The Mitzvah Day theme of “Stronger Together” has been exemplified by Brighton and Hove Jewish Community Centre (BNJC), who hosted 25 faith leaders at an event to support local people in need.

The group shared an interfaith dinner and discussion before making care packages for a local drop-in centre.

Attendees included an imam, four rabbis, a bishop, a monk and three other Christian ministers from across the region.

They were joined by lay leaders from Brighton & Hove Muslim Forum, Nichiren Buddhist community, Gujarati Cultural Society, Sikhs of Sussex, Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue, Emmanuel Church, King's Arms Church Bedford, St Andrew's Moulsecoomb and Brighton & Hove Interfaith Contact Group.

BNJC CEO Marc Sugarman speaking at Mitzvah Day interfaith dinner at the BNJC in in Brighton & Hove (Photo: Sophie Sheinwald)

Speaking at the dinner, BNJC CEO Marc Sugarmen said: “We are proud to partner with Mitzvah Day for this remarkable interfaith dinner and packing. It demonstrates the incredible impact dedicated individuals can have when they come together in social action”.

Mitzcah Day CEO Stuart Diamond shared his sentiments. “This Mitzvah Day event perfectly embodies the spirit of ‘Stronger Together,’” he said. “Faith leaders from across Brighton & Hove, despite our different beliefs, came together to serve those in need. This interfaith collaboration demonstrates the power of collective action and sends a powerful message of unity and compassion to our community”.

The care packages put together by attendees were sent on to St Peter’s Brighton, which organises Safehaven weekly drop-ins for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, loneliness, abuse or addiction.

Faith leaders and local volunteers made care packs to help local people in need (Photo: Mitzvah Day)

Brighton & Hove Faith in Action Chair Rik Child said: “Our group now includes Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Muslims and Buddhists and we will be playing a very active part in Mitzvah Day in November this year.

“We plan to bring people of many faiths together – to show our love for Brighton & Hove residents and demonstrate that, even though we may all believe different things, we are stronger together and united in the belief that a better world is one where we put the needs of our neighbours before ourselves,” he said.

Mitzvah Day will fall on November 24 this year. As the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action, over 55,000 people across the world donate their time to care for their communities each year.