Please see the following message from Rabbi Aryeh M Sufrin MBE
The links mentioned in the message are as follows:
To sell your Chometz on-line: https://form.jotform.
Chabad.org: https://www.
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
TZAV – Command Aharon and his sons……
TZAV – Command Aharon and his sons……
This week’s portion the second in the Chumash – Book of “VAYIKRA” – Leviticus is called “TZAV” – Commanded.
“The fire that will burn upon the Altar regularly must not go out. (6:6)
We may feel sometimes so distant from the Torah’s expectations of us or encumbered by negative spiritual baggage, that it is hard for us to imagine how we could even begin to live in accordance with our ideals. In times of such pessimism, we are told to keep our Divine fire burning even when we feel unqualified or otherwise unable to enter realms of holiness.
By keeping our enthusiasm fired up even in such times, the Divine flame within us will eventually burn away all impediments to joyful, holy living. As the Maggid of Mezritch interpreted this verse, “if the inner fire of the heart is kept burning continuously, it will extinguish all negativity.”
But the fire can only work this magic if it is kept burning continuously; any lapse in enthusiasm is an opportunity for pessimism to creep in. An intermittent fire or the memory of recent flames is therefore not enough; we must become adept at keeping our inner fires burning no matter how our moods may vary.
This Shabbat is also called “Shabbat Hagadol – The Great Shabbat” the Shabbat before Passover. A great miracle happened, when the Jewish People were commanded to take the “Paschal lamb” and offer it as a sacrifice and smear its blood on their doorposts as a sign for G-d to “PASSOVER” their homes and save them from the 10th plague of the killing of the firstborns. Although a deity of the Egyptians it passed by peacefully!
In these difficult and challenging times, we beseech the A-mighty’s mercy and blessings to heal all those who are unwell, console all those bereaved, and to bring a speedy end to this awful epidemic, we are all experiencing.
Wishing you a peaceful healthy fulfilling week followed by a tranquil spiritual Shabbat.
