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
Beha’alotecha…..to kindle
The third section of the Chumash / Book of Numbers begins as G-d tells Moses to instruct Aaron how to kindle (Beha’alotecha in Hebrew) the lamps of the Tabernacle’s Candelabrum. It continues with the final preparations made as the Jewish people departed from Mount Sinai.
(G-d told Moses,) “Speak to Aaron, telling him, ‘When you kindle the lamps….” (8:2)
As King Solomon writes, “The lamp of G-d is the human soul,” The flame of a candle constantly flickers upwards, as if yearning to leave the wick behind and ascend heavenward. The soul shares this nature, constantly striving to reconnect with its spiritual source by breaking free of the boundaries of time and space imposed on it by the body and the physical world.
At times, however, this nature becomes dormant; the soul is blinded by its surroundings that it forgets its natural thirst for Divinity. This is why every morning – after every period of spiritual darkness – our soul- lamps must be rekindled. They must be reminded of their innate desire to ascend. Whether your own or another’s soul with whom we come into contact, if we see that its flame is lacking, it is our privilege and challenge to re-kindle it.
With our continued prayers for the IDF, peace in Israel, and for all across the diaspora, with Moshiach now.
Wishing you a meaningful Shabbat and successful week to follow.
