26 | DECEMBER 15 • 2022

J

ewish Community Relations Council/
American Jewish Committee (JCRC/
AJC) will mark its 26th annual
Mitzvah Day this year, taking place on
Christmas Day.
The daylong event is held in partnership
with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit.
Volunteers of all ages and faiths will visit
organizations throughout Detroit and its
surrounding communities, providing ser-
vices to fill staff shortages or allow nonprof-
its to reduce staffing for the holiday.
“It kind of gives our Christian brothers
and sisters a break on Christmas, and we
fill in those gaps with volunteer opportuni-
ties,
” said Sam Dubin, JCRC/AJC’s assistant
director/director of media relations. “So,
everything from serving food to taking care
of seniors and everything in-between, these
are great volunteer opportunities for the
Jewish community.
”
Volunteer opportunities are slated to be
available at organizations such as Mariner’s
Inn, Jimmy’s Kids, Canterbury on the Lake,
Cass Community Social Services, Michigan
Humane Society, JARC, Medow, Katzman,
Nusbaum and Western Oakland Meals on
Wheels.

More info on JCRC/AJC’s website and
social media includes descriptions of the
volunteer opportunities, a contact person
at the organization and any requirements.
Those interested will then register and
finalize details directly with the selected
nonprofit.
“We’re a convener between our Detroit
Jewish community and the opportunities
that exist in the Metro Detroit community,
”
Dubin said.

As JCRC/AJC gets new opportunities,
they’ll update that list and inform the public
through their website and social media.
Brilliant Detroit, another volunteer
opportunity, already saw volunteers drop
off unwrapped toys and gently used clothes
between Nov. 28-Dec. 2.
Mitzvah Day, which is historically
the single largest day of volunteering by
Detroit’s Jewish community, was founded
in 1996.
“
An integral part of our mission is this
interfaith work and dialogue, working with
our Christian brothers and sisters, our
Muslim brothers and sisters, the Hindu
community — and this Mitzvah Day is an
extension of that,
” Dubin said. “We hope
the Jewish community will realize, especial-
ly in this time of increased antisemitism or
increased awareness of antisemitism, that
we have friends and allies in other commu-
nities, that they’re there for us, and we want
to be there for them.
“
As an aside, I think the Jewish com-
munity is philanthropic, not only with our
dollars but with our time — and this allows
folks, especially if they haven’t volunteered
throughout the year, to really get out there,
connect with those who may be less for-
tunate and hopefully continue volunteer
opportunities not only on Mitzvah Day, but
throughout the year,
” he added.

For further details, visit www.jcrcajc.org and

Facebook.com/JCRCAJC.

OUR COMMUNITY

The list of volunteer opportunities is growing.

26th Annual
Mitzvah Day
on Christmas

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Shawn Hunt of Clinton Township, Oliver and
Taylor Beardsall of Novi, and David and Susie
Kamen of White Lake pick up Meals on Wheels
at Christ Church to deliver to families in 2018.

JCRC/AJC

From 2020: Judah Lopatin, left, delivers a bag of gifts from Jimmy’s Kids. Patty Stelmaszak,
right, delivers food and gift bags from Meals on Wheels.