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 and 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 and 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 Aryeh 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 and 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 and Mrs. Sufrin celebrate their 37th anniversary of Chabad leadership locally picking up the baton of his late parents Rev Aron Dov and Hennie Sufrin z”l who laid the first seeds for Chabad back in 1976, from which Chabad across Essex continues to flourish.
Aryeh and Devorah never cease to amaze us always trying to run more activities and programmes. They are making their parents on both sides proud.
Keep up the good work until Moshiach and beyond
Chaim and Sora J