Wimbledon Synagogue Builds Bridges With Intergenerational Afternoon Tea For Mitzvah Day
WIMBLEDON, LONDON – 24 November 2025 – The Wimbledon Synagogue opened its doors to 60 guests yesterday, combating loneliness and celebrating connection with a special Afternoon Tea held in honour of Mitzvah Day.
Mitzvah Day is the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action, where thousands of volunteers give their time rather than their money to make a difference. With the 2025 theme being “20 Years of Building Bridges”, communities across the country focused on projects that unite people of all backgrounds and generations.
Embracing this spirit, the Community & Care group at The Wimbledon Synagogue, led by Hilary Leek and Lynne Sydkin, organised a warm and welcoming gathering for seniors within the congregation and the wider neighbourhood. Many of the guests, some of whom have found it difficult to attend regular services recently, were thrilled to spend the afternoon reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.
The event was a true intergenerational effort. A dedicated team of congregants prepared sandwiches and hosted tables, while Alison, a community volunteer, baked 100 scones for the occasion. The atmosphere was lifted further by pianist Matthew Ratcliffe, who provided a musical backdrop to the conversation. Crucially, some of the synagogue’s Post-Bnei-Mitzvah teenagers were on hand to surround the senior guests with attention and care, ensuring everyone felt valued.
Rabbi Adrian Schell, the community’s rabbi, reflected on the success of the initiative. “Mitzvah Day is all about making others feel seen and hopefully bringing forth a smile,” he said. “No doubt, I have seen many people smiling and laughing today. It was an extraordinary event that truly brought our values to life.”
The feedback from the volunteer team highlighted the joy of the day. Sarah, a member of the team, noted, “I felt we all pulled together so well as a team. It was great.”
Adele, another team member, added: “It was wonderful to be part of such a great team, led by our tireless Hilary, whose loving attention to detail made yesterday such a seamlessly successful event. Everywhere I looked, I saw smiling faces. Creating such a happy event was a real mitzvah for Mitzvah Day!”
Hilary Leek summed up the impact of the afternoon. “For me, the very best part was seeing so many elderly people really enjoying themselves, especially those who rarely come into the synagogue these days as the effort is just too much,” she said. “We made a lot of people very happy, and certainly they didn’t leave hungry! As we say in the group: This is what we do.”
About The Wimbledon Synagogue The Wimbledon Synagogue is a vibrant and inclusive Progressive community in South West London. It offers a welcoming space for Jewish prayer, learning, and social action, committed to progressive Jewish values and active engagement with the wider local community.
About Mitzvah Day Mitzvah Day is the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action. On Mitzvah Day, people of all faiths and none give their time, not their money, to make a real difference to the community around them. 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the organisation.
