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
RE’EIH…..see
The Fourth – Sedra / Section, of the Chumash / Book of Deuteronomy continues Moses’ second farewell address to the Jewish people. Moses begins by urging the people to SEE that G-d has given them the choice between a life of blessings or curses; the choice is theirs.
Moses told the Jewish people, “But you must not eat (the following animals),” (14:7)
G-d created everything for a purpose, and it is our task to help each component of creation to fulfil its task. In many cases, we accomplish this by making active use of the item in question – for example, by using it to fulfil some commandment. In other cases however, we accomplish this by avoiding the item in question or not using it. In those cases, we elevate the object by avoiding it.
G-d commands us not to consume non-kosher animals since they originate in the realm of spirituality that is beyond our ability to elevate through eating. In their case, we elevate them by fulfilling G-d’s commandment to abstain from eating them.
On the other hand, these animals can be elevated directly and actively by using them for purposes other than eating. For example, when a donkey or horse transports a person to perform a commandment, it too is infused with holiness.
By utilizing everything in our lives for fulfilling our Divine mission, we sanctify all aspects of reality with which Divine Providence has put us in contact.
Wishing you a meaningful Shabbat followed by a successful week.
With prayers for an everlasting peace for our brothers and sisters in Israel, our IDF soldiers and for the Jewish community worldwide with Moshiach.
