“Especially now, when it is increasingly dark and cold again and the number of cases is rising again, we shouldn’t lose sight of people who are homeless and cannot adequately protect themselves from the cold or the pandemic.”
With these words, Natalie Kajzer from Düsseldorf sums up her motivation to take part in Mitzvah Day, which last Sunday supported social and ecological projects across Germany. Mitzvah means command in Hebrew and is colloquially the expression for a good deed.
Natalie Kajzer is one of almost 2500 Jewish volunteers who were active on Mitzvah Day. Together with other colleagues from the SABRA team, she took part in it for the first time. The Düsseldorf anti-discrimination project had collected donations for homeless women and girls and put together hygiene kits. Around 20 such bags with shampoos, creams, toothbrushes and care utensils were given to charitable organizations.
“Unfortunately, homeless women and girls are a group that is often forgotten and whose needs mostly remain invisible to the general public,” says 29-year-old Marina Friemelt, who was also present at the donation handover. “I am also familiar with this problem as a representative of a Jewish organization; It was therefore important to me, right here in these times, to show that we see and support girls and women in need. “
Hannah Dannel, who organizes Mitzvah Day as a consultant for culture and communication in the Central Council, is enthusiastic about newcomers like the small Düsseldorf SABRA team. “I am very happy that some groups were there for the first time.” For example, there were also initial registrations from Aachen, Darmstadt and Krefeld.
In addition to those who were active for the first time, she praised the commitment of the long-standing Mitzvah Day participants, some of whom are there every year. Whether Flensburg, a small community in the north with older community members who start with three projects every year, or the Frankfurt IE Lichtigfeld School, which actively participates with several hundred children and young people every year – the central council officer is proud of that broad commitment.
There was a slight trend towards eco and outdoor initiatives.
Around 120 social projects took place in 42 cities across Germany. Before Corona, the number of participants was almost 3000, last year it was 2000. This autumn, the second Corona autumn, the number of registrations increased again to around 2500.
“If you consider the size of the Jewish community in Germany with around 95,000 members, this is a strong sign that speaks for how many are committed and want to carry the positive values of Judaism out into the world,” says Hannah Dannel in an interview with the Jewish general. These values include Tikkun Olam (betterment of the world), Tzedek (justice) and Gemilut Chassadim (charity).
The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, said on Mitzvah Day 2021: “It is a strong and positive signal that so many Jews in Germany are actively committed to their environment despite the corona pandemic. In these times in particular, we need strong cohesion. “
The activities ranged from writing letters for the elderly and the sick to collecting rubbish and collecting donations for a children’s hospice. In Berlin and Munich, Jewish students donated blood for the German Red Cross. And many projects dealt with environmental protection. So seed bombs and insect hotels were made and trees were planted.
“There was a slight trend towards eco and outdoor projects,” outlines coordinator Hannah Dannel, who brought together the nationwide registrations. On the one hand, this was due to the fact that in Corona times it was easier to plan and carry out a project outside, and on the other hand, it corresponds to the current interest in the topic of climate protection.
Hygiene regulations, corona protective measures – this year’s Mitzvah Day had to take place again under special conditions. For example, the women from the Augsburg Rabbi Henry Brandt Association, who actually wanted to bake cakes together with Christian women in a larger group, changed their plans.
“We always do interreligious projects and this year we had to limit the number of participants,” said Tanya Smolianitski, the first chairwoman of the association. But you stayed flexible. A common breakfast on a small scale could take place, the cakes were baked in advance and then donated to the homeless.
Hannah Dannel also confirms that offers have been adjusted at short notice. In Bremen, for example, they actually wanted to do handicrafts with seniors, but changed this to a flea market, the proceeds of which were then to be donated to a facility for grieving children and young people. “It is of course a shame that the encounter aspect is lost a bit, but more environmental projects have been planned and implemented.”
There were also environmental projects at the IE Lichtigfeld School in Frankfurt. For example, bulbs were planted in raised beds and insect hotels were made. The actions took place here on Friday as part of school lessons, each high school class had a focus. Some collected stories from Jewish people for a memorial project, others street music to raise donations for needy students in other countries.
And the classes at the Frankfurt primary school had a very special project this year: They beautified the courtyard of the new school building with paintings and self-designed games. “Making the world more beautiful and more colorful is also a mitzvah,” explains Nurith Schönfeld, who as the head of the Jewish religion was responsible for the organization. Under the motto “From generation to generation”, the plan was to create something lasting and to make the school more child-friendly not only for yourself, but also for the next generation.
Cakes for the homeless, greeting cards for seniors, beautifying the school – the motivation was great.
Getting active together was also the focus of what the Kadima Düsseldorf youth center had to offer. “It felt good to put a smile on other people’s faces,” says Alona Joukoa. On Sunday, she was in charge of the campaign for older youths who put together packed lunches for those in need.
Alona also smeared rolls for hours. “I have to honestly say that it got exhausting after a while, but I knew it was for a good cause.” The younger of the almost 40 participants wrote greeting cards and painted cups, which in turn were filled with snacks and distributed to the residents of the community’s Jewish parents’ home.
A smile as thanks, new impressions on site. “It was exciting to get to know the station mission in Munich better,” says Miriam Sonnenfeld Blaufuks after taking part in Mitzvah Day. The 26-year-old was one of those from the Association of Jewish Students in Bavaria (VJSB) who brought home baked cakes and donations of necessary hygiene items.
“The station mission provides incredibly valuable support in the heart of our city,” said the chairman of the VJSB, Michael Movchin.
The social drive, which can also be found in Jewish welfare, is remarkable. “The station mission has its roots, among other things, in the station assistance provided by the Jewish women’s association. I was very pleased that we were able to support with our donations », Movchin looks back on Mitzvah Day.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany introduced Mitzvah Day nationwide in 2012 and supports the congregations and groups in the preparation of their projects. Hannah Dannel looks to the Jewish day of good deeds with satisfaction. «One notices a great enthusiasm in the communities to meet and to be active for society together. In this second autumn of the pandemic, I am particularly pleased to see how resourceful the Jewish community in Germany is and how active it is in many small campaigns. A really big Shkojach! “
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