ByRobyn Rosen, Robyn Rosen
Mitzvah Day founder Laura Marks says the community should be "extremely proud" of a record response to the day of social action.
An estimated 18,000 volunteers from more than 200 synagogues, schools and communal organisations worked on 600 projects.
"Mitzvah Day goes from strength to strength," she said. "It is the Jewish community's newest tradition,
a day on which we are all able to come together to make a difference to our own community, our friends, our neighbours and the strangers within our gates."
Prime Minister David Cameron expressed "admiration and thanks to all who have taken part. Thousands of people have come together, giving their time and effort for the benefit of communities around our country. I can't think of a more worthwhile endeavour."