Communities Secretary John Denham has praised Mitzvah Day, saying it “encourages development of shared values” in the wider community.

“People of Jewish faith, from all ages and backgrounds, took part to make a difference by helping people less fortunate than themselves.”

Volunteering or participating in activities like buying additional food to distribute to the less fortunate promoted values “that enrich and strengthen the communities we live in”.

Mr Denham said it was apposite that Mitzvah Day had coincided with the start of England’s first Interfaith Week, “bringing people together in a dialogue about who we are and what we want our society to be”.