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Mitzvah Day 2015 Report Welcome to Mitzvah Day 2015 Dan Rickman

As the recently appointed Director of Mitzvah Day it is my absolute pleasure to launch the new look and feel of Mitzvah Day 2016, which this year will take place on 27th November.

It’s hard to think of a time when we Mitzvah Day is expanding and didn’t see the Mitzvah Day green becoming an even greater force for t-shirts come out in force every good. We ran 550 Mitzvah Days in November, and yet it’s easy to forget 21 countries in 2015 and we’ve seen that Mitzvah Day is only eight years growth in our essential interfaith work, old. Our challenge is to ensure that and our project which engages young Jewish led Mitzvah Day continues to adults. Our Mitzvah Day Together evolve and make an impact on as many programme supports disabled people volunteers and charities as possible. to participate in volunteering, and we have continued to work with non- So much work goes into making sure Jewish schools and offices. Mitzvah Day happens. This year we have focused on making sure we deliver the This report gives you the opportunity most efficient Mitzvah Day ever. to reflect on what we have achieved in 2015, and for us to showcase how we Our new website and database will plan to grow in 2016 and beyond. make it easier than ever to register as a partner, and to find and participate We look forward to seeing you on in a Mitzvah Day project. 27th November 2016.

1 Mitzvah Day 2015 Social action in numbers and reaction Laura Marks 550 40,000 partners; an increase people taking part in A and an imam walk of 47 from last year projects around the world into a kitchen… That actually happened on 22nd November 2015. Mitzvah Day made it happen. 2,000 225 But not just and imams and not just We embody the current political kitchens. On Mitzvah Day, volunteers from imperative for integration, engaging projects globally international partners across seven faith communities and none people in local community and bringing came together to work on meaningful people who are different, together. social action projects. Volunteering on a Mitzvah Day project highlights what everybody has in But ‘meaningful’ isn’t just about the common. 75 end result of the project. Mitzvah Day is there to give our 40,000 volunteers Everybody’s humanity. active groups: unaffiliated young adults an individually meaningful experience Everybody’s striving for community. around the world as well. The spark that happens when Everybody’s caring. people join forces, and do good deeds Everybody’s ability to contribute. while chatting and sharing anecdotes and recipes: that’s what our work is Every time a Muslim and a Jew peel about. potatoes side by side, it builds bridges, 98,000 challenges stereotypes and makes our volunteer hours, Immediately after the terrorist atrocities streets safer. in Paris, being able to introduce a French well over 11 years Jew living in to a British Muslim Interfaith integration is not just for and send them to entertain residents of rabbis and imams and religious a retirement home together: that’s what leaders. It’s all the more important at a our work is about. Or helping a Jewish grassroots level. 72 sixth former to bring a food collection interfaith projects; a substantial increase project to their whole non-Jewish school: We are driving this agenda, bottom up. on last year’s record-breaking 55 that’s what our work is about. Do join us.

2 3 Mitzvah Day 365 Because we Making a difference were strangers. all year round A focus on refugees

Mitzvah Day in November is the peak of our calendar A significant focus of Mitzvah Day’s work this year has and it serves to enthuse our volunteers from one year to been supporting refugees. As a humanitarian crisis, the next. Many of our partners run projects on a regular which so strongly echoes the Jewish experience, we basis, continuing to build on the relationships kindled by have done all we can to mobilise volunteers from across Mitzvah Day. communities and faiths to do their bit.

But we also organise a year-round This year, Mitzvah Day organised refugee On Mitzvah Day itself, dozens of And we are currently planning a nappy programme of events, some tied to the projects on these themes. projects were refugee-centered: from drive to support a new Christian led day, Jewish calendar, some to other faiths’. collections of toiletries to cooking for Society Sunday, for asylum seekers and In the interfaith world, Sadaqa Day is asylum seekers. Work has continued refugees who need them most. Tu Bishvat is a time for tikkun olam: our fledgling counterpart in the Muslim year round, with several collectathons repairing the world. Volunteers from community, on which we delivered on Sadaqa Day. All these projects are run hand in hand Ealing to Kiev ‘put on their wellies’ and 10 Jewish-Muslim projects across with our charity partners who really tended to the environment. Purim and the country. And a Christian interfaith Our Pesach campaign followed suit: understand the issues, and how to Pesach focused on : alleviating initiative, Society Sunday, is coming up Don’t pass over helping a stranger make our contribution meaningful. hardship. A Purim tradition is ‘mishloach on 12 June. We’ll run projects then too. this Passover. manot’, giving gifts to people in need; and Pesach is about helping strangers. Overall, 2015-16 has shown every day really is a Mitzvah Day Case study: Northwood & Pinner Liberal Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue organised Case study: an entire day of collectathons and talks to show that ‘Refugees are Welcome’. Moishe House London’sintroduction FEAST! to social environments for vulnerable adults. FEAST! runs fortnightly throughout the Working with the Council of Christians and , year, and started as a collaboration the synagogue has been acting as a hub for Co-ordinator Hannah Style said, “We between young adults from Moishe donations for refugees. Most significantly, on would not have been able to facilitate House and a local homeless shelter in Mitzvah Day NPLS launched a new partnership with such a wonderful programme were it Kilburn, Conway House. the Islamic Centre, High Wycombe. not for our involvement and success with Mitzvah Day last year, when Using surplus food donated by the local Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, a veteran of Mitzvah Day we ran a one-off bake-athon for the Sainsbury’s, Moishe House community for the past eight years, drove donations to High homeless at this same residence. It members work with Conway House Wycombe with both Muslim and Jewish volunteers, has now blossomed into something so residents to cook something creative, cementing this new and exciting relationship 4 important for so many people.” 5 then all eat together. It is a wonderful re- between the faith groups. The growth of Mitzvah Day Mitzvah Day International

550 550 500 500 460 450

400 350 350 Mitzvah Day 2015 saw 305 Case study: 300 projects taking place in 21 Magen David Adom UK 250 different countries spread 200 175 200 The British Ambassador 20 years. Students across 4 continents. to Israel, His Excellency were given a tour of the 150 David Quarrey, joined MDA centre and learnt 135 120 130 100 100 120 over 50 students from about volunteering 100 65 65 88 The Jewish community of Krakow got three Commonwealth opportunities. 50 together to collect books and make partner countries, Britain, Australia and South This was followed by 0 bookmarks for the Regional Library – at a historic blood drive at a hugely successful 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 as well as collecting clothing and food the MDA HQ blood donation, where a Jewish organisations running a Mitzvah Day (Partners) for the most needy in society. in Jerusalem. whopping 37 units were Costs (in £000s) given. “It was a really Until 2015, British special experience to Throughout Germany, communities nationals were unable to be able to get to know teamed up for 120 projects, mainly in donate blood in Israel due students from across the to risks associated with Commonwealth whilst support of refugees. In Berlin, 60 Mad Cow Disease. These uniting for this amazing How we spend Jewish and Muslim volunteers spent British students were cause” (Adam Ellis, Bnei the day in a shelter for refugees – therefore the first group Akiva Torani participant) to have donated blood cooking, entertaining, teaching and in the country for almost our donors’ money playing games. There were also projects focused on senior citizens, people with , victims of Projected budget Project costs terrorist attacks, the environment for 2016 and animal welfare. £200,000 Interfaith projects International projects In 2016 we aim to launch Mitzvah Day Communications Poland and Mitzvah Day Belgium to join Australia and Germany. In difficult Overheads times for Jews around the world, Mitzvah Day provides a platform for Jews to demonstrate what we Core staff costs do best: giving back.

6 7 Thank you to our supporters

MAJOR DONORS: Ruwaida & Shabir Randeree Pears Foundation Ruth & Jeremy Smilg Department for Communities & Local UJIA Government The Worth Charitable Trust Clore Duffield Foundation Joy and Stanley Cohen Charitable Trust European Jewish Fund Natan Fund MITZVAH DAY MENSCHES: Shoresh Charitable Trust Roberta Benscher The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust Sue Charles & Richard Goldstein Sarah & Lionel Derriey PATRONS: Jeremy Franks & Chris Lenihan Edwards Foundation Gloria & Raymond Freeda Sara & Paul Phillips Nick Grant Bianca & Stuart Roden Shelley Jacobson & Brendan Robinson The Maurice Wohl Charitable Raymonde Jay Foundation Lord Howard & Lady Jennifer Leigh Peter Oppenheimer - Annual Giving Fund Benjamin Leighton Charitable Settlement Alicia & Steven Lewis FRIENDS: Dvora & Michael Lewis The Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust Richard Marchant The Benson Black Memorial Alexandra Marks Charitable Trust Shirley & John Marks The Bergman Lehane Trust Met Traders Group Sir Victor & Lady Sylvia Blank Mintz Family Foundation Trust Lady Susan Chinn CBE & Gia & Amir Nathan Sir Trevor Chinn CVO Bianca & Gary Sakol Noleen & John Cohen Galia & David Sher Judy & Paul Dewinter Esther & Edwin Shuker Fayre Share Foundation Lucy & Lee Sidney Barbara & Stanley Fink Foundation The Rosalyn and Nicholas Springer David & Denise Joseph Charitable Trust Loftus Family Charitable Trust Sally & Simon Style Nicola & Jon Mendelsohn Anita & Jeffrey Walker Near Neighbours Fund Canon Guy Wilkinson Nimrod Capital LLP Additionally, other families and friends Rachel Charitable Trust plus anonymous supporters

8 9 Thank you Team Charles Haberdashers’ Aske’s School Mosaic Jewish Primary School Hendon Toby & Friends for Girls Naima Jewish Primary School Highgate Synagogue Young Whitefield Hartsbourne Primary School North Cheshire Jewish Primary Ilford Federation Synagogue Lillie & Friends Lady Nafisa School School Jersey Jewish Congregation to our partners Eitan’s Barmitzvah Project Watford Grammar School For North West London Jewish Day Kingston Liberal Synagogue Mitzvah Day Active Interfaith Boys Jsoc School Kol Chai Hatch End Reform Jewish Charities St John’s Wood Synagogue Cheder Sisters of Faith for Peace Noam Maayane Or Alex Dwek & Yousif Hussain City of London Girls School Rimon School Community AJEX Woodside Park Synagogue Cheder Somali Bravanese Welfare Association North Shore Teen Initiative Celine Choukroun & Friends Highgate Rosh Pinah Primary School Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogue Barnardo’s Communities St Albans Abbey Now What (in New York) Elana Wall Anthony Nolan Spit Kit Aldenham School Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary Leicester Progressive Jewish Manna Society Birmingham Jewish Community St Gabriel’s Ethiopian Orthodox Onechild Ghana Social South Hampstead High School School Congregation British Red Cross Cardiff Church Temple Avodah Jodie & friends Nurseries Simon Marks Jewish Primary School Magen Avot The FED of Oxford St Mark’s Church Temple Israel Cape Town Olly Marks & friends Active Learning JW3 Sinai Jewish Primary School Synagogue The Judith Trust Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish St Michael’s Church Ulus Jewish School Ryan Monis & Farrid S Alonim Kindergarten Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School Manchester Reform Synagogue Tikun Community St Paul’s Church Union of Jewish Women Durban Sara Renshaw & Dawn Savidge Apples and Honey Nursery Wolfson Hillel Primary School Trussel Trust Hakorot Book Club St Peter’s Church Union of Jewish Women East London Mitzvah Day Active Global Brondesbury Park Synagogue Scouts & Guides Mill Hill Synagogue Borehamwood Food Bank Harlow Jewish Community St Philips Centre Union of Jewish Women Johannesburg Alex & Friends Shanghai Nursery 13th Altrincham Brownies Muswell Hill Synagogue Spring Grove - Clore Manor St Teresa parish in Elstree Union of Jewish Women National Executive Alexandra’s Interpid Tour India Bushey Gan 20th Finchley Scouts Ner Yisrael Age UK Camden JW3 Stanmore Baptist Church Council Ashley & Friends Atlanta Danescroft Nursery 22nd Hampstead Sea Scout Group New North London Synagogue Ashford place Langdon Community The Council of Christians and Jews Union of Jewish Women Port Elizabeth Benji’s Interfaith Power and Light EAYC Nursery 4th Borehamwood Guides & Senior Bike Project League of Jewish Women Manchester Unity - Faith Home and Community WRJCC The Waterloo Region Jewish Washington FRS Kindergarten Section Newcastle Hebrew Congregation Camp Simcha League of Jewish Women Pinner Watford Interfaith Association Community Council Brody & Friends Texas Gad Yachad 5th North Finchley Brownies Newcastle Reform Synagogue Chai Cancer Care Jewish Rep Council Welwyn Hatfield Inter Faith Group Zwi Perez Chajes Schule (ZPC School) Cassie’s Global Autism Project, USA Gan Alon Nursery 6th Edgware Rainbows Northwood and Pinner Liberal Chana Lincolnshire Jewish Community Womens Inter faith Network Camden Daniel & Friends LA Gilah Nursery Girl Guiding Elstree & Borehamwood Synagogue Dashwood House Maccabi GB York University Islamic Students’ Mitzvah Day Australia (68 Danni & Friends Melbourne Kerem School Early Years Unit District Northwood United Synagogue Doorstep Homeless Families Project Maccabi GB Manchester Society communities) David & Friends Paris Kindergarten in the Wood- St Johns The Warriors Trefoil Guild Nottingham Liberal Synagogue Emunah Maccabi GB Scotland Nisa Nashim EUJS Austria Wood Synagogue Secondary Schools Ohr-Yisrael Synagogue GIFT Merseyside Jewish Representative International Partners Mitzvah Day Germany (100 EUJS Belguim Little Bicks Gan Katan Hasmonean High School Girls Pinner United Synagogue Goods for Goods Council 92Y communities) EUJS France Little Bicks Gan Orre Immanuel College Radlett Reform Haven House Children’s Hospice Mosaic Jewish Community Adath Shalom EUJS Italy Little Bicks Gan Shani JCoSS Radlett United Synagogue Heathlands Village Norwich Jewish Community Atid Jewish Organisations EUJS Lietuva Little Bicks Gan Yisrael JFS School Redbridge United Synagogue Homeless Action Barnet Oxford Jewish Congregation B’nai B’rith - Lodge “Filon” Athens (CST) EUJS Netherlands Nagila Nursery- EDRS King David High School Liverpool Sha’are Hayim Synagogue J Living PJ Library Greece Embassy of Israel EUJS UK Nursery Yavneh College Sha’arei Tsedek, North London JAMI Stanmore & Edgware League of Beit Rambam Friendship Circle Eva & Friends Atlanta Tracy Lewis Childcare Synagogues Reform Synagogue JCORE Jewish Women Bet Shalom Barcelona Jewish Agency Gideon & Friends Jerusalem Yavneh Nursery (Woodside Park) Aberdeen Hebrew Congregation Sheffield Jewish Congregation Jewish Blind and Disabled Winchester Jewish Community CEJI-A Jewish Contribution to an Jewish Baby Directory and The Hadassa & Friends Jerusalem Office Interfaith Alei Tzion Synagogue Jewish Care York Liberal Jewish Community Inclusive Europe Toy Drop Jasmine & Friends New York AAK Alyth (NWRS) Jewish Women’s Aid Helping Hands Chai FM Jewish Youth of Athens Alzheimer’s Society Barnet Synagogue South Bucks Jewish Community Kentish Town Farm Wessex Jewish Community Comunidad Israelita de Barcelona Liberal Josh’s Himalayas Project Angst Productions Bedfordshire Progressive (SBJC) Interfaith Partners Comunidad Judía Masorti Bet-El Jüdische Österreichische Arram Berlyn Gardner Synagogue (Rodef Shalom) South Hampstead Synagogue Kisharon Bike Shop Acomb Methodist Church Council of KwaZulu-Natal Jewry Tag International Development HochschülerInnen Berwin Leighton Paisner Belmont United Synagogue South London Liberal Synagogue KitAid Albanian Muslim Community Cukunft Jewish Association The League of Jewish Women Julie & Friends Greece Breakthrough Media Belsize Square Synagogue South Manchester Synagogue Langdon All Saints Friern Barnet Dor Vador The UK Kabbalah Centre Kara & Friends Claire Randall Consulting Ltd Bet Klal Yisrael Southgate Progressive Synagogue LJS Drop-in for Asylum Seeker American International Church Emanu-El Congregation, Odessa The United Synagogue Kelli’s LA Amistad Project Creative and Commercial Bet Tikvah Synagogue St Albans United Synagogue Families Ayesha London Muslim School Escola Beit Yaacov Brazil UJIA Leora & Friends Jerusalem Dropbox Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue St John Wood Synagogue Magen David Adom UK Bangladeshi Mosque European UJS Midreshet Tehilla, Israel Ernst & Young Cambridge Stanmore and Canons Park Manna Meir Panim Bedford Council of Faiths (EUJS) WIZO UK MTA South Africa & Australia Facebook Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue Marie Curie Hospice Bhativadanti Manor Federation Synagogues Womens Naomi’s Yoga Project Chicago Hamilton Leigh Insurance Brokers Synagogue Stevenage Liberal Synagogue Nightingale Hammerson Bishop of Guilds The Board of Deputies of Nevatim, France Idea Couture Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation Sukkat Shalom (Edinburgh Liberal Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church Johannesburg Jsocs NY Connect Investec Brighton and Hove Progressive Jewish Community) North London Hospice Collaboration House Frankel Synagogue Birmingham Jsoc/Vscheme Pauline & Friends New York J2 Synagogue The Hampstead Village Shul & Norwood Emmanuel Edgware Church Green Valley/Sahuarita Mitzvah Day Bristol Jsoc Sarah’s Dolphin Project Nepal Kuit Steinart Levy LLP Reform Synagogue Cheder ReneCassin Enfield Mixed Choir Honen Dalim Glasglow Shappells, Israel Linklaters LLP Brondesbury Park Synagogue Watford And District Synagogue Save A Child’s Heart Faith Network 4 Manchester Irish Jewish Community Leeds Jsoc Taylor & Friends Atlanta Manuel Swaden Solicitors Buckhurst Hill Masorti Synagogue Welwyn Garden City Hebrew Separated Child Foundation Finchley Mosque Jabad Lubavitch de Barcelona London Jsoc Team Alex USA! PWC Jewish & Christian Society Bury Hebrew Congregation Congregation Spread a Smile Gatton Primary School Javurá Reformista de Madrid Manchester Jsoc Temima & Friends Jerusalem QS Quacquarelli Symonds Bushey Shul Wembley United Synagogue St Mungos Broadway Hendon Mosque JDC India Nottingham Jsoc Torani, Israel Seddons Catford Synagogue Wessex Liberal Jewish Community Step By Step Kids Hertsborne Primary School Jewish community Brno Oxford Jsoc Venice & Friends San Fransico Telereal Trillium Central Synagogue West Central Liberal Synagogue Sufra NW London Holy Trinity Church Jewish Community Center in Warsaw Reading Jsoc Yszi & Friends Canada Uptown Events Chatham Memorial Synagogue of British Sunridge Court (Care Home) Husaini Islamic Centre Jewish Community Centre of Krakow Sheffield Jsoc Mitzvah Mummies Political Groups Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue Jews Tzedek ILEAD Jewish Community Lodz Sussex Jsoc Babes in the Wood St Johns Wood Barnet Councillors Cockfosters and North Southgate Western Marble Arch Synagogue Vision Aid Overseas Jesus House Jewish Congregation Helsinki Mitzvah Day Active United Synagogue Camden Councillors Synagogue Watford New Hope Trust King’s Cross Methodist Chapel Jewish Council of North Central Aviva and friends Babies & Bagels Manchester Department of Communities and Ealing Liberal Synagogue Wimbledon Synagogue West London Day Centre Kingston Methodist Church Florida Charlotte’s Dental Project Borehamwood and Elstree Local Government Ealing United Synagogue Woodford Forest United Synagogue Woodland Trust Kingston Mosque Jewish Federation of Northern New Daniel & friends Synagogue Enfield Council Edgware District Reform Synagogue Woodford Liberal Synagogue Salusbury World School Kingston Parish Church Jersey Daniel Eder’s Active Group Brondesbury Park Harrow Councillors Edgware Masorti Woodside Park Synagogue Chedarim Kingston Quakers Jewish Liberal Union in the Czech Gabriella & Friends Chabad Buckhurst Hill Hendon Conservative Association Edgware United Synagogue Yeshurun Synagogue Edgware United Synagogue Cheder Leeds Interfaith Forum Republic J Friends Chabad Elstree and Borehamwood Jnet (Jewish Network for Civil Edgware Yeshuran Youth Movements Aleph Learning Centre Leeds Mosque Jewish Relief Agency Jamie & Friends Ilana Banana at Rosetrees Servants) Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation BBYO Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue London Interfaith Centre Keren Or JLE Young Professionals Liverpool Jewish Community Mother Primary Schools Finchley Progressive Synagogue Cheder London Ismaili Community Kiev Masorti Community Jonny & Friends & Toddler Group Akiva Primary School Finchley Reform Synagogue Bnei Akiva Manchester Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue Medway Churches La Javurá Josh & Friends Beit Shvidler Primary School Finchley United Synagogue- Ezra Boys Cheder Muslim Council of Wales La Journée de la Mitzvah à Aix- Or Miriam & Friends Stanmore United Synagogue Broughton Jewish Primary school Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Ezra Girls Brondesbury Park Cheder Muslim Teachers’ Association Chalom Moishe House Feed the homeless Young Whitefield (Manchester) Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary Congregation Ezra Girls Manchester Cardiff Synagogues Nisa Nashim Lauder Athena Jewish Community project New North London Synagogue School Golders Green Synagogue FZY Chabad Ilford Cheder North Finchley Mosque School Moo’s Stanmore Conservation Crew Non-Jewish Schools Clore Shalom Primary School Hampstead Garden Suburb FZY North Hampstead Village Shul and Cheder Oxford Council of Faiths Mesusa Olivia and housemates Aldenham School Clore Tikva School Synagogue Youth Movement Kingston Liberal Synagogue Cheder Oxford Friends of the Earth Minian Barcelona Rachel’s Dementia Café Team Aylward Primary School Eden Primary School Hampstead Synagogue JLGB Maidenhead Synagogue Cheder Palmers Green Mosque Mitzvah Day Turkey Rebecca & Nat’s Homeless Project Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Hatch End Masorti Synagogue JLGB North Mill Hill Cheder Park End Church Mitzvah Day Australia Simon, Sally and friends Boys Immanuel College Preparatory Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation LJY-Netzer Muswell Hill Synagogue Cheder Radlett Churches Together Mitzvah Day Brazil Simon’s Survivor Centre Tea Party School Noam Masorti Youth New London Remark UK MJLF Sophie & Friends Independent Jewish Day School RSY Netzer Ohr Chadash Cheder Salaam Shalom Soup Kitchen Netzer South Africa Stacey & Friends Kerem School Sinai Youth Moriah Jewish Day School Tzofim London - Shevet Halutz 10 11 “Mitzvah Day is a model for social “Mitzvah Day is an excellent action. It reflects the values that example of how people liberals hold dear, bringing people from all walks of life come What they said together to make a difference to together, and it shows how their local communities. It’s about easy it is to put Jewish empowerment, responsibility and values into action for the benefit of all communities.” In 2015, Mitzvah Day has continued to integration.” Scotland’s First Minister engage with political leaders at all levels “I have an enormous amount Liberal Democrat leader Nicola Sturgeon from across the political spectrum. of pride in the generosity, Tim Farron We were particularly proud to welcome the selflessness and community Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Theresa May engagement shown on Mitzvah MP, to an interfaith cooking event, and the Day. In this challenged world, newly-elected Mayor of London we must strengthen links and “Mitzvah Day is a unique event Sadiq Khan to several projects on build bridges for tolerance and in that it not only brings together Mitzvah Day itself. harmony.” Chief Rabbi our own individual Jewish communities to help others, but “Mitzvah Day has become a unites ALL branches of Judaism Last year a wonderful thing happened to powerful movement for change, and ALL religions.” us here at Dashwood House. We received harnessing the enthusiasm of “I was delighted to recently Rabbi Danny Rich a massive food bank donation arranged thousands of people who want see, first-hand, some of Senior Rabbi of Liberal Judaism to give their time to make a by Mitzvah Day. We are a hostel for the important work that difference in their communities.” vulnerable young women near Mitzvah Day and Sadaqa Prime Minister David Cameron Gate. The donation helped keep many of Day are doing. It is all too our clients safe. It may have saved a life. easy for voluntary work to But certainly, just knowing that someone go unsung, but it is exactly cares can make a difference.” initiatives like this that help “Mitzvah Day has become a Jonathan to build the social fabric of shining illustration of social action. Dashwood House our country.” It does everything that powerful and “I am proud to have Home Secretary effective social action should do. taken part in many Theresa May It unites, it inspires, and it is creative. Mitzvah Day events. But above all it is hands on. It is Mitzvah Day is a brilliant effective and it makes thing happen.” “Philanthropy and support for the initiative which brings Ed Miliband wider community have always been people from different Former Labour Party leader core Jewish values, as has our “Mitzvah Day is an backgrounds together commitment to social action. Mitzvah impressive example of with one united goal.” Day is a wonderful expression of how barriers between Mayor of London these values as well as an expression faith communities can be Sadiq Khan of our duties as European citizens.” overcome through good will Dr Moshe Kantor and social action.” “As a Muslim, it was an honour and such a President of the European Stephen Timms Chair of the pleasure to work side by side with my Jewish Jewish Congress APPG on Faith and Society brothers and sisters on Mitzvah Day, working towards one goal. New friends were made and thus new bridges created between our very similar worlds and faiths. Onjali Rauf Founder and director of the 12 13 women’s rights charity Making Herstory Office 2 353-359 Finchley Road London NW3 6ET

+44 20 3747 9960 [email protected] www.mitzvahday.org.uk Mitzvah Day @MitzvahDay

Charity no. 1125682