UJIA UJIA Leeds celebrates Mitzvah Day!

The Leeds Jewish community welcomed Mitzvah Day to their city for the first time. Howard Foreman UJIA's Regional Director was truly delighted with the positive response to the day. Local Member of Parliament Fabian Hamilton officially opened the event in front of a packed reception area of the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre. There was real buzz of excitement in the centre which acted as the registration and meeting point for most of the activities organized for Mitzvah Day.

Young and old turned up to volunteer in some small way to the Leeds Community. In one room their was a constant buzz as volunteers decorated and the packed gifts into shoe boxes throughout the day. These gifts will be passed onto the needy in the community.

Community group, Rainbows, came along to make Chanukah cards for Israeli soldiers, it was a pleasure to see them hard at work with their leaders decorating the cards and feeling so good that they could help cheer up an Israeli soldier this coming Chanukah.

Leeds Jewish Initiative a group of young adults aged 25-40 and funded through Leeds UK Programmes volunteered to decorate houses on the Leeds Jewish Housing Estate.

Other activities included putting on a series of short talks to members and non members of the community centre, recording stories on tape for the blind and providing basic computer skills at the Zone Youth Centre.

Other activities included collecting an extra tin outside the local shops for the needy, gardening and general tidying up in the local area and collecting unwanted clothes and bric-brac for the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board shop.

The afternoon culminated in a concert at Donisthorpe Hall home for aged Jews especially for the residents. There were over one hundred residents and members of the community, it really was a delight to see the residents join in the singing, watch the magician, laugh at the comedian or simply soak up the atmosphere.

UJIA is proud to be a main partner in this event and UJIA Leeds were so pleased and honoured to be involved in Mitzvah Day and everyone volunteer or recipient really did feel part of a 'National Day of Good Deeds'.