UPDATED COVID MESSAGE – DECEMBER 2020
A Prayer For Those Injured in Israel
We are all shocked to learn this morning of the terrible tragedy that occurred last night in Israel on this holy day of Lag B’omer.
Let us join together in prayer, charity and good deeds in honour of the souls lost, their families bereft and those seeking healing from their injuries.
This is the time for our collective unity.
Rabbi Aryeh M Sufrin MBE
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
BEHAR – BECHUKOTAI……
This week we read the last two Sedrot – Portions of the Chumash of VAYIKRA.
In the first BEHAR (mountain in Hebrew) Moses hears the commandments, to covey to the Jewish People the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years.
In the second portion BECHUKOTAI (rules in Hebrew) for following G-d’s commandments – rules, that they will be rewarded with material wealth and well – being. The opposite is also true.
“In the seventh year, the land must be given a complete rest….I will command my blessing for you in the Sixth year.” (25:4)
Although leaving of the land fallow for a year may indeed improve its fertility, this cannot be the purpose of the Sabbatical year. If it were, G-d would have promised to increase the yield of the year following the fallow year not preceding it. By promising an increased yield in the sixth year – which should naturally be the least productive! G-d shows us that it is specifically and exclusively His blessing that is the source of the increased yield.
The lesson for us is as follows: As Jews we are required to spend time each day in prayer and study of the Torah; we must give charity, support Jewish education and abstain from work on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. How can we hope to live financially sound lives when our non-Jewish neighbours, who are not “handicapped” by any of these obligations and restrictions, struggle to earn their livelihood?
The Sabbatical year teaches us that when we do what G-d desires, He will bless us – not only spiritually, but materially as well.
Wishing you a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat followed by a productive week.
