Mitzvah Day: One week to go
As part of the world wide Mitzvah Day initiative, Melbourne’s Emmy Monash together with partner organisations, Central Shule Chabad, Mount Scopus College (SFPS) and other volunteer members within the Jewish Community are planning a special community event honouring the Mitzvah Day motto “doing good deeds to meet community needs”.
This will take place on Mitzvah Day, Sunday 15 November.
Mitzvah Day
Central Shule has generously donated many fabulous toys for our Project. We have invited members of the community, in particular primary aged children and their families to join together with our residents to wrap, decorate and pack these presents which we will be donating to Les Twentyman’s 20th Man Youth Fund. This worthwhile organisation is dedicated to providing educational, sporting, leadership, emotional and crisis support services to our homeless, disadvantaged and disconnected youth mainly, but not limited to the Western suburbs of Melbourne. The presents (all badged with an identifiable green Mitzvah Day sticker) will be delivered by our own volunteer drivers to the 20th Man Youth Fund and distributed at their youth Christmas Party. This a special celebration where children and their families can celebrate a day of happiness with those who care. Amongst this group, financial hardship, isolation family and community issues mean Christmas day is often a day of sadness rather than celebration.
We are also privileged to have founder, Les Twentyman attend the gift wrapping festivities on Mitzvah Day. As one of Australia’s best known youth outreach workers and social campaigners, Les has developed his expert opinion the hard way – on the street. We are hopeful he will inspire our gift wrapping volunteers, young and older, with the stories of his great achievements with the youth. He will explain how much this Mitzvah will bring smiles to the faces of the 250-300 children receiving these gifts on Christmas Day.
For Mitzvah Day, we are requesting that, if possible, all people attending come with a gift or two to wrap (in addition to those already donated). If people are 
unable to attend on the day, we will be placing a box in the Foyer for toy donations that our volunteers will wrap on the day. Gifts for 12 – 17 year olds will be especially welcome, however all donations will be much appreciated!
We are very excited to be hosting this Mitzvah Day Project as it is truly a wonderful way to engage our Emmy Monash residents, and all our partners, young and old, in an intergenerational initiative honouring our Jewish commandment to do good deeds and contribute to our wider community.
If you would like to enquire about or join this Project, please e-mail [email protected]. For further information about Mitzvah Day and to see a list of other Projects to join, please go to www.mitzvahday.org.au
