Written by Times Series
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7:10am Thursday 19th November 2009
By Kevin Bradford
HUNDREDS of volunteers turned out to support worthy causes across the borough at the weekend.
People from all faiths and areas of the community carried out a good deed to support the national Mitzvah Day on Sunday.
Woodside Park Synagogue had a “really successful” collection of non-perishable food and toiletries for the Barnet Refugee Service, an organisation which promotes the physical, social and mental well-being of refugees and asylum seekers, living, studying or working in Barnet.
More than 200 people from Hendon United Synagouge collected donations of mobile phones and glasses for the third world, as well as painting rooms for a charity and singing at a senior's tea party.
Rabbi Mordechai Ginsbury said: “Hendon United Synagogue has always been known for its culture of caring - this was a great example of what we can do - congratulations to all who took part.”
Children from Kinloss synagogue stood outside a delicatessen in Finchley Road to collect food for the charity GIFT, who then pass on the donations to struggling families.
Children and young adults from Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue played board games with residents at old people’s home, Hammerson House, while RSY-Netzer, Liberal Judaism Youth and Naom made t-shirts into surgical gowns as part of this year’s Blue Peter Appeal.
The older pupils of the Hendon Reform Synagogue's religion school sang a variety of Jewish and non-Jewish songs to old people, and the other pupils from five-years-old upwards, along with their parents, helped pack parcels and gifts for various organisations that had been chosen by the Synagogue to be the beneficiaries of Mitzvah Day.
Rabbi Yuval Keren said: “The response from our synagogue to Mitzvah Day was overwhelming.
“It was so good to see people of all ages gathered together for such good causes. I think everybody who helped and contributed felt a sense of community and achievement.”
