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
KORACH…….
The Fifth section of the Chumash / Book of Bamidbar / Numbers, recounts the rebellion of Korach, Moses’ first cousin and its repercussions.
Moses arose and went to Dathan and Aviram (16:25)
Dathan and Aviram had openly demonstrated their animosity towards Moses, accusing him of being a despot and an imposter. Moreover, G-d Himself had already sealed their punishment, instructing Moses only to save the other rebels from Dathan and Aviram’s impending fate. Still, Moses did not give up hope that his “enemies” would repent, doing everything in his power to influence them to reconsider.
We learn from Moses to always do whatever we can to bring our brethren back to G-d and His Torah – even when it seems that all hope is lost. This is true even when they are ignoring their faith intentionally and all the more so when they are acting out of ignorance.
With our continued prayers for the wellbeing of the IDF, the security and safety of all our brothers and sisters within all of Israel’s borders and the Jewish community across the diaspora.
Wishing you a successful week followed by a meaningful Shabbat.
