Mitzvah Day 2022 kicks off early with initiatives around London

As volunteers around the world get ready for Mitzvah Day on Sunday, organisers say many projects have started early, with rising fuel and food bills plus the cost of war in Ukraine making this year’s efforts even more important.

At Holland Park Synagogue there was a collection of goods for Kyiv in support of the local area’s Ukrainian Club, shul members being “very generous” with their giving, which was greatly appreciated at the Club.

United Synagogue staff wrapped presents that had been donated and will now go to children supported by various charities during Chanukah and the festive period.

At JW3 in Finchley, the Board of Deputies team helped with an inventory of the culture centre’s food bank which distributes more than 250,000 meals to neighbours in need.

Young Gratitude volunteer Noah helped to drop off 1,500 bulbs to local schools, religious buildings, and community groups of all faiths in Hertfordshire.

They will be coming together on Mitzvah Day for the food poverty charity, who are teaming up with ‘Garden On A Roll’ for a mass flower-planting project that will bring children, families and people of different backgrounds together to aid local biodiversity, improve the environment, and counteract climate change.

In Barnet, the Dollis Brookers group went litter-picking at the brook and viaduct. Shiri Atsmon from the group said: “We are so glad to be part of Mitzvah Day. Our most impressive item was a ruined old bicycle which was incredibly heavy!”

Elsewhere, Mitzvah Day chief executive Stuart Diamond attended an interfaith Remembrance Sunday service at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel with contributions from Rabbi Allen Maller, Rev Kate Dean, and Elizabeth Arif.

“As people from all faiths and backgrounds prepare to come together, we know that we can have a huge collective impact on causes that need our help all while building some beautiful interfaith connections along the way,” said Diamond.