DECEMBER 2 • 2021 | 19

J

ewish Community
Relations Council/
American Jewish
Committee (JCRC/AJC)
will mark its 25th Annual
Mitzvah Day by hosting
the event for the Christmas
holiday weekend, from
Friday, Dec. 24, to Sunday,
Dec. 26. Traditionally, the
daylong event is held in
partnership with the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit.
Called Mitzvah Weekend
this year, volunteers of all
ages and faiths, including
Jewish, Muslim, Hindu,
Sikh and Christian, will visit
organizations throughout
Metro Detroit providing
services to fill staff shortages
or allow nonprofits to reduce
staffing for the holiday.
“As Christmas takes place
on a Saturday this year,
we knew it would benefit
both the participating
organizations and volunteers
to expand the program’s
length,” said Rabbi Asher
Lopatin, executive director of
JCRC/AJC.

“For the nonprofits offering
opportunities, we have found
that some are planning
different or expanded
activities since Christmas is
not during the week. For our
more observant volunteers
who mark the Sabbath, this
change will allow them to
give back on Friday before
sundown or the day after
Christmas.”
Volunteer opportunities,
including activities like
serving meals and building
clean-up, are planned
at organizations such as
Brilliant Detroit, Pope
Francis Center, Michigan
Humane Society and
Samaritas.
Due to the ongoing
pandemic, JCRC/AJC will
inform the public of available
opportunities through
weekly eblasts and social
media postings, which will
begin this week. These
announcements will include
a description of volunteer
activities, a contact person
at the organization and
any mask or vaccination

requirements. Those
interested will then register
and finalize details directly
with the selected nonprofit.
Mitzvah Day, which is
historically the single largest
day of volunteering by
Detroit’s Jewish community,
was founded in 1996. The
word “mitzvah” is Hebrew
for “commandment,”
and commonly refers to
performing a good deed.
“While the pandemic
has affected this beloved
community tradition, we
know that the spirit of
giving is stronger than
ever. We hope people of
all backgrounds, ages and
faiths take advantage of this
beautiful opportunity to
come together, safely, to give
to others,” Rabbi Lopatin
said.

Mitzvah Day Now
Mitzvah Weekend

OUR COMMUNITY

JCRC/AJC

JCRC/AJC expands annual event.

JN STAFF

For Mitzvah Weekend
information: Option 1:
Visit www.jcrcajc.org
and add email to sign-
up bar at bottom of the
page; Option 2: Follow
JCRC/AJC on Facebook
at www.Facebook.com/
JCRCAJC or Instagram
at @jcrcajc.
For more details, con-
tact Sandy Lippitt at
slippitt@jfmd.org.

From last year: Judah Lopatin, left, delivers a bag of gifts from Jimmy’s Kids.
Patty Stelmaszak, right, delivers food and gift bags from Meals on Wheels.