kollel...the kollel despite the large number of jews and the great communal infrastructure in...

Learning. Outreach. Development.

בס"ד

In partnership with Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation

ש

אלא תורה אין מים

WESTCLIFF COMMUNITY

KOLLEL

The Community

Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation (SWHC) was founded in 1906. At its peak in the

1960s and 70s, there were over 1200 family members. Although now smaller, it is still a

vibrant community, home to over 650 families. Recently there has been a steady influx of

people moving here, some are returning to where they grew up, while others are young

families with children, unable to afford London housing prices. There are also about 2500

unaffiliated Jews in the Westcliff area and its surroundings.

SWHC is the only Jewish community in a radius of 30 miles. It has retained its uniqueness of

being one community where all religious and social activities revolve around one Shul. The

diverse membership of Jews from all observance levels has remained united for over 110

years!

Westcliff-on-Sea offers all the amenities required for a Jewish lifestyle. It boasts a large and

magnificent Shul alongside a community centre, and daily Minyanim. There is a beautiful,

newly-built modern Mikveh, conforming to the highest Halachic standards. A kosher shop,

a cheder, and separate schools for girls and boys are all in place. In various stages of

planning and building; an Eiruv, a Men’s Mikveh, Keilim Mikveh, and another kosher shop.

2

At only an hour from London, Westcliff provides affordable housing and a calm lifestyle near

the sea. Several Charedi families from London have already moved to Westcliff, and are

enjoying the many benefits. Westcliff-on-Sea is a town that is steeped in Jewish history and

has incredible potential for further growth.

INTERIOR OF THE SHUL DAILY MINYAN

WESTCLI FF COMMUNITY

KOLLEL


The Kollel

Despite the large number of Jews and the great communal infrastructure in Westcliff, many

people do not get involved in any form of Jewish life because there is not enough education

or outreach programmes. Across the world, particularly in the USA, communities in similar

situations have established Community Kollels with great success. Rabbi Binyamin Bar, with

the full support of the community leaders of Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation, is

aiming to follow this model. The goal is to create a Kollel which would combine high-level

learning, outreach to Jews of all observance levels in the area, and help develop the

religious vibrancy of the community.

3

The Westcliff Community Kollel would serve a multi-faceted role:

Provide outreach to local unaffiliated Jews through educational and social activities.

Offer one to one learning for men and women.

Create community activities for all levels of observance to increase the community’s

religious vibrancy.

Give opportunities for serious Bnei Torah to grow in learning with clearly defined

learning goals and to benefit from first-hand training in Kiruv and Rabbonus.

Facilitate the forming of a Charedi Community, creating a Makom Torah in Westcliff.

Offer affordable housing for Bnei Torah who wish to settle within close proximity to

London.

BETH HAMIDRASH AT SWHC KOLLEL AT A BETH HAMIDRASH


KOLLEL


4

Alexandra Road Shul

First built in 1912 and in use until the

1990s. Now a protected listed building.

Finchley Road Shul

Exterior of the current Shul, built in

1968. Also pictured in the background,

the Talmud Torah building.

Mikveh

A beautiful newly rebuilt Mikveh, within

a 2 minute walk of the Shul.

Talmud Torah

This building is used primarily for the

School, Cheder and Youth Club. It is

also used for the Nusach Sefard

Minyan.


KOLLEL


Cheder

SWHC Cheder excursion to the sea to

say Tashlich. The school is within

walking distance of the Sea!

New Families

Rabbi Binyamin Bar helping affix

mezuzos for one of the new Charedi

families who have moved to Westcliff in

the last year.

Adult Education

Engaging all sections of the community

in learning Torah.

Schools

There is a flourishing Charedi boys

school, also a girls school and a

nursery.


KOLLEL


Support

This project is warmly endorsed and

guided by some of UK’s most

prominent Dayanim and Rabbonim

including some of the veteran Kiruv

Rabbonim. It is also endorsed by

Southend & Westcliff’s past

Rabbonim and lay leaders. Please

see below for their messages of

support.

I warmly recommend the concept of a

Kollel for the Southend and Westcliff

community. Having served as Rabbi of

the community, I can testify to the

commitment of its members to Jewish life

and practice and their thirst for Jewish

knowledge. I lend my full support to Rabbi

Bar’s efforts in enabling this project to come to fruition.

Rabbi Emmanuel Levy

Southgate United Synagogue (Former Rov of SWHC)

I am delighted to support Rabbi Bar's

initiative to develop a Kollel within the

Southend Community that can underpin

the planned educational initiatives and

partnerships moving forward.

Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE

Chabad of NE London & Essex

I fully support and endorse the

development of a Kollel in Southend and

it will be a shining light to the Jewish

community.

Derek Silverstone

President of SWHC

7

Dayan Menachem Gelley

Rosh Beth Din

London Beth Din

Harav Ephraim Padwa

Av Beth Din, Union of Orthodox

Hebrew Congregations

I fully support the wonderful

idea of establishing a Kollel

in Southend. It will further

enhance the community

and Jewish life.

Rabbi Dr Michael Harris

Hampstead Synagogue

(Former Rov of SWHC)

I fully support Rabbi Bar’s

great initiative of having a

Community Kollel in

Westcliff. May it be

successful with Hashem’s

help.

Rabbi Shlomo Fink

Chassidic Kehilla of

Westcliff

A small step for man, but a

very large step for our

community. I am so excited

at the prospect of a Kollel in

our town.

Roy Barnes

Vice President of SWHC


KOLLEL


Rabbi Binyamin Bar

Rabbi Binyamin Bar was born in Strasbourg, France to a family

with a heritage of rabbinical scholars. He learned in Yeshivos for 10

years in England, Israel, and America, and received Smicha and

practicum training from Rabbonim in Israel, America, and Canada.

Whilst in Yeshiva, Rabbi Bar authored two booklets of Talmudic

essays. He continues to learn in a Kollel on a part-time basis,

focusing on Monetary Laws – Choshen Mishpat.

Since 2006, Rabbi Bar has been the Rov of the Southend and Westcliff area, with a Shul

membership of some 650 family members, and is responsible for another 2500 local Jews .

Rabbi Bar’s work in Southend & Westcliff includes amongst others: the introduction of two

Sifrei Torah, rebuilding of its Mikveh, education programs, sending youth to yeshivas and

seminary, encouraging and facilitating the integration of the newly arrived Charedi families

to Westcliff. He has built close connections with Dayanim and Rabbanim throughout

England as well as local government officials in his capacity as the Town Mayor’s Jewish

Chaplain and Hospital Chaplain. Rabbi Bar is married to Rebbetzin Chaya Faigie, a noted

educator, daughter of Rabbi Sholom Jundef, Rov in Lakewood, New Jersey, and grand-

daughter of the legendary Reb Elimelech Gavriel (Mike) Tress zt”l.

43 Finchley Road, Westcliff-on-Sea Essex, SS0 8AD, United Kingdom

+44 1702 393535 | +44 7813 004196 [email protected] | www.kollel.uk


WESTCLIFF COMMUNITY

KOLLEL

kollel...the kollel despite the large number of jews and the great communal infrastructure in...

Documents