Jewish Community Spreads Kindness with Christmas Day Gift Drive

Key Points

• Thousands of Jewish volunteers across the UK and Australia participated in the A Time to Say Thank You initiative.
• Up to 5,000 people took part, delivering gifts to emergency service workers and care home staff.
• Organiser Rabbi Albert Chait MBE, of the United Hebrew Congregation (UHC) in Leeds, described 2025 as the project’s “biggest year yet.”
• Survivor Yoni Finlay, who was shot while defending a Manchester synagogue in October, joined the campaign.
• Rabbi Chait praised the initiative’s message of gratitude and unity beyond politics or boundaries.
• Police provided security for volunteers in Leeds amid heightened community concerns.
• The initiative came days after a Hanukkah attack in Sydney left 15 dead and dozens injured.
• The campaign spread love, compassion, and inter-community dialogue during the festive season.

What is the “A Time to Say Thank You” initiative and how did it start?

As reported by the BBC News, Rabbi Albert Chait MBE launched the A Time to Say Thank You project in Leeds several years ago to bridge communities through acts of kindness during the festive season. This year, efforts expanded to include volunteers from London, Manchester, Leeds, and as far as Melbourne, Australia.

Speaking to the BBC, Rabbi Chait said:

“It really is our Jewish message of saying ‘thank you’. It may be an opportunity to introduce a little bit more widely who the Jewish community is and what they are about, and the kindness which really epitomises what we are about as a people.”

Rabbi Chait emphasised that the campaign was purely humanitarian, noting there was “no agenda, no politics, no boundaries—it’s nothing but love.”

Who participated in the drive across the UK and abroad?

According to Sky News, nearly 900 volunteers gathered at the United Hebrew Congregation (UHC) synagogue in Leeds alone. In London and Manchester, hundreds more joined to distribute parcels and express appreciation toward emergency service staff, care home workers, and medical teams on duty during the Christmas holiday.

In Australia, Jewish communities in Melbourne participated in parallel drives, underlining the initiative’s growing international reach.

Rabbi Chait told The Guardian this year’s turnout was the strongest yet:

“2025 has truly been our biggest year. The generosity and goodwill show exactly what unity and compassion can achieve.”

What did Yoni Finlay’s participation symbolise for the Jewish community?

One of the most moving highlights of this year’s event came from Manchester. As covered by ITV News, Yoni Finlay—who survived a shooting attack while defending his local synagogue in October—joined the initiative by visiting the hospital where he was treated.

Mr Finlay, who was injured while shielding worshippers from gunfire, said his return to the hospital was deeply personal. Speaking to ITV News North West, he remarked:

“To come back here, alive and part of something so positive, is a blessing. It’s an expression of gratitude for those who saved me and so many others.”

Rabbi Chait praised Finlay’s courage, describing him as a “symbol of resilience and light amid darkness.”

How did security reflect current concerns within the community?

As noted by BBC News, the Leeds event attracted around 900 attendees and required a visible police presence. Volunteers said officers were stationed around the synagogue to ensure safety amid ongoing security concerns.

Rabbi Chait said:

“We had to have the police there to help us feel safe. That’s just a sad reflection of society and something that needs to change.”

The presence of police was particularly poignant following a tragic attack earlier in December, when 15 people were killed and dozens injured after two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

Why does the initiative hold special meaning amid recent tensions?

In light of growing fears around antisemitism and global unrest, the campaign’s message of gratitude resonated powerfully. Reporting by The Times of Israel highlighted that many Jewish communities have sought to use public outreach and kindness as means to counter prejudice and reinforce dialogue with other faiths.

Rabbi Chait told The Jewish Chronicle that the initiative’s significance extended beyond gift-giving:

“After such difficult months, we wanted to remind our neighbours—and ourselves—that love, faith and gratitude still exist. This project is about humanity, not religion.”

How has this gesture been received by the wider community?

According to community statements collected by BBC Radio Leeds, recipients expressed heartfelt appreciation for the Jewish community’s work. Paramedics, firefighters, and NHS staff in Leeds shared photos of their Christmas Day deliveries, calling the initiative “a light of compassion that transcends faith.”

A nurse from St James’s Hospital in Leeds was quoted saying:

“Many of us work through Christmas. To have people come out just to thank us means more than words.”

In Melbourne, emergency departments and care homes also received gift hampers adorned with handwritten messages, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and shared humanity.

How does this initiative reflect the Jewish community’s broader values?

Experts and interfaith leaders say the project aligns with the Jewish value of tikkun olam—a Hebrew phrase meaning “repairing the world.” Professor Daniel Marcus, an interfaith relations scholar at University College London, told The Independent:

“After a year marked by fear and division, community efforts like this—grounded in empathy rather than politics—play an essential role in fostering civic harmony.”

Rabbi Chait’s initiative stands as a model of interfaith engagement, turning traditional divisions into moments of giving and gratitude.

What’s next for the initiative?

As reported by The Jewish News, organisers plan to extend A Time to Say Thank You to additional cities in 2026. Volunteer groups from Birmingham, Glasgow, and Brighton have expressed interest in joining upcoming events.

Rabbi Chait concluded in his interview with BBC News:

“We hope next year’s campaign continues to grow, showing the world that kindness doesn’t depend on a calendar. Every day can be a day to say ‘thank you’.”