You’ve done Shabbat – now do a Mitzvah
Following the massive success nationally of the Shabbat Project, Mitzvah Day International comes to Australia on Sunday 16 November.
Organiser Judy Feiglin writes:
It’s not every day we can feel that we’ve made a small but positive difference to someone else’s life. Making someone happy by doing a good deed may also have the side effect of making you feel happy too.
Most people are very busy in their daily lives and may find it difficult to find time to become involved in regular community activities. At the same time we recognise that some people do an amazing job in volunteering their time to help people in need. Whatever your level of involvement, we are calling on all members of the Jewish community and the wider community to take part in this years’ International Mitzvah Day 2014. This year, falling on Sunday 16 November 2014, Mitzvah Day is promising to be our biggest and best ever with projects taking place simultaneously in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and West Australia.
Mitzvah is a Jewish word meaning “good deed” and it is hoped that on a single day, Mitzvah Day, people will take part in a range of activities simply to help others. By becoming involved in a community project, our volunteers will, in some way, reduce hardship and poverty, help our environment and to bring a little joy where it is needed, all through hands-on participation. Our values, righteousness, acts of loving kindness and repairing the world are reflected in this cause.
MP David Southwick gets involved
Australia’s Mitzvah Day is part of Mitzvah Day International which was launched in the UK in 2008. In 2013 people in over 18 countries took part in this Jewish led day of social action. In Australia in 2013 there were 66 organisations participating in a truly national day of social action.
The young lend a hand too
Imagine sharing a kosher picnic with music, dancing and games with members of the Sudanese community, or visiting a Children’s Farm with asylum seekers and their families and then sharing afternoon tea, or cooking, packaging and personally delivering meals to homeless shelters and disadvantaged individuals, or running games and activities with children with illnesses and disabilities at local hospitals, or painting activity rooms for disadvantaged youth, or planting community gardens. These are just some of the amazing projects carried out on Mitzvah Day last year.
Sound like something you’d like to get involved with? Great – as getting started is easy. Start by looking at our website www.mitzvahday.org.au and contact us at info@mitzvahday.org.au. You may be welcome to join an existing project, or else if you have something in mind that you would like to organise, please contact us to discuss and then register. We will provide you with an information kit, merchandise and other support.
It’s time to act NOW!!
