold) drink, to combat the loneliness and isolation that many feel at this time, and to reduce stigma around mental health.

Mitzvah Day Chair Laura Marks CBE – who shared her brew with actress Louisa Clein – explained: “Even something as simple as a quick chat or phone call, over a favourite drink, can mean a great deal to someone who may be going through a difficult time.

“Brew Monday is another opportunity for us to remind the world that a good deed, no matter how big or small, can change someone’s day.”

Taking on board the call of ‘out with the blue, in with the brew’, communal organisations taking part included the Board of Deputies, Jewish Representative Council, Progressive Judaism and Leo Baeck College. They were joined by clergy of all faiths from Neasden Hindu Temple, Christ Church Hendon, Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue and other places of worship.

The entire team at Work Avenue – the community’s leading employment and business support organisation – joined in, and also provided a blog on supporting mental health in the workplace.

On a national level, major institutions supporting the initiative included the NHS, Network Rail, Freemasons, Three and Cambridge University.

Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond said that the spirit of Brew Monday is something that should be embraced all year round.

He added: “At Mitzvah Day, we believe every day is a good day for a cuppa and a catch-up with someone you care about. A conversation can make a huge difference. Let’s always show kindness and support to those around us.”

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Those recognised included Jewish Blind & Disabled’s tenants (some of who are pictured at the top and bottom of this article), spearheaded by two passionate volunteers living in Milne Court in South Woodford.

For the last few years, JBD tenants have donated non-perishable food items for GIFT, toiletries for a local centre for asylum seekers and refugees, pre-loved books for Langdon’s online library and knitted twiddle muffs for patients with dementia.

This year, JBD asked them to donate items for Camp Simcha’s annual toy drive, an initiative designed to bring a boost to children spending the festive season in hospital – all of which were wrapped and distributed to wards and hospices throughout London, Hertfordshire and Essex.

Milne Court tenants Maureen Vanderberg and Adrienne Poole were instrumental in making the initiative a success – and celebrated in the Mitzvah Day Individual category.

Adrienne said: “I have such fond memories of making Chanukah special for my children when they were younger. It broke my heart to think of children who are spending the festive season in hospital and wanted to do something which would make a difference.”

Maureen added: “It is so important to do things for others who are less fortunate than yourself. It only takes one person to make an impact but we were blown away by the number of tenants who wanted to contribute. We are so proud of what we achieved together.”

The Mitzvah Day Awards – held at South Hampstead Synagogue – saw a large turnout as the Jewish community were joined by Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh friends and neighbours.

All stressed the need to continue the important work of interfaith social action, not only on Mitzvah Day but all year round, however difficult this may currently be.

Opening the event, Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks CBE said: “What makes these awards even more special is being joined by people from other faiths and communities. Mitzvah Day is all about being together and showing that, when we are united, we can make a real difference.”

South Hampstead Synagogue and Maidenhead Synagogue were awarded the Outstanding British Mitzvah Day prize, for which JBD were also nominated, with Maccabi Ukraine and the Union of Jewish Women Johannesburg picking up Outstanding International Mitzvah Day.

Mitzvah Day’s beneficiary charities were praised for the incredible work they do, with prizes given to Sebby’s Corner, The Separated Child Foundation, PJ Library, The Woodland Trust, Kisharon Langdon, Sufra NW London Community Kitchen and The Passage.

The evening also featured an insightful panel discussion, introduced by JLC CEO Claudia Mendoza and moderated by Mitzvah Day’s projects & partnership manager Laurie Shone.

Progressive Judaism co-lead Rabbi Josh Levy featured on the panel. He said: “A strong society is built on a network of relationships and connections between communities. Those relationships then sustain us when times, and conversations, are difficult. These deep relationships aren’t easy to build. Mitzvah Day is invaluable because it is one of those rare occasions where we get to meet people we don’t know and to work with them in a different way.”

Summing up the evening, Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond said: “Mitzvah Day shines a light on the heroes in our communities – the volunteers who dedicate themselves to service and the charities they empower. Together, they build bridges of understanding, tackle urgent needs, and make a lasting difference. Their stories inspire us all to embrace the power of collective action and create a kinder, stronger world.”

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More than 55,000 volunteers in Essex and beyond will ‘repair the world’ this November, as the theme for the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action was announced. 

The details of Mitzvah Day 2023 were revealed at a launch event attended by faith and community leaders. 

Mitzvah Day Founder and Chair Laura Marks CBE (pictured above) told those gathered: “Tikkun olam, the Jewish value to repair the world, is integral to all faiths and belief systems. 

“That is why this year we aim to give our time, collectively, to address the human inflicted damage both on vulnerable people and on our precious fragile environment.” 

Mitzvah Day 2023 will take place on and around Sunday 19 November. It has become established as a key social action event in the faith calendar – with backing from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and senior religious and civic leaders. 

Projects this year will be focussed on three key ways to repair the world: 

• Loneliness: Offering connection to people who are lonely through visits, calls and card-making. 

• Hunger: Collecting, cooking and sharing food to feed people who are hungry and vulnerable. 

• The Earth: Repairing the damage inflicted on our planet through planting and cleaning. 

The theme was warmly welcomed by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who said: “We cannot solve all of the world’s problems in one day, but every small step helps – and Mitzvah Day gives us all the chance to make the most of that opportunity. 

Rabbis Josh Levy and Charley Baginsky – the CEOs of Reform and Liberal Judaism – told how they were “delighted” to be supporting the launch. 

They added: “It is in the connections made on Mitzvah Day – connections within communities, between communities and between the Jewish world and other faiths – that we have a chance to make a real difference and repair our world.” 

Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond highlighted the many different charity partners teaming up with Mitzvah Day this year. 

He said: “I am delighted that so many charities and causes are supporting our theme including the Trussell Trust, Age UK, Jewish Care, Norwood, Felix and Eco Judaism. We look forward to many regular and brand new volunteers, co-ordinators and charity partners joining us this November in repairing the world.” 

The Mitzvah Day 2023 launch was held at the new BNJC – Brighton & Hove Jewish Community Centre. 

Guests included Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman – who made history by becoming Brighton & Hove’s first Muslim Deputy Mayor – and Councillor Julie Cattell, Rabbi Hershel and Rebetzen Perler Rader of Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation, Titular Archbishop of Selsey Jerome Lloyd, Revd Godfrey Kesari, Board of Deputies Vice President Amanda Bowman, BNJC CEO Mark Sugarman and Peter Wells from The Brighton and Hove Interfaith Contact Group. 

They were joined by representatives of the Church of England, Diocese of Suffolk, Archbishop of York’s Office, Sussex Jewish Representative Council, Brighton & Hove Reform Synagogue, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue and the local Bahá’í community. 

To fit in with the theme, all those attending the launch brought toiletries for the Brighton Housing Trust, a local charity dedicated to combating homelessness, poverty and marginalisation. 

• To find out more about Mitzvah Day, please visit www.mitzvahday.org.uk.

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Children from the two Jewish primary schools in Essex performed good deeds to kick off Mitzvah Day – the UK’s largest faith-based social action event – and help those in need locally.

The pupils at Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School (WIJPS) and Clore Tikva Primary School, both in Barkingside, spent Friday collecting and baking to help others. 

At WIJPS, students collected toys for Camp Simcha – a charity that supports seriously ill children – and toiletries for the asylum seeker drop-in centre run by Woodford Forest United Synagogue. Each year group also had their own project, including making cards and messages of kindness to go along with the products collected for the two charities. 

They also made cards, pictures, drawings and bunting to bring cheer to the residents at Jewish Care’s Vi and John Rubens House – the only Jewish home in the Redbridge area. 

Year six pupils and school house captains Kieran and Soraya spoke to the Essex Jewish News about the drive. 

Soraya said: “Mitzvah Day is about showing kindness to everyone and helping people in need. It doesn’t matter who they are, or what religion they are, it’s all about helping and caring for other people.” 

Kieran added: “It is not about money or presents, but giving your time and effort. What makes a mitzvah special is putting your thought and feeling into it.” 

At Clore, children collected items for the Redbridge Foodbank and Camp Simcha. They then joined Lenna Rosenberg and Rukhsana Yaqoob from Muslim and Jewish women’s group Nisa-Nashim for to bake cupcakes that will be handed out at the Friday Night Cafe of Hope at Jubilee Church, Ilford, to feed the homeless. 

Lenna said: “Rukhsana and I are passionate about Mitzvah Day and having the opportunity to work with these wonderful children to make food for the homeless is incredibly satisfying and purposeful.” 

Reflecting on all her pupils had achieved on Mitzvah Day, Clore Tikva head Margot Buller said: “They are very aware of the world around them, and the needs of the world around them. Initiatives like Mitzvah Day shows how much we, and the children especially, want to help those who don’t have what we have. They have a drive and a passion to make our world a better place.” 

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