
Dearest Friends,
Usually, when I send an Email, it is to notify about an upcoming event here at Chabad of Worthing. That is the case this time as well, but an event of quite a different nature.
I’ll start from the end. Just before Pesach, my family and I are going to be moving back to the States. And thus, our work here is coming to conclusion. There are a couple of reasons for our move, some more personal and some more organizational, and while it wasn’t an easy decision, we believe it is the best for our family.
About 2 years ago, when we first heard of the existence of a town called Worthing, with a growing number of Jewish families moving in, with the prospect of starting a Chabad Centre to service said families, we were excited to embrace that opportunity to bring Jewish awareness, Jewish pride and programming to the town and to the surrounding areas. In addition to our work here in Worthing, we were also looking forward to working with Chabad in Brighton on servicing the younger community in Brighton and Hove.
From our very first event, Chanukah at the town hall in 2022, and continuing throughout our holiday and social events over the course of 2023, we became only the more convinced in our community, in the future for a Jewish community in Worthing. Purim in our home, Matzah deliveries, Shavuot Torah reading in our garden, summer garden party, Rosh Hashana service and Shofar at the sea, dinner in the Sukkah, Chanukah 23’ reaching new heights with Draidels dropping from the top of a fire enguine, and of course the most recent Purim celebration – Purim with Israel. All this in addition to the regular Shabbos davenings and women’s programmes and classes.
We have learned over this year, that there are absolutely Jewish families in every corner of this city, often 2 or 3 on the same road, who may not be aware of each other’s existence. We have learned to appreciate the Jewish pride and connection Jewish people feel towards their Judaism, even if they may be less practicing.
We are so proud to watch (and be of assistance to) so many of you grow in your connection to Hashem, connecting with other Jewish people, doing Mitzvot and celebrating our festivals.
We are still just as convinced in Jewish Worthing. We are very proud of our work and very happy with the growth we have seen in the community. In other circumstances, we would have been happy to continue right here in Worthing, with all the new friends and connections we have made here.
While we personally may be moving on, it is our hope that the Jewish energy we have brought to town, the Jewish excitement, the joy in Judaism should continue and even grow.
I would like to thank Rabbi Pesach and Penina Efune of Chabad of Brighton and Sussex, for introducing us to this beautiful country and to the wonderful communities of Brighton and Worthing. For their support and guidance throughout this journey. We will definitely be carrying these life lessons with us as we move to our next community. Rabbi and Mrs. Efune have committed their lives to Judaism and Jewish families in Sussex, and we are confident that we leave the community work we started in capable hands. Please see more at chabadbrighton.co.uk
I would like to thank Gerry and Sharon Crest, for welcoming us to the Worthing community with open arms, for all the introductions made, and for the warm and kind words and encouragement. Gerry, we couldn’t have done this without you, and we wish you much blessing for good health, and, I’m confident that you still have so much to give to this community.
A major thank you goes to Nick Beck of Sussex Jewish Outreach and shavuatov.co.uk. Nick, you have always been our greatest fan, always helping, always promoting our work. I’m sure you will be continuing your outreach work, growing Jewish connections all across Sussex, and I wish you much continued success.
Next Shabbos, 6th April, we will be hosting our final Shabbos service. 10am Davening and Parsha discussion, 12pm Kiddush. Please do consider joining us, we would love to see you before we go.
Chabad of Brighton is hosting Seder at Ralli Hall, and would be happy for more to join. Bookings can be made at chabadbrighton.co.uk/events. Rabbi Efune can be contacted for any other Pesach needs, Matzah or anything else.
While this is a farewell, and we are moving off to another country, it is a small world nowadays and we’d be happy to stay in touch. We are on WhatsApp, Facebook, Email etc. We will continue to post our updates, and we’re confident you’ll be happy to see us in our next community.
Shabbat Shalom
Best of Wishes, we will miss you
Rabbi Shaya and Mushky, Rivka and Mendel Gourarie