A decade of making a difference

MITZVAH Day – the international day of good deeds – will be back for its 10th year on Sunday, November 15. Born out of the belief that everyone can make a positive difference to the world by taking action together, the worldwide Jewish community is set to unite over a myriad of projects that will take place at a grassroots level.

Mazon Australia – one of the 28 Victorian-based Mitzvah Day initiatives – will see its volunteers join St Kilda Mums to help sort donations. 

For those in desperate need of decluttering, B’nai B’rith Gesher-Rabin Unit and Environment Group are coming together with the Jewish Ecological Coalition (JECO) for a reverse garage sale. The groups are asking community members to contribute any items they no longer need – from batteries to bicycles, books to bras – in order to save them from landfill. 

Meanwhile, the children of Mount Scopus Memorial College’s Gandel Besen Centre will write letters and create cards to thank the essential workers who have been supporting Victorians through the pandemic.

And the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) (Vic) are calling on volunteers and supporters to donate various items (e.g. toys, books, perfume, bags, etc.) to include in special hampers that they will prepare for women and children of a local domestic violence shelter.

Connecting the community through friendship and food, C Care are holding a range of sessions throughout the day, giving volunteers the opportunity to help with cooking, packing and distribution of food and lovingly made meals for those who need it most. 

C Care will also be constructing special packages comprising a pot, seedling and soil – a gift to be shared with the recipient and volunteer pairs of its Buddy Initiative. Together, the recipients and volunteers will see their plant grow along with their fostered friendships.

“Mitzvah Day has given a platform to communal organisations, allowing them to showcase the many opportunities they offer to get engaged with meaningful work for our community,” said C Care co-founder and CEO Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson. “Some of our most longstanding volunteers were introduced to us through Mitzvah Day in previous years, so we are excited to participate again.”

Mitzvah Day committee member, Kerryn Lowe told The AJN, “It’s wonderful to see that so many groups have already registered their projects and also adapted them to be able to take part in Mitzvah Day for 2020.

“Perhaps this year, more than any other, it’s so important to reach out and support others within our Jewish and wider community.”

To register or join a Mitzvah Day project, visit mitzvahday.org.au/projects-2020/.