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
DEVARIM…..these are the WORDS…
This week we begin a new Chumash / Book, the firth of the five Books of Moses, Called Devarim.
(Moses said to the Jewish people,) “ You soldered G-d in your tents, saying ‘G-d took us out of Egypt out of His hatred for us.’” (1:27)
Until the final redemption, when there will no longer be any obstacles impeding the full revelation of G-d’s goodness, opportunities will unfortunately remain to mistake G-d’s love for us for cruelty. Our challenge, until the Messianic era, is to remain fully aware that G-d is at all times manifesting His love for us, even if it appears occasionally the exact opposite. Remaining conscious of this love will inspire us to reciprocate it by fulfilling His will to our utmost ability. This, in turn, will eliminate the last remaining impediments to the Final redemption.
This coming Wednesday evening 22nd July we commemorate the destruction of both of our Temples in Jerusalem on the 9th of Menachem Av. This is a 25 hour fast, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar (fast like Yom Kippur) we do not leather shoes and observe numerous other laws and restrictions. For more details check www.chabad.org or and call your local Rabbi.
This Shabbat we commemorate the 16th Yahrzeit of Mrs Hennie Sufrin z”l, may her dear memory be for a blessing.
With prayers for an everlasting peace in Israel and safety of our iDF soldiers, with Moshiach now.
