Coronation Street actor and former Muswell Hill resident Maureen Lipman invited hundreds of budding chefs into her kitchen on conference call to celebrate an interfaith volunteering scheme.

Ham & High: Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Julie Siddiqi, co-founder of Nisa-Nashim Jewish Muslim Women�s Network, and her daughter Sumayah.Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Julie Siddiqi, co-founder of Nisa-Nashim Jewish Muslim Women�s Network, and her daughter Sumayah. (Image: Archant)

Around 400 people from countries all over the world, including Portugal, America and Argentina, dialled in to the Zoom cook-along in aid of Every Mitzvah Matters interfaith volunteering scheme.

The cook-along attendees, who included an imam, a reverend, two rabbis and an MP, were whipping up a meal together as a gift for vulnerable, elderly or isolating neighbours, family or friends who may be struggling during the coronavirus lockdown.

Maureen, who used to live in Muswell Hill before she moved to Paddington, was creating a bean and barley soup to give to her Romanian neighbour Niku.

She said: “Whenever the tetradactyls who circle my terrace decide to simultaneously dump on the top of my car, Niku gets out the power hose, thus allowing me to see through crusted windows.

Ham & High: Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Laura Marks, Mitzvah Day founder and chair.Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Laura Marks, Mitzvah Day founder and chair. (Image: Archant)

“My rich protein-layered soup is my thank you for his kindness and a recognition that life is not universally kind to everyone equally.”

Every Mitzvah Matters has been created by the charity Mitzvah Day, the UK’s largest faith-led day of social action in November, and is intended to highlight and encourage everyday acts of kindness.

Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks, from Primrose Hill, said: “There is something life-affirming about coming together to do good.

“In this crisis, particularly when we are isolated in our own homes, to congregate over a pan of vegetables felt so good.

Ham & High: Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Laura Marks, Mitzvah Day founder and chair.Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Laura Marks, Mitzvah Day founder and chair. (Image: Archant)

“Knowing we are helping other people at the same time felt amazing.”

Attendees included Islamic religious advisor to the Ministry of Defence’s chief of the defence staff Imam Asim Hafiz; MP for Finchley and Golders Green Mike Freer; former president of the Hindu forum of Europe Bharti Tailor; Chelmsford Methodist Circuit Rev Mark Pengelly; journalist Remona Aly; and president of the union of Jewish students Esther Offenberg.

Mitzvah Day interfaith advisor Rabbi Jeff Berger ended the call by saying: “I pray that we will always remember the overwhelming generosity and compassion that we have received ourselves and given to our neighbours in this period of social distancing as we begin to go back to work.”

The event was supported by Barnet Multi Faith Forum, YourNeighbour.org, Nisa Nashim and Union of Jewish Students.

Ham & High: Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman.Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. (Image: Archant)

Find out more about the Every Mitzvah Matters events schedule by emailing info@mitzvahday.org.uk

Ham & High: Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Rabbi Jeff Berger.Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Rabbi Jeff Berger. (Image: Archant)

Ham & High: Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Journalist Remona Aly.Every Mitzvah Matters cook-along with Maureen Lipman. Journalist Remona Aly. (Image: Archant)