Jewish community hands out gifts on Christmas Day

A rabbi has praised the generosity of the Jewish community after thousands gave up time on Christmas Day to hand out gifts.

Up to 5,000 people across the UK and Australia took part in the A Time to Say Thank You initiative, organiser Rabbi Albert Chait MBE said.

Among them was Yoni Finlay, who was shot while defending a Manchester synagogue from attack in October. Mr Finlay visited the hospital where he was treated.

"It really is our Jewish message of saying 'thank you'," said Rabbi Chait.

Rabbi Chait, who started the initiative in Leeds, where he is the senior minister of the United Hebrew Congregation (UHC), said 2025 had been its biggest year yet.

"It maybe was 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," he added.

"This project has no agenda, there's no politics, no boundaries - it's nothing but love."

Members of the Jewish community gave up time to hand out gifts to emergency service and care workers in locations including Leeds, London and Manchester, as well as Melbourne in Australia.

Earlier this month 15 people were killed and dozens more injured when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration taking place on Bondi Beach in Sydney.

There was a police presence for the 900 people who gathered at the UHC synagogue in Leeds to volunteer their time.

"We had to have the police there to help us feel safe," said Rabbi Chait.

"That's just a sad reflection of society and something that needs to change."