ב״ה
Rev Aron Dov & Henny Sufrin, ז״ל On 8th May 2023, a unique Reception was held in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by Wes Streeting MP. Rabbi Aryeh mbe & Devorah were sent by the Rebbe in 1983 as a young married couple to develop Chabad activities in the Ilford area, an area once recognised as the largest concentration of Jews in Europe, where his late parents, Rev Aron Dov (AD) & Henny Sufrin, ז״ל ,had settled seven years earlier at the behest of the Rebbe. Celebrating 40 Years
Wes Streeting MP Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov – Wimbledon Daren Burrney – Lead Trustee Wes Streeting MP spoke passionately about the Sufrins’ positive contribution over four decades, not only to the Jewish community, but to the wider non-Jewish society, through their counselling roles in addiction, as family therapists, their Chabad – aid food programmes, educational and social events, as well as representing the Jewish community at a host of civic ceremonies. Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov, Shliach to Wimbledon, South London and a close friend of the Sufrins delivered the main address, drawing on the meaning of the special day of Lag B’omer, which coincided with the Reception. He praised the numerous partnerships that have been built with the supporters and volunteers of Rabbi & Mrs Sufrin and Chabad, not just in Ilford but across the entire region of Essex. “Ilford Kadima” (Ilford first!), said Rabbi Dubov, “were the two words that the Rebbe used when directing the Sufrins in their desire to dedicate themselves to a life of Shlichus”. ese two words were destined revolutionise the face of Jewish communities all over Essex. Daren Burrney, Lead Trustee of Chabad Northeast London & Essex, thanked the supporters for believing in Chabad’s mission over the past forty years, with the hope that they will continue to support Rabbi & Mrs Sufrin’s continued leadership into the future. “Without your support”, he declared, “the work of changing or saving lives would be near to impossible”. Rebbetzen Devorah, as Master of Ceremonies for the evening, expounded on the relevance of the
number “forty”, and shared anecdotes on their early years. She recalled her husband’s rst rabbinical appointment as minister of West Ham Synagogue. As a shy and reserved twenty-year-old, she had to learn quickly that, youth notwithstanding, she now held the role of “Rebbetzen”. Rabbi Aryeh formally thanked all present for participating in this memorable evening. He too shared some humorous anecdotes from the couple’s humble beginnings, also recalling his late parents’ educational leadership and their continuous encouragement. “is is what enabled us to succeed across Essex”, stated Rabbi Aryeh, “that, and the unstinting dedication of my fellow Shluchim, trustees, supporters and volunteers. We are immensely proud to have built up a team of committed Shluchim over four decades, by providing seed investment money, thus enabling the establishment of FOUR Chabad Houses with seven families of Shluchim. I recall the cherished memory of Rabbi Moshe Muller, ז״ל ,who passed away seven years ago, his wife Mrs Brocha Muller in Gants Hill, Rabbi Odom & Henny Brandman in Buckhurst Hill, Rabbi Yossi & Rivkah Posen in Epping, Rabbi Tzvi & Mushki Birnhack in Southend, together with Rabbi Mordechai & Blima Wollenberg & Rabbi Yanki & Rochel Abrams as Rabbonim in local Shuls.” Last, but by no means least, Rabbi Sufrin thanked his wife Devorah for her unwavering devotion to both family and community. “She has been at my right hand, as an active co-director in all of
Chabad’s initiatives, and together, we look forward to continue to build on our successes in Essex and plan for the next four decades and beyond.”
...ופרצת ימה וקדמה צפונה ונגבה