Chigwell & Hainault Synagogue

2016 2017 2022

Event:

The Chigwell community served as the focal point for ShabbatUK celebrations in Essex, with many ladies from the surrounding area joining in the Challah Make, and whole communities joining together for a musical Havdalah service that featured the Chigwell in-house band, ‘Shul of Rock’, who played Israeli classics. Before this grand conclusion to Shabbat, which also involved a talent show, everyone sat down to a lively Melava Malka with BBQ style food.

Evaluation from Organiser:

“This event is one of two community events in the last few years and offered a chance for all the parties in the area to come together at one venue to celebrate a great Shabbat. The area still has sparks of vibrancy that just need to be lit and these kind of events help to bring everyone together. It’s also very important for the community to see the fun side of being involved in a more religious way of life.”

Event:

The goal was to reach out to the community & to bring in Balfour 100 as a theme. Young families made presentations in the afternoon. We attracted a large crowd for lunch and had many people for seuda shlishit.

Evaluation from Rabbi Davis:

Many people had a great community experience.

Participant Feedback:

‘Lovely to see so many of the community together.’

‘I found the various presentations very interesting and enjoyed the day altogether.’

‘Very well organised and enjoyable.’

Event:

On Shabbat UK, we ran 4 different events, aimed at different groups within the community, but were such that some people were comfortable in attending all four. The four events: Challa-make, formal 4-course Friday night dinner, preceded by a lively Carlebach-style Kabbalat Shabbat & candle-lighting, informal buffet Shabbat lunch with a speak & children’s activities and seudah shlishit for the more committed.

Evaluation from Baruch Davis:

“We were very happy that so many people attended these events and that, for a significant number, it was their first shul event in a long time. Our guest speaker, Rabbi Dr Ari Zivotofsky, coutesy of Mizrachi UK, was a great success.It was definitely another step in welcoming more people back, with a warm and lively atmosphere; a winning formula, to be used during the year, as well as on Shabbat UK.”