Sowing the seeds together

Some of the most rewarding mitzvahs (good deeds) are the ones in which a seed is planted for future endeavors. The old maxim of “a mitzvah leads to another mitzvah” applies perfectly to the Mitzvah Day activity at Spitalfields City farm on Sunday in which teenage girls from a Jewish, Muslim and Catholic school planted and weeded the community gardens and cared for the farm animals. The programme brought together young women aged 16-18 from three all girls faith schools to volunteer at the farm. For the overwhelming  majority of the girls it was the first time that they had interacted with peers from another faith, as well as working at a farm. The pupils were from the Azhar Academy Girls School in Redbridge, Hasmonean High School for Girls in Hendon, and Maria Fidelis in Camden. Spitalfields City Farm was originally set up by volunteers in 1978 and relies on volunteers to help maintain the farm and gardens, look after the animals and assist in delivering projects. This grass-roots social action gathering was one of over 1,000 Mitzvah Day projects simultaneously taking place on Mitzvah Day, Sunday 17 November across the country. Run in partnership with the Board of Deputies, the Council of Christians and Jews and Near Neighbours, Laura Marks, Founder and Chair Mitzvah Day and Board of Deputies Senior Vice President said. “One of 50 interfaith Mitzvah Day projects this year, this initiative demonstrated interfaith social action at its best - it was heartening to observe the girls generously donate their time, and equally warmly engage together in the process. Doing something worthwhile joined these girls together -- turning them from stranger into new friend. What a fabulous start to interfaith week!”