7 January 2019

Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community (PLJC) and LJY-Netzer are both in the running to win prestigious Mitzvah Day Awards.

The awards – which celebrate the best projects that take place on the UK’s biggest faith-based day of social action – are all voted for by the public via the Jewish Chronicle’s website.

You can vote for our Liberal contenders by clicking here. Please note, you must be registered with the JC to vote (registration is free).

Despite being one of Britain’s smallest Jewish communities, Peterborough are in the running for the top prize of Outstanding Mitzvah Day 2018.

PLJC members cooked and served 15 litres (60 portions) of vegetarian lokshen soup and 60 rounds of sandwiches, fruit, cakes and crisps for the homeless of Peterborough. Using Peterborough Soup Kitchen’s serving truck (pictured), the project proved to be a resounding success with 40 people fed and some left over to be used the next day too.

The rest of the community donated almost 72kgs of food to Peterborough Foodbank, doubling the quantity of all previous collections. This is evidence that even small groups can make a big difference through hard work and dedication.

LJY-Netzer, the youth movement of Liberal Judaism, are one of five nominees in the Outstanding Youth Achievement category.

LJY members and movement workers headed to Leeds where they visited a care home and then helped to renovate and redecorate ToastLoveCoffee – a community café that is part of the real junk food project, a global movement aiming to abolish surplus food through a variety of Pay As You Feel concepts.

Winners will be announced at the Mitzvah Day Awards ceremony at JW3, Finchley Road, London, on Tuesday 5 February. Tickets to the event are free, to book a place please click here.