Welcoming all for social action
Maidenhead: Synagogue hosts a day of good deeds
A Jewish-led day of social action took place at Maidenhead Synagogue on Sunday – despite a rocky start requiring a call to the fire brigade.
Mitzvah Day (good deeds day) invites volunteers to give their time to support local, national and international charities, and environmental projects.
It also invites other faith communities to join in.
Maidenhead Synagogue has been taking part for more than 10 years.
Its events are centred around its child members.
The day welcomed 80 people of all ages, from senior citizens to children as young as two, who got involved with the dozens of activities.
Visiting were Ukrainian families, the Royal Borough’s mayor, Councillor Christine Bateson, and Julie Siddiqi MBE – founder of Together We Thrive, a charity tackling inequality led by Muslim women.
The morning got off to ‘a bit of strange start’ when someone noticed smoke in the synagogue, necessitating a hasty call to the fire brigade.
“So we had the fire brigade with us for a half hour. That was unexpected,” said the event’s coordinator Alexandra Domingue.
“I don’t think we have ever had a fire emergency in the building before.”
Nonetheless, the small electrical fire failed to send the day up in smoke. It was extinguished swiftly and the show went on.
Participants made around 100 meals for Maidenhead Foodshare and the Brett Foundation, to support homeless people and struggling families.
“That need continues to grow in Maidenhead since the pandemic,” said Alexandra.
They also made cards for children recovering from heart surgery for Save a Child’s Heart. The cards include an activity for the children receiving the card,
something to keep them occupied while recovering.
Children also wrote stories for Ukrainian youngsters.
A litter pick took place in the area – collecting 10 bags in under two hours – and cleaned part of Braywick Cemetery.
The youngest children also made bird feeders while older children made eco signs, with messages reminding people how to help the environment with everyday actions.
Others took part in a WWF ‘walrus watch from space’. This involves members of the public acting as ‘walrus detectives’ to help conservation efforts, by searching for walruses in thousands of satellite images.
Maidenhead Synagogue’s Mitzvah Day also hosted Knit Your Socks Off, a Slough-based charity that makes knitted items for various local charities and partners.
At the moment, the project is making knitted squares to be assembled into blankets for people with dementia.
Participants also visited the neighbouring care home, Herewards House in Ray Park Avenue, ‘to brighten their day’.
One nine-year-old child also did this last year – and one of the residents remembered her and was ‘really delighted to see her’.
“It’s all about that kind of relationship building that we do. It’s testament to the impact that people who volunteer can make, no matter how old you are,” said Alexandra.
There was also a collect-athon toy drive for First Days, a Berkshire charity focused on helping families with essentials – and at the moment, Christmas gifts.
“The cost-of-living crisis has become even more intense. Because everybody’s feeling the squeeze, our society’s ability to be generous is a bit challenging,” said Alexandra.
“One of the things we love about Mitzvah Day at the synagogue is that it’s really about giving our time and not our money – to find a way to give back in a way that doesn’t cost them anything.”