Mitzvah Day will look significantly different this year with nationwide acts of kindness that are lockdown compliant. And it will not be a day, rather a “month of mitzvahs”, continuing through November.
Organisers say the key focus will be on food poverty and loneliness, issues exacerbated by the pandemic.
Activities will be a continuation of the #EveryMitzvahMatters interfaith volunteering scheme launched during the first wave of lockdown.
Mitzvah Day chair Laura Marks told the JC: “I’m excited about the generous, thoughtful and targeted volunteering projects across faiths and backgrounds taking place during this month of lockdown, all real mitzvahs.”
More than 250 communities, organisations and businesses are expected to take part, plus 40 schools and nurseries and potentially thousands of individuals and family groups.
Many will be collecting for local food banks, often inviting their neighbours or community to get involved.
Others will support care home residents or the isolated through Zoom calls, recording videos, writing cards, shopping for groceries or picking up prescriptions.
Mitzvah Day is liaising with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local government to compile a list of permissible activities.
Projects that have already taken place include all the households in a Hillingdon street collecting for a local food bank and Newcastle United Hebrew Congregation members making parcels and “pamper packs” for a food bank in their area.
Jews, Christians and Muslims in Borehamwood are working on a project to welcome a new mosque in Maxwell Road. This will include donating items to Gratitude, a charity fighting hunger and food waste by redistributing food that cannot be sold in shops because of packaging errors or over-production.
Mitzvah Day chief executive Georgina Bye said: “We have seen throughout this pandemic how faith communities and individuals from all backgrounds have come together to support local needs.
“As we enter into further restrictions, we invite everyone to fill lockdown with kindness. We have a responsibility to care for the most vulnerable in our society.”
For further information, contact info@mitzvahday.org.uk or follow Mitzvah Day on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
