Former director of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD), Stuart Diamond, has been appointed as the new CEO of faith-led social action charity Mitzvah Day in the UK.
It’s just a year since Stuart immigrated to the UK with his wife, Lindy and their three daughters. Since arriving in the UK, he has been working both with Moishe House and the United Synagogue whilst on the lookout for a role that resonates with his passion to roll up his sleeves and serve his community with a hands-on and supportive leadership style.
Before his role at the Board of Deputies, Stuart was the Mayoral Committee member for assets and facilities for the City of Cape Town. He is also currently a governor of Alma Primary School in Friern Barnet.
Mitzvah Day has become firmly established as the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action with 25,000 volunteers of all faiths and backgrounds across Britain doing good deeds every year. A further 15 000 get involved in more than 30 other countries around the globe.
Local South African Jewish social change organisation Mensch has partnered with Mitzvah Day UK since 2019 expanding participation in Southern Africa. Stuart participated in numerous projects both in a personal capacity with his family and in his professional capacity at the Cape SAJBD who have partnered with Mensch to bring this impactful day more broadly into our community.
Stuart said: “Service to community is my calling and tikkun olam and interfaith work are close to my heart. I am thrilled to be a part of the UK’s — and possibly the world’s — largest faith-led day of social action, and I am ready for the challenges and the opportunities that I see ahead of us.”
Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks OBE said that when Stuart approached Mitzvah Day about the role, “we didn’t hesitate to snap him up”.
She added, “Stuart’s extensive experience in interfaith relations, in work with government and in social action made him an ideal candidate. His can-do attitude and huge smile made him perfect.
“We can’t wait for Stuart to don his green t-shirt and to help us and our ‘volunteer army’ take Mitzvah Day to the next level”.
This year, Mitzvah Day in South Africa takes place on Sunday 20 November. Mensch will again be hosting and promoting projects all over the city and country.
To find out more about how you can get involved, please contact jodi@mensch.org.za. To find out more about Mitzvah Day UK, please visit www.mitzvahday.org.uk.
• Published in the PDF edition of the July 2022 issue – Click here to read it.
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