WELCOME TO CHABAD SOUTHEND
We are delighted to welcome you to our new website for Chabad Southend, a branch of Chabad North East London & Essex.
Now in our third year, we have been working in partnership with the Southend & Westcliff Synagogue Community and its leadership, to provide additional educational opportunities from children through adults.
We currently provide:
– Cheder classes each Monday for children aged Year 1 – through to Bar / Bat Mitzvah, with exciting, challenging and fun interactive classes. Innovative reading learning programme tailor made to each child’s ability and level of growth and development. Jewish knowledge taught by way of interactive arts and crafts projects, hands on experiences, all led by Mrs Devorah Sufrin and our Shluchos based in Gants Hill.
– JWC Jewish Women’s Circle, monthly discussion and activity groups on Jewish topics with social interaction led by Mrs Devorah Sufrin
– Men’s monthly discussion groups in an interactive manner on varying Jewish topics relevant to today’s challenges in the Jewish world led by Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE
The monthly discussion groups are hosted in private homes. If you would like to host a meeting or find out more please contact us.
Chabad N E London & Essex currently has three Cheder opportunities for your children each week accross Essex.
Sunday @ Chabad Gants Hill, Monday @ Westcliff & Southend Synagogue, Finchley Road, Southend. Wednesday @ Chabad Buckhurst Hill.
We are continuously looking at ways of enhancing Chabad’s educational & social services for the Community and look forward to sharing more with you as time goes on.
Thought for the week from Rabbi A. M. Sufrin MBE
VAYISHLACH – “and he sent….”
VAYISHLACH – “and he sent….”
In this week’s Sedra / portion Jacob is about to face his brother Esau, he prays to G-d that his meeting should be peaceful.
“I am no longer worthy, due to all the acts of kindness and trustworthiness that You have done for me, Your servant.” (32:11)
Although Jacob was certainly aware of his many merits, he was also able to rise above natural human short-sightedness and realise how infinitely indebted we are all to G-d.
With this perspective, Jacob humbly assumed that his merits were insufficient to deserve G-ds protection.
Therefore, he petitioned G-d to save him and his family not on account of his own merits – although he was indeed worthy – but out of G-d’s pure kindness.
Following Jacobs example, whenever we are to ask something of G-d, we too should appeal solely to His kindness and compassion. If we ask for assistance based on our own worthiness – and we may well possess many merits, G-d’s response will be limited to the extent of our worthiness.
But when we humbly disregard our own worthiness, demonstrating that we, like Jacob, have risen above our own short-sightedness, G-d will respond with Blessings that transcend the natural order.
Wishing you a wonderful inspiring Shabbat followed by a successful week.
