The incredible impact made by our Liberal and Reform communities and members on Mitzvah Day, and all year round, was celebrated at the annual Mitzvah Day Awards.

Southgate Progressive Synagogue (top image) were presented with the Outstanding British Mitzvah Day prize, after holding a month of activities with 140 charitable good deeds taking place.

The synagogue’s Mitzvah Day coordinator Sarah Bendredj said: “Mitzvah Day galvanised our whole community to come together and get involved in social action, from those aged three to 93! To win this award, and have our projects celebrated in this way, makes me very proud.”

Mitzvah Mensch Debbie Drapkin (centre) with MD Trustees Laura Marks and Judy Mizrahi

Debbie Drapkin, Membership Engagement Lead for Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue and a member of The Ark Synagogue, was presented with a special Mitzvah Mensch Award.

Debbie – who worked for Mitzvah Day before joining EHRS – was honoured for developing worthwhile projects, building new interfaith relationships and bringing the whole EHRS community on board. The ceremony took place on the same day as her retirement.

She said: “Receiving this award really means everything to me – particularly as today is the day I leave the working world and start my life in the volunteering world.”

Worcestershire Interfaith Forum – which includes members of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue – shared the Outstanding Interfaith Partnership prize with Hendon School.

The Forum was recognised for 10 years of its team of 40+ Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jain and Baha’i volunteers working together to support patients and staff at the local hospital.

Rachael Phillips of Lincolnshire Jewish Community with the winning Hygiene Bank team

The Lincoln Hygiene Bank – an interfaith initiative run by the Centre for Reconciliation and with which Lincolnshire Jewish Community are deeply involved – won the Year-Round Award for its work collecting and distributing personal hygiene and household cleaning products each week to those struggling financially.

Rachael Phillips, Chair of Lincolnshire Jewish Community, said: “We are proud to work with Lincoln Hygiene Bank and The Centre for Reconciliation. By working together across faitrhs, we can create a better community and help others.”

All those nominated for awards were also celebrated on the evening, including North West Surrey Synagogue, Radlett Reform Synagogue, Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue Cheder, Bromley Reform Synagogue OZ Group, The Liberal Jewish Synagogue Rimon Religion School and the Brighton & Hove Interfaith Contact Group.

The Mitzvah Day Awards ceremony took place at South Hampstead United Synagogue and was hosted by Mitzvah Day Chair Laura Marks CBE. Rather than paying for tickets, attendees were asked to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to New Horizon Youth Centre, which supports young Londoners experiencing homelessness.

All the Mitzvah Day Award winners and nominees at this year’s ceremony

The evening saw winners from many different religions, backgrounds, ages and regions honoured for their social action work to help some of society’s most vulnerable people. A full list can be found below: