Lawyer and journalist advocates for 'mitzvah notes' to foster kindness in children

Nomi Kaltmann, an Australian lawyer and journalist, is advocating for the use of “mitzvah notes” as a method to teach empathy and community spirit in children. A proud member of Melbourne’s Jewish community, Kaltmann writes that these small, handwritten notes praise intentional acts of kindness, serving as a tool to help children see themselves as part of something larger than themselves.

Kaltmann details her specific practice of writing these notes on pretty stationery for her three-year-old daughter to take to kinder. The notes, which might reference sharing a toy or saying thank you, are read aloud by teachers and pinned to a classroom wall alongside those of other children. Kaltmann notes that her daughter prefers these notes over stickers or prizes, finding value in the recognition of her good deeds.

The term mitzvah is Hebrew, often translated as a good deed, but Kaltmann defines it more broadly as an intentional act of goodness. She argues that the notes are powerful not merely for praising a single action, but for building a mindset where children look outward. By framing requests positively, such as saying “I love when you help mummy clean up,” she aims to reinforce a child’s identity as a helpful person rather than focusing on compliance.

Kaltmann cites the Book of Proverbs, which states: “Train a child according to their path, and even when they are old, they will not depart from it.” She interprets this to mean that children grow into the identities parents help them see. Her goal is for her children to become people who notice others and care about the world, believing that even small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect.

The article connects this personal parenting approach to a national response following the Bondi terror attack. After the attack, a national day of kindness was announced in consultation with the Jewish community, encouraging people of all faiths to perform mitzvot. Kaltmann observes that across Australia, people volunteered and found small ways to be kind, reflecting a belief that goodness grows when people choose to perform small acts of kindness for one another.

Kaltmann, who writes for The Guardian’s “Making sense of it” column, concludes that while these notes cannot undo tragedy, they may help raise the sort of people the world needs. She argues that if enough children grow up believing that being kind and thoughtful is part of who they are, these small gestures are doing far more than simply recognising a good deed.