22 | DECEMBER 14 • 2023 J
N
OUR COMMUNITY
S
ince 1996, Mitzvah Day has
been an annual occurrence in
Detroit’s Jewish community.
As the community’s single largest
day of volunteering, Mitzvah Day —
which takes place on Christmas Day,
Dec. 25 — gives Jewish community
members a chance to step in to
support both Jewish and non-Jewish
organizations, especially those
experiencing a void due to reduced
staff and volunteers who are off to
celebrate the holiday.
To help convene volunteers
and direct them to volunteer
agencies, JCRC/AJC has developed
a dedicated landing page (https://
jcrcajc.org/mitzvah-day-2023/) on its
website with everything the Jewish
community needs to know about
volunteer opportunities.
The guide, which JCRC/AJC’s
assistant director and director of
media relations Sam Dubin calls a
“one-stop shop” for all volunteering
information, is broken down by
organization. As of now, there are 10
nonprofit organizations, including
Jewish Senior Life and JARC, that
are seeking volunteers to help out on
Christmas Day.
“The list is ever-growing,”
Dubin explains. “It has everything
from packing up food for the less
fortunate to working with seniors at
Fleischman Residence.”
As a new approach to Mitzvah
Day that launched last year, Dubin
says the guide helps “build, maintain
and sustain relationships with our
community volunteers and [link
them] directly with the agencies.
“The purpose of Mitzvah Day
and what makes it so special to the
Jewish community is that we try to
fill that void left by our Christian
friends while they’re celebrating
Christmas,” Dubin continues. “These
organizations are losing volunteers
for that day.”
So far, Dubin anticipates more
than 500 volunteers will participate
in the day-long Mitzvah Day 2023,
which is the event’s 27th annual
occurrence.
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
Each organization listed on JCRC/
AJC’s online guide includes drop-
down information that specifies
contact details, shifts, for which
age ranges the opportunities
are appropriate (such as family-
friendly), dress code and a
description of the agency itself.
At Fleischman Residence, for
example, volunteers can help with
a festive holiday afternoon that
includes games, bingo and menorah
lighting.
At JARC, a similar opportunity is
available to play board games and
bake cookies with JARC persons
served.
Dubin is hopeful that despite
the ongoing conflict in Israel,
community members will be more
motivated than ever to participate in
the 27th annual Mitzvah Day, which
supports organizations across all
faiths and missions.
“Now more than ever, you’re
seeing a lot of our interfaith partners
step up and share support for the
Jewish community and for Israel,”
he says. “I think that Mitzvah Day
will be an extension of our already
positive interfaith relationships.”
Currently, volunteer opportunities
are available with the following
nonprofit organizations: Jimmy’s
Kids, Cass Community Social
Services, Jewish Senior Life/
Fleischman Residence, Salvation
Army, Canterbury on the Lake,
Capuchin Soup Kitchen, JARC,
Mariners Inn, Western Oakland
Meals on Wheels and Fox Run
Continuing Care.
More opportunities may be added
to the online guide between now and
the event date.
Individuals interested in
participating in Mitzvah Day can
visit the JCRC/AJC website to
browse volunteer opportunities
but will need to contact an agency
directly to sign up.
For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit
jcrcajc.org/mitzvah-day-2023.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Do A
Mitzvah
This December
The 27th annual Mitzvah Day
returns on Christmas Day.