Mitzvah Day Awards Shine a Light on Devoted Volunteers and Champion Charities
Communities, charities and volunteers from all around the UK, and abroad, were honoured last week at the Annual Mitzvah Day Awards.
The event saw a large turnout of leaders, coordinators and volunteers from the Jewish community joined by their Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh friends and neighbours.
All stressed the need to continue the important work of interfaith social action, not only on Mitzvah Day but all year round, however difficult this may be in the current climate and since 7 October.
Opening the event, Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks CBE said: “We had well over 100 entries for these Awards and the reason that we continue to hold them is because so many people put in so much effort for Mitzvah Day and this event helps us celebrate, engage with and inspire each other.
“What makes tonight even more special is being joined by people from other faiths and communities. Mitzvah Day is all about being together and showing that when we are united, we are stronger, we are better and we can make a real difference.”
Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond added: “The Mitzvah Day Awards shines a light on the heroes in our communities - the volunteers who dedicate themselves to service and the charities they empower. Together, they build bridges of understanding, tackle urgent needs, and make a lasting difference. Their stories inspire us all to embrace the power of collective action and create a kinder, stronger world.”
The Outstanding British Mitzvah Day Award, sponsored by Selborne Chambers, was won by South Hampstead Synagogue and Maidenhead Synagogue. Both communities buzzed with activities on Mitzvah Day, putting on a variety of projects – including cooking, collections and conservation – to help those most in need and improve the local environment.
Social entrepreneur and gender equality campaigner Julie Siddiqi MBE is one of the members of the Muslim community who regularly attends the amazing Mitzvah Day activities in Maidenhead.
She said: “I remember a very powerful moment that, even now when I think about it, is quite emotional for me. Mitzvah Day took place soon after 7 October and I was very aware of the fear and anxiety the Jewish community were feeling. Barbara from the synagogue, who I see every year, opened the door and we just hugged and both started crying. There were no words needed, it was a beautiful thing.
“Interfaith matters and it is at moments like this when it matters more than ever. I’m not really into talking, what makes the difference is to do things together, challenge misconceptions together and change the world together!”
Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer was one of the many guests at the winning South Hampstead Mitzvah Day in 2023, saying: “Never has it been more important to show kindness, give back and make a difference to the local community.”
The Mitzvah Day Individual Award, sponsored by the Rachel Charitable Trust, was won by Rachel Ucko of Kisharon Langdon and Chef Jas Singh of Sufra NW London Community Kitchen.
Presenting their prizes, Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond said: “These are two very worthy winners whose volunteering has left a lasting impression.
“On Mitzvah Day, Rachel ensured all Kisharon Langdon’s residents were involved in repairing the world, fostering a real sense of accomplishment and community. She has also developed disability awareness programmes for school pupils.
“The Mitzvah Day team got to spend an unforgettable day volunteering alongside Chef Jas, witnessing first-hand the dedication and joy that goes into feeding hundreds across London’s community kitchens every week.”
In a moving moment Maccabi Ukraine won the Outstanding International Mitzvah Day Award – along with the Union of Jewish Women Johannesburg – proving that social action can shine through even in the toughest of situations across the globe. The prize was sponsored by Edwin and Ester Shuker.
The Outstanding Interfaith Partnership Award was won by Wightman Road Mosque and Muswell Hill Synagogue – for their work together on Mitzvah Day and throughout the year – and Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, whose programme for asylum seekers unites the large number if diverse faith groups in the city.
Wightman Road Mosque president Bibi Khan said: “This recognition of the work we do together with Muswell Hill Synagogue is absolutely valued by both of our communities and so essential at this time of difficulty we are facing. We have a strong commitment to continue building bridges.”
Tommer Spence, of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, added: “Working with Nisa-Nashim, Al-Abbas Islamic Centre and The Church at Carrs Lane, we have brought together people from seven faiths to show asylum seekers that they are welcome here in Birmingham. We are inspired to do this work by the members of our own Jewish community who are, are who are descended from, refugees and the Torah’s
mitzvah to love the stranger.”
The award was sponsored by The Bloom Foundation, whose co-chairs Linda and Tony Bloom said: “We live in an interconnected world, where our similarities far outweigh our differences, and where connecting across faiths is not only important, but critical to maintaining the rich social fabric of communities across the UK.
“It is thanks to Mitzvah Day volunteers and partner charities that those connections are established and maintained, in order to do better, together.”
The Jewish Chronicle sponsored the Outstanding Youth Achievement prize, which was won by Project ImpACT and Holy Trinity & St Silas Primary School.
Hundreds of ImpACT teenagers from across 22 schools joined a full day of meaningful volunteering sessions supporting food banks, homeless shelters and children in hospitals – while Holy Trinity & St Silas pupils turned the school green for Mitzvah Day with activities including crafting bird feeders, decorating Salvation Army boxes and bringing cheer to residents at Maitland Park Care Home.
The Year Round Award - sponsored by TT Group - honours those communities and organisations that continue the ethos of Mitzvah Day throughout the year and was won by the JW3 Foodbank and GIFT – The Giving Kitchen, both of which help alleviate food poverty by feeding and caring for those in need.
The Repair the World Award, sponsored by the Anglo-Jewish Association and based on the theme for Mitzvah Day 2023, was won by Woodside Park Synagogue – where all ages joined in environmental and other activities in a day of community spirit and making a difference.
Mitzvah Day’s beneficiary charities were also honoured for the incredible work they do, with prizes sponsored by The Benefact Group given to Sebby’s Corner, The Separated Child Foundation, PJ Library, The Woodland Trust, Kisharon Langdon, Sufra NW London Community Kitchen and The Passage.
The evening also featured an insightful panel discussion, introduced by JLC CEO Claudia Mendoza and moderated by Mitzvah Day’s projects & partnership manager Laurie Shone.
The panel of Matthew Gold (Faith & Belief Forum), Es Rosen (President of Barnet MultiFaith Forum), Rabbi Josh Levy (Co-Lead of Progressive Judaism), Rosie Tharp (London Borough of Camden) and Julie Siddiqi MBE discussed the importance of social action in interfaith work.
Rabbi Josh Levy said: “A strong society is built on a network of relationships and connections between communities. Those relationships then sustain us when times, and conversations, are difficult. These deep relationships aren’t easy to build. Mitzvah Day is invaluable because it is one of those rare occasions where we get to meet people we don’t know and to work with them in a different way.”