Joining forces for a civilian operation

JEWISH AND Muslim military personnel joined forces for a Mitzvah Day activity at Spring Grove care home in Hampstead.

The soldiers spoke to residents about their service and answered questions.

Participants included Asim Hafiz, Islamic religious adviser to the Chief of the Defence Staff and founder of the Armed Forces Muslim Association. He said Mitzvah Day was “a powerful opportunity to join together with our Jewish friends and neighbours to support our two communities. Evenings like this remind us how much more we can achieve when we stand together.”

Senior Jewish Forces chaplain Rabbi Reuben Livingstone said “Mitzvah Day celebrates our shared humanity through kindness and social action, in synergy with how the Armed Forces embody an ethos of service to British society and represent many of the best values of good citizenship.

“We need to remind ourselves that blind hatred affects us all. This can only really be countered by coming together to help others.”

Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks also addressed residents, explaining more about the social action charity, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary.