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Michigan Jews, Muslims Volunteering On Christmas

DETROIT (AP) — Jews and Muslims have been volunteering around metropolitan Detroit to help their Christian neighbors celebrate Christmas.

The Detroit Free Press says about 1,000 Jewish and Muslim volunteers from a number of congregations collaborated Wednesday on Mitzvah Day, the largest single day of volunteering by the local Jewish community. The Michigan Muslim Community Council is coordinating volunteers from its communities.

The volunteers are helping social service agencies at about 40 sites throughout the day.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit has sponsored Mitzvah Day for two decades, and Muslims have been part of the effort for the past five years.

Mitzvah means "commandment" in Hebrew and is generally translated as a good deed.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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