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
Acharei / Kedoshim
This week we have another double Sedra being read.
The first, the sixth section of Leviticus opens as G-d addresses Moses after (Acharei, in Hebrew) the death of his brother Aaron’s two oldest sons. This is followed by laws relating to the holiest day of the year Yom Kippur – the day of atonement.
The Second portion Kedoshim (holy in Hebrew) continues the theme. The Jewish people having been made into “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” at the giving of the Torah, must adhere to a specific code of contact in order to fulfil this role properly.
“You must sanctify yourselves and be holy.” (20:7)
The Talmudic sages assure us that when we sanctify ourselves even in some small way, G-d helps us become holy in a great way. When we resist the urge to indulge in some material pleasure, we generate an increase of holiness and of positive spiritual energy, which then descends and rests upon us.
Wishing you a successful week and meaningful Shabbat to follow.
With our continuous prayers for the success of our IDF soldiers and an everlasting peace in Israel and for us all in the diaspora with the coming of Moshiach now!

