Thousands volunteer for Mitzvah Day in north London and beyond

The UK’s faith-based day of social day of action took place on and around Sunday, November 20 in areas across Barnet and Camden, including Hampstead, Highgate, Hampstead Garden Suburb and Temple Fortune.

More than 500 different organisations in the UK – including synagogues, churches, mosques and gurdwaras – put on joint and solo projects to make a difference to the community.

Inspired by the theme of "Winter Warmers", projects this year included warm clothing collections, meals for the homeless and refugees, food bank support and visits to friends and neighbours who may be suffering. 

There were also bulb plantings, park and cemetery tidy ups and litter-picks.

Laura Marks OBE with Sir Keir Starmer at South Hampstead Synagogue (Image: Betty Zapata)

Long-time Mitzvah Day supporter Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, joined South Hampstead Synagogue to collect and pack clothes for people in need supported by local charities.

The Holborn & St Pancras MP said: “Mitzvah Day is emblematic of the country we are, and the values we hold.

“I’m delighted to have played my part at South Hampstead Synagogue in my constituency. 

"They've been collecting donations for local charities and have had an incredible response from the community. Credit to all those involved in making it happen.”

The synagogue community collected for food donations for Castlehaven Food Bank, New Horizon Youth Centre and a local church winter shelter.

Hundreds of teenagers from youth volunteering charity Project ImpACT joined together as the ImpACT Youth Community Kitchen, in collaboration with JW3.

The volunteers from across 30 schools washed, chopped, prepared and cooked nutritious meals for those in need.

They were joined by guests including Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq, and deputy Camden mayor Cllr Nazma Rahman, along with Mitzvah Day chair Laura Marks and chief exec Stuart Diamond. 

The Chief Rabbi said that he was “deeply impressed and inspired by Project ImpACT’s volunteering and social action projects".

"When you give selflessly to others, you make a positive impact on their lives and also on your own," he said. 

He thanked the teens for being an “enormous inspiration” to him. 

Ms Siddiq praised them, saying: “You’re helping out people who may not have a meal otherwise."

Food from weekly sessions is donated to Centre Point, the homeless charity, Sacred Heart, and several shelters and food banks in Barnet and Camden. 

Project ImpACT volunteers at JW3 (Image: Yakir Zur)

Project ImpACT founder Chayli Fehler said she was "proud" of the hundreds of teen volunteers "who join every week to give their free time to help others in the community and beyond". 

"Our exciting youth community kitchen is expanding to accommodate more teens who want to get involved and give back during these challenging times.”

JW3, in Finchley Road, was turned into a Mitzvah Day hub with chances to donate and volunteer to the centre’s Food Bank, a PJ Library Boos Swap and Reading Zone, crafternoon activities for kids and Phone a Food Bank Friend project. 

Earlier in the week, the Board of Deputies of British Jews staff team helped with an inventory of the JW3 Food Bank, which distributes more than 250,000 meals to neighbours in need.

Children at Alyth Synagogue at Temple Fortune, held activities including a litter pick, cards for care homes and a collection for the All Saints Church Food Bank.

The Jewish Museum London, based in Camden, was joined by Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Museum of Methodism and PJ Library for a Family Festival where adults and children baked challah bread for those in need and took part in craft activities to learn about other faiths.

Family activities at the Jewish Museum London as part of Mitzvah Day (Image: Yakir Zur)

Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue took collections for charities including Against Breast Cancer, Comfort Cases, Food Bank Aid and St John’s Hospice. 

They also did a litter pick and a bake in memory of the Queen, with the cakes served to emergency services workers.

Laura Marks returned to her old school, South Hampstead High School, to join pupils who were collecting books and goods to help those supported by the JW3 Food Bank.

She said: “The amount of activity going on in my home area is astonishing. From schools to synagogues, charities and businesses, it seems that everyone wants to do something to help with local causes. 

"All over the region, people have rolled up their sleeves and got involved. We clearly live in an area of maximum giving – I couldn’t be more impressed,”