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
Chukat – Balak….
This week we read the double portions of Chukat & Balak. With these readings, we will fall back in sync with our brothers and sisters in Israel, who have been one week ahead of us in the UK (diaspora) since the festival of Shavuot.
In the Sedra (portion) of Balak – Balak, King of Moab, hired Balaam a soothsayer, to curse the Jewish people, as he was concerned over hearing of their successful wars against their enemies.
However, instead of cursing the Jewish people he ends up by Blessing them, as he had been instructed to do by G-d. This he concludes with the famous words, which have been incorporated into our daily prayers:
“How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O, Israel.” (24:5)
The lesson for us here is that we must never think that it is important to be concerned only about the “larger” issues of modesty and intimacy, but that we can be lax about the “smaller,” “innocent” details. Even the smaller details are important enough to be able to transform a curse into a blessing or in an accursed situation into a blessing one.
One may think our concerns only need to be in our permanent home situation but less attentive in a temporary setting such as a holiday. We see here the tremendous power of even the minor details of modest conduct was demonstrated when our ancestors lived in tents, their temporary homes in the dessert.
This week’s Torah thought is dedicated to; the forthcoming wedding of Aron Dov Sufrin & Yam Nagar on Tuesday 15thTammuz – 30thJune in Israel. Mazal Tov.
With our continued prayers for an everlasting peace in Israel, the IDF, and our brothers and sisters across the diaspora.
Wishing you a meaningful Shabbat and successful week to follow.
