On 23 November, OlamAid – together with Hillel DE, Zusammen Berlin, JuicePlatform, and the Jewish Student Union of Berlin – organised a winter clothes collection and packing event for Ukrainian refugees across Europe, as part of the global initiative Mitzvah Day 2025. Mitzvah Day is an international day of social action rooted in the Jewish tradition of performing mitzvot, good deeds that ease suffering, strengthen community, and bring kindness into the world.
As a Jewish-based humanitarian organisation, OlamAid’s identity is grounded in the values of responsibility, compassion, and the belief that one must not stand idly by when a neighbour is in need. This event reflected these principles in action. Hillel DE opened the gathering with a brief Jewish educational reflection, connecting the act of volunteering to the deeper meaning of mitzvah. Participants from all partner organisations joined, including participants from our Horizont International project, creating a meaningful moment where those with crisis backgrounds contributed to supporting others.
Ahead of the event, all partners collected winter clothing for women and children. On the day itself, more than 40 participants gathered, introduced themselves, and then began sorting and packing donations. Volunteers also wrote personal greeting cards to accompany the clothing, adding warmth and dignity to each package.
Community engagement lies at the heart of OlamAid’s mission, and this Mitzvah Day beautifully demonstrated the strength of collective action. We look forward to continuing similar volunteer-driven initiatives that connect humanitarian aid with Jewish values and community solidarity.
