As a Muslim, Sophia Malik finds that the holiest day of the Christian calendar can be an uneventful time for her. But thanks to the Jewish Community Relations Council, that wasn’t the case this year.

“I normally don’t do anything on Christmas so I thought it’d be a good idea to volunteer for a great interfaith effort,” said the Florissant resident. “Jewish and Muslim people very rarely do anything in a united front so it’s good to do things like this and help the Christian faith also.”

Malik was able to accomplish all of that as part of the JCRC’s annual interfaith “Day of Service.” Now in its second year, the Dec. 25 program brings Jews and Muslims together in solidarity to do volunteer efforts around the community. Organizers estimate about 600 people took part this time around, which included delivering meals to homebound seniors to preparing dinners at the St. Louis Crisis Nursery. The good works were spread across more than 20 St. Louis area sites.

Malik, 35, was co-captain of the Jewish Community Center site. Her project, called “Little Projects, Little Hands,” allowed those ages 8 and under to engage in a variety of craft projects to benefit charities such as the St. Louis Effort for AIDS and Support Dogs, Inc.

Lilly Scharff, Malik’s co-captain, said she particularly enjoyed watching the kids decorate meal program bags for Operation Food Search.

“It just gives kids a chance to use their artistic talents to benefit other people,” said the Bais Abraham congregant. “I’ve already explained to a couple of children that they are not taking things home today. Today is a day where we are not making things for ourselves. We’re making art and projects to benefit others. It’s a good chance for them to be here and a part of it but also to learn.”

And the effort wasn’t limited to children. Lois Perryman, 70, said she was looking forward to heading off to her site, Autumn View Gardens, where she would spend time with residents. 

“We just want to be a happy presence,” said the Temple Israel congregant. “Not that we’re bringing presents in boxes but just a happy nature. Some of them may not be seeing family today. Whatever religion they are doesn’t matter.”

Perryman said it was good way to get to know not just those they were helping but also Muslim participants in the event.

“Doing charity work we can feel camaraderie and trust and openness in a way that if we were seated at a formal banquet or a discussion we wouldn’t be able to bond as easily,” she said. “When you are working with people side-by-side giving to others, it creates an instant bond. We have so much in common.”

That’s a big part of the concept. Event chair Roberta Gutwein said the program’s appeal wasn’t just to give non-Christians something positive to do on Christmas but also to promote interfaith fellowship.

“Other cities have done this kind of a project but not making sure there were Jews and Muslims involved at each site,” she said. “We’ve made sure we have a Jewish and Muslim site captain each place and that we also have Jewish and Muslim volunteers at each site.”

Gutwein said she had maintained a number of friendships from the Muslim community since volunteering at last year’s event.

“There are so many similarities in our values and I don’t think people realize that unless there is something like this,” she said.

Gail Wechsler, director of domestic issues for the JCRC, said the idea had originally come about after the success of a smaller program two years ago. It had generated so much interest, people participated despite snowy weather.

“We had had dialogue groups with the Muslim community, worked with them on poverty issues and knew of communities in the U.S. that were doing other projects and thought, ‘let’s try it here,’” she said.

Wechsler said about twice as many signed up this year compared to last and estimated about 30 percent or so were Muslim. Most of the rest were from the Jewish community although she noted that some Christians participated looking to help out.

“There are some who registered and said, ‘I’m not Jewish or Muslim but I really love what you are doing and I want to come out today,’” she said.

Aftab Chaudhry, 47, of Valley Park said he was happy to be on hand helping to represent the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis and to assist his “Christian brothers.”

“This is their holiday so we are doing our part,” said the Valley Park resident as he prepared to head to United Hebrew Congregation to pack toiletries for the local Ronald McDonald House. “It also comes from my faith which teaches me to be nice to the neighborhood as well as the community in general without discrimination against any religion. That’s what I’m doing as part of my religious obligation.”

Over at the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry on Warson Road, a small group of volunteers busied themselves with various tasks. 

Rubabin “Tiana” Tooba, 20, a Washington University biology major, said she thought the experience was a good avenue to socialize while doing something positive.

“I’m all about meeting new people outside of the mosque so this a great way to do that, seeing the bonding between the Muslim and the Jewish communities,” she said. “It makes me really happy, especially being part of a generation where religion wasn’t a requirement but a choice.”

Behind her, fellow 20-year-old Elizabeth Solomon, a Temple Israel congregant, worked at boxing cans of donated soup. She said it was her first time doing the project but she would probably return next year.

“Because we’re Jewish, we’re not doing anything with family on Christmas and so we figure we’d like to help out those who are more in need than we are,” said the University of Missouri student who was volunteering with her mother. “It’s nice to be able to help out.”