WELCOME TO CHABAD HAVERING
Chabad North East London & Essex launches the foundation for its latest Chabad Branch.
Chabad N.E. London & Essex are delighted to announce the recent launch of its newest chapter in the area of Havering, which covers amongst others the area of Collier Row, Romford, Hornchurch, Upminster & Rainham.
With the ongoing migration of the Jewish Community across Essex, Chabad locally have been mapping where families are choosing to live outside the well-known areas of Ilford, Redbridge & beyond.
Activities began in January with regular meetings, discussion groups, one to one learning and a Challah bake led by Mrs Devorah Sufrin. Last week a joint Challah bake was held in Romford Synagogue to which there were some twenty five participants. A new website displaying recent and ongoing services is live on www.chabadhavering.co.uk.
Rabbi Sufrin MBE, Exec Director Chabad N E London & Essex says; “continuous requests have been made to us over a fair period of time, asking Chabad to get more involved in the area of Havering. In discussion with my wife Devorah, we decided that we must respond. In addition to three thriving Chabad Houses, based in Ilford, Buckhurst Hill & Epping with full time Chabad Emissaries, regular activities are held in Southend and now Havering.”
For now, these additional areas are serviced in the main by Rabbi & Mrs Sufrin, as the foundations are laid and relationships are built, scouting the wider areas mapping where Jewish people are living. This is often the way that in due course the seeds are sown in order to secure further Shluchim (emissaries) leading to full time Chabad Centres.
Funding will have to be secured to bring these new areas into realities, but as Rabbi Sufrin tells us,
“even though funding is always a concern and a challenge, however, as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Schneerson zy”o taught us so well, that when it comes to Jewish Education and the needs of securing Jewish Communities, we cannot allow funding to hold us back”
Rabbi & Mrs Sufrin celebrate their 37th anniversary of Chabad leadership locally picking up the baton of his late Parents Rev Aron Dov & Hennie Sufrin z”l who laid the first seeds for Chabad back in 1976, from which Chabad across Essex continues to flourish.
Thought for the week from Rabbi A. M. Sufrin MBE
NITZAVIM – YAYEILECH…(we are all standing / and Moses went…)
This week we read a double portion from the Chumash / Book of Devarim / Deuteronomy.
In the Eighth section, Moses begins his third and final address to the Jewish people, delivered on the day that he would die, the 7th Adar, 2448.
In the ninth section, the Sedra continues this final farewell address by Moses to the Jewish people. It begins with the account of how Moses went (Vayeilech in Hebrew) and installed Joshua as his successor and continues with describing how Moses wrote down the Torah and commanded the people to assemble every seven years to hear it read in the holy Temple.
ROSH HASHANA
Wednesday evening begins the Festival of Rosh Hashana. This is a two-day Festival (even in Israel when the festivals are only one day). As The Festival concludes Shabbat begins, which in effect means we have three holy days, two for Rosh Hashanah and one for Shabbat.
The Mitzvah of the day is to HEAR THE SHOFAR. There are many other beautiful customs, but THE MITZVAH of the day is hearing THE SHOFAR.
Chabad across Essex has three beautiful Synagogue services for you to choose from in addition to the numerous local Synagogues on offer. Wherever you choose to celebrate this Festival, may they be uplifting and inspiring prayers and gatherings.
As we list to the Shofar, lets close our eyes and pray deeply for the long-term security of Israel in its entirety, with Moshiach, the IDF soldiers, the displaced people from their homes and the hostages still incarcerated.
As we say in psalms, “we call out from the straights, and G-d will answer us from his breadth”. The shofar is narrow at its mouth peace from where we blow, and the sound comes forth from the breadth of the shofars end. SO too, we pray that G-d answers all of our prayers personal communal and for all of our people – AM YISROEL CHAI !
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Sweet and successful New Year.
Rabbi Aryeh MBE & Mrs Devorah Sufrin
