In Judaism, the word mitzvah can mean a good deed, and one organization at UF wants to make it a habit for students to perform these charitable actions on a regular basis.
UF Hillel will host its first Mitzvah Day on Sunday. The event will begin at 10 a.m., and all students can participate, said Jessica Davis, program director at Hillel.
It is a day where students will volunteer at different organizations throughout the community and learn about the importance of giving back, she said.
Preregistration is closed, but participants will be able to register on Sunday. The coordinators are expecting about 200 people.
Students can come to Hillel at 9:30 a.m. to sign in and pick up their T-shirts.
Emily Sasser, social action chair, used to participate in her synagogue's Mitzvah Day when she was younger. She thought bringing the event to a college campus would inspire students to find an organization or cause they are passionate about, she said.
Virginia Brissette, a representative from the Jewish Council of North Central Florida, will speak about the importance of Mitzvah Day at 10:30 a.m.
Jeff Kaplan, co-program director, said the event is beneficial because one of the pillars of Judaism is to give back to the community that does so much for its members. Also, Hillel is not just a religious organization. It is a nonprofit group looking to extend itself as a community service force.
The most important aspect of the event is creating community relationships, Kaplan said.
Organizers at Hillel are hoping to host Mitzvah Day twice a year. The idea is to make a noticeable difference in the community and to build relationships between the students and groups, Sasser said.
