Thousands of people across the UK and internationally are expected to take part in a campaign to help the homeless and beat the boycott at the same time.

IsrAction Day, which takes place today, will see activists and members of the public buy Israeli goods and donate them to homeless charities.

The campaign was initiated by grassroots groups North West Friends of Israel and Sussex Friends last year, and has now been taken up in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa .

Giving his backing, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: “The beauty of this idea is in its simplicity: solidarity with Israel and support for the most vulnerable in our society with one act - I look forward to taking part.”

Communal organisations, including the Board of Deputies, Zionist Federation, Jewish Leadership Council, WIZO and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council are taking part.

Last year, over 1,000 people donated £30,000 worth of food to charities . Participants were encouraged to buy goods at supermarkets and donate them at special drop-off centres in cities across Britain.

Sussex Friends of Israel co-founder Fiona Sharpe said: “We’re helping people and getting support for those who really need it. This year particularly, to be able to get food into shelters and food banks is what it's all about.

“I think it's been an especially tough year for people who need social welfare. We've seen record numbers of homeless on the south coast and, I think, globally. It’s important to support those who need it most.”

North West Friends of Israel co-chair Anthony Dennison predicted this year’s event would be much bigger than 2014.

"There's a massive need for people to give to food banks, and it's great that people can support Israel at the same time," he said

"It's also important to support the retailers who ignore anti-Israel boycotts that are really antisemitic campaigns.

"The more people join in, the more it shows how much the boycott is a failure."