Mitzvah Day a success
NORWOOD: UJW holds a successful Mitzvah Day with a Mitzvah Day Wrap-a-Thon at the Norwood Mall.
There was a hive of activity in the centre court of Norwood Mall on 18 November as members of the Union of Jewish Women (UJW) rolled up their sleeves and set out to fulfil their Mitzvah Day Wrap-a-Thon mandate.
Founded by Laura Marks in the UK in 2005, Mitzvah Day is an annual day of faith-based social action celebrated internationally, especially in Europe, North America, Israel, Australia, Brazil and Southern Africa, and showcased in SA by the UJW.
A plethora of toys and books for children aged between three and 13 spilt out of a number of shopping trolleys, and where there were insufficient in any one of the age groups, the money (in lieu of toys) generously donated by members of the community and the general public filled the gaps.
A few charming young learners in Grade 9 at St Stithians College, who were completing their community service, volunteered to wrap the gifts for boys and girls in different coloured paper with the age group clearly marked on each and their help was invaluable.
At the close of the day, about 370 Christmas presents had been wrapped for children of the Alexandra Aftercare Centre, which is run by the UJW, and for other children in Pimville and Riverlea, said Tana Genn, the executive secretary of the Houghton-based UJW.
An extra 40 gifts were earmarked for children in an identified informal settlement. The balance of a large number of books which were not used will be donated to the Johannesburg Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital Paediatric OT Department.
“Mitzvah Day is one of the many highlights on the UJW calendar, and each year a new and exciting project is undertaken,” said Genn. “This year will bring Christmas happiness to so many children who otherwise would not be celebrating their special day – imagine their delight when they receive and open these unexpected gifts. This is the true meaning of Mitzvah Day.”
