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.

