Children from the two Jewish primary schools in Essex helped kick off the weekend of events for Mitzvah Day – the UK’s largest faith-based social action event. 

On Friday, pupils from the Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School (WIJPS) and Clore Tikva Primary spent the day cooking and baking. 

At WIJPS, toys were collected for Camp Simcha, which 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 producing cards and messages of kindness to accompany the products collected. 

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.

House captains Soraya and Kieran led the drive, Soraya saying: “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 Tivka, pupils collected items for the Redbridge Foodbank and Camp Simcha. They then joined Lenna Rosenberg and Rukhsana Yaqoob from Jewish and Muslim women’s group Nisa-Nashim to bake cupcakes for distribution to the homeless at the Friday Night Cafe of Hope at Jubilee Church, Ilford. 

Ms Rosenberg 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 the efforts of her pupils, Clore Tikva head Margot Buller said: “They are very aware of 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.”

It is anticipated that 25,000 people will take part in Mitzvah Day activities in the UK with many interfaith projects.