Please see the following message from Rabbi Aryeh M Sufrin MBE
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 & Vayeilech
This week we read a double portion of Nitzavim & Vayeilech, as we draw closer to the High Holy days.
The first beginning with:
Moses said to the Jewish People, “you are all standing today before G-d….the leaders of your tribes, your elders, your sheriffs…from your woodcutters to your water drawers.” (29:9)
How can we truly unite? After all, some of us are “leaders” while others are “water drawers” and the like. What could Jews of such a wide spectrum of social standing possibly have in common?
The answer to this is threefold: First, who is to say who is ultimately higher on the ladder of achievement? Appearances can be deceiving and we tend to over evaluate ourselves while under evaluating others.
Second, even if we have evaluated ourselves correctly, just because we excel in one aspect of our life does not mean that there are not others areas of life in which others exceed us. Everyone is a leader in some way: therefore, our collective success depends on every Jew’s unique contribution.
Third, the difference between the Creator and any creature is infinite. Realising our own puniness relative to G-d’s absolute reality eliminates any feelings of superiority we may have over other people.
When we consider these three perspectives, we can truly stand together, united, not only with feelings of love towards each other but also with behaviour that testifies the truth to these behaviours.
Wishing you a successful week followed by a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat.
