Mitzvah Day
Mitzvah Day is a Jewish-led day of social action. Jewish communities all around the country perform good deeds to support some of the most vulnerable people in society, often volunteering side-by-side with people from other faiths and backgrounds.
Mitzvah Day takes place on the third or fourth Sunday in November. It is a Jewish-led day when people of all faiths and backgrounds come together to give their time, rather than their money, to help others.
It is the UK’s largest faith-based day of social action and fulfils the Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), gemilut chasadim (acts of kindness) and tzedek (justice).
The word mitzvah means commandment in Jewish law, but is also often used as a term to represent a good deed or an act of kindness – which is the basis for Mitzvah Day.
Volunteer projects that traditionally take on Mitzvah Day place include:
- Collecting warm clothes for people in need.
- Coking or baking for those in food poverty.
- Writing cards to people who need cheer.
- Planting and tidying to improve local spaces.
- Bringing joy to residents of a care home.
- Donating and collecting items for a food bank.
- Giving blood or signing up as a stem cell donor.
- Visiting those who are in hospital or lonely.
Some Progressive Jewish communities will organise a whole day, week or even month of activities. Many will include it as part of their youth programming.
Some events take place within a congregation’s building, while others see members go out to volunteer at their local care home, shelter, food bank or hospital. Environmental projects have been become particularly popular in recent years.
Communities that run social action and volunteering projects all year round often use Mitzvah Day as a focal point for them to attract new volunteers, launch something special or just give an opportunity to publicly showcase the work being done and Jewish values behind it.
Another key aspect of Mitzvah Day is how it gives people from diverse faiths and backgrounds the opportunity to come together, connect with each other and focus on strengthening their local community.
While Jewish-led, Mitzvah Day is about the common values are integral all religions – the commitment to do good deeds, help others and contribute to society.
It is also our opportunity, as a Progressive Jewish community, to reach out to neighbours of all faiths and backgrounds and volunteer with them side-by-side to offer real support where it matters most.
Mitzvah Day is the time when we can begin, develop or give extra meaning to those vital interfaith relationships that then sustain us in both good times and bad.
If you want to experience Mitzvah Day in a welcoming, inclusive, and egalitarian setting, we’d love to welcome you into one of our Progressive congregations.