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
EMOR…
The Eighth Portion of the Chumash / Book of Leviticus begins as G-d directs Moses to tell (Emor in Hebrew) the elder priests to educate the younger priests regarding the laws of priesthood. This is followed by the laws regarding the cycle of festivals in the Jewish calendar.
G-d spoke to Moses saying, “speak to Aaron.”
The Torah generally uses two Hebrew words for “speaking”. The first “dibur” is reserved for “hard speech”, the straightforward accurate delivery of a message. The second “amirah” is “soft speech”, i.e., tailoring the message to its intended recipient to ensure that it is indeed received and clearly understood.
The first part which highlights the need to educate the younger priests is said in “soft speech.” It is only when G-d returns to the other laws concerning the priests that He once again uses “hard speech”.
An important lesson in education indeed. We must educate primarily using “soft speech”. In order to be effective, educators must relate fully to their students and tailor their style of delivery accordingly.
Wishing you a successful week followed by a meaningful Shabbat.
With our continued prayers for the IDF and our brothers and sisters in Israel and the world over for an everlast9ing peace with Moshiach speedily in our days.
