Young and old gave up their time for the benefit of others as part of this year’s Mitzvah Day.

Ham & High: Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis joins Camp Simcha�s chief executive Neville Goldschneider and Mitzvah Day�s Daniela Parks to deliver a Camp Simcha balloon to Leah, aged 9, at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead as play assistant Linda Mensa looks on. Picture: Yakir Zur.Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis joins Camp Simcha�s chief executive Neville Goldschneider and Mitzvah Day�s Daniela Parks to deliver a Camp Simcha balloon to Leah, aged 9, at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead as play assistant Linda Mensa looks on. Picture: Yakir Zur. (Image: Yakir Zur - YZ Photography)

Communities came together for a variety of events to commemorate the Jewish community’s global annual day of social action last weekend.

On Friday, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis visited the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead to deliver balloons to a number of child patients as part of a special Mitzvah Day balloon drop organised by charity Camp Simcha.

London Assembly member Andrew Dismore and Camden councillor Tulip Siddiq joined volunteers from Alyth Synagogue and Jewish community centre JW3 on Sunday for an afternoon helping to tidy the garden and revamp collection boxes at Marie Curie Hospice in Lyndhurst Gardens, Hampstead.

Earlier on Sunday, children gathered at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue in Norrice Lea, the Suburb, for activities including card-making for the armed forces and sandwich-making for the homeless.

Members of Golders Green Synagogue in Dunstan Road helped to tidy nearby Childs Hill Park on Sunday, while children from the synagogue took part in a biscuit bake-off to raise money for the Royal Free Hospital.

Later in the day, members of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue visited Hammerson House care home in The Bishops Avenue and entertained residents with musical performances.

Volunteers from Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s Wood marked Mitzvah Day on Sunday with a collection from shoppers at Sainsbury’s in the O2 Centre in Finchley Road.

Last Friday, Manuel Swaden Solicitors, based in West End Lane, West Hampstead, showed their support for the Ham&High and Mitzvah Day’s Give Away Your Lunch campaign.

Jeremy Manuel and Michael Swaden, partners at the firm, headed to the Doorstep Homeless Families Project in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, to deliver bags full of food donations to the homeless charity.