Nineteen MPs from across the political spectrum came together to mark the parliamentary launch of Mitzvah Day 2023.

Mitzvah Day, scheduled for Sunday November, 19 is the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action, bringing together people of all faiths to volunteer side by side.

This year’s Mitzvah Day is based around the theme of tikkun olam or repair the world, which has become “more important than ever” in the shadow of the Israel-Gaza conflict, said Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks CBE.

For the event in Portcullis House, Mitzvah Day representatives collaborated with the Separated Child Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing assistance to child refugees and asylum seekers.

MPs helped fill arrival packs for children aided by the charity.

Theresa Villiers MP addresses the Seperated Child team

Theresa Villiers MP addresses the Separated Child team

Marks said: “The unity shown by the MPs today is exactly what we are urging our places of worship, schools, youth groups and others to do this Mitzvah Day — indeed what they have always done — to contact their local charities, to support them in a hands-on way and, crucially, to reach out to our neighbours of all faiths and none in warmth, kindness and friendship.”

MPs across the parties attended, including Labour MPs Tulip Siddiq, Alex Davies Jones and Alex Sobel, Conservative MPs James Grundy, Mark Fletcher and Theresa Villiers and Helen Morgan from the Liberal Democrats.

In the meantime, communities across the UK have been holding Mitzvah Day events in the run-up to November 19.

To help combat food poverty in their local area, the congregation of Maidenhead Synagogue has been organising a quarterly cooking group to provide hot meals for the Brett Foundation and Foodshare.

In Stanmore, an interfaith group has been preparing a garden for its winter slumber, ensuring it is ready to bloom again in the spring.

More than 40 green-fingered volunteers from local religious communities including Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue, Kenton Hindu Temple, the Mosaic Jewish Community and St William of York RC Church in Stanmore joined forces with the Friends of Canons Park.

The AJR volunteer team launched their Mitzvah Day project, Plan Bee, in the gardens of the Signature Care Home in Hendon Hall.

Embracing this year’s theme of repair the world, the campaign aims to encourage the community to visit a friend, relative or someone feeling isolated and plant bee-friendly shrubs, plants or bulbs together.