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Chabad on Campus rabbis met this week in Leeds for their annual conference.

The two-day-long conference saw ten rabbis and their families defy extreme weather conditions to converge on Leeds Student Chabad House from as far afield as Edinburgh and Brighton.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss current issues facing Jewish students cross the UK, share ideas for successful programming and speak about experiences and challenges from the past year.

"The aim of conference," explains Rabbi Eli Brackman, chairman of Chabad on Campus UK and director of Chabad of Oxford, "was to discus different ways of reaching an ever growing number of Jewish students who are not being reached by Jewish organisations on campus."

With concurrent programmes for men, women and children, the conference provided an overdue opportunity for colleagues and friends to meet after a busy year.

"The conference provided me with excellent practical guidance for juggling my commitments and responsibilities," says Rabbi Zalman Lewis, director of Chabad on Campus in Brighton.

"But, for me, the most inspiring part was to be together with my colleagues. Despite being geographically very spread-out and isolated, we are in fact very close. The conference gave us an opportunity to spend time together as one 'family.'"

"We were very happy to host the conference in our new premises," says Rabbi Michoel Danow, director of Leeds Student Chabad House. "It was a long-awaited get together which was very beneficial for everyone."
 

This week thousands of people across the country have been celebrating Chanukah with Chabad Lubavitch at over 100 events around the UK.

Events have already taken place in: Manchester; Leeds; Cambridge; Chigwell; Golders Green; Glasgow; and Wimbledon, and include the world’s first Whisky Chanukiah and the UK’s first Cycling Menorah.

Other events include: Giant Menorah Lighting in Wimbledon with guest of honour Stephen Hammond MP; Chanukah on Ice celebration in Sale, Manchester; Chanukah Factor at the Leeds Lubavitch; a car Menorah parade in Hampstead: and a public menorah lighting in Bournemouth town centre attracting over 200 people.

One particularly novel idea this Chanukah has been the creation of the world’s first ever single malt whisky Menorah. Over 200 people helped light the Whiskey Menorah at the Chabad Centre of Buckhurst Hill on Sunday night.

The Tullibardine Distillery, in the Scottish Highlands, donated 65 litres of their Single Malt Whisky to fill this historic Menorah which was designed with a tap on the main stem so that everyone present was able to take home a miniature souvenir bottle filled with whisky from the Menorah. In addition, the community auctioned off bigger bottles full of the ‘Menorah Whisky’ to raise funds to support the Chabad Centre.

"Thanks to the generosity and goodwill of the Tullibardine Distillery we are able to make the world’s first whiskey menorah," said Rabbi Odom Brandman, director of Chabad of Buckhurst Hill. "The evening was a huge success, the whisky itself is really nice."

Another eye catching creation is the first Chabad Lubavitch Cycling Menorah. Rabbi Reuven Leigh of Cambridge, who came up with the innovative and exciting idea after seeing a sukkah on the back of a bike in New York, decided to use his bicycle at the next opportunity, Chanukah. After mentioning the idea to his members, three engineers at King’s College offered to build the cycling menorah.

Commenting on idea Rabbi Leigh said: "Every day I ride my bike around Cambridge. I thought it was such an innovative and novel way of introducing the story of Chanukah to so many people throughout our community."
 

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Over 80 students and young professionals gathered last week to hear Lord Peter Levene speak about the challenges and rewards of being an open Jew in the world of business in the UK.

The event, organised by Chabad of Bloomsbury, took place in London’s famous Lloyd’s building which houses the insurance market Lloyd's of London where Lord Levene served as chairman since 2002.

“We thought it would be a great idea for Lord Levene - an open, committed and influential Jew - to speak to young people about the real or perceived challenges that might face them on campus or in the world of work,” said Rabbi Yisroel Lew, director of Chabad of Bloomsbury.

In the course of his talk, Lord Levene spoke about his family history in the United Kingdom which goes back over 100 years.

Despite widespread concerns about anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom, Lord Levene said: “I have lived in this country all my life and I can tell you with absolute honesty that I have not really experienced any real anti-Semitism.”

Among the things Lord Leven spoke about were his opposition to intermarriage and his belief that people will accept and respect those who respect themselves.

“You do not necessarily have to proclaim your Jewishness, nor hide it, just be who you are and people will accept you," Lord Levene told the audience.

Lord Levene has held many high-profile positions in business and civic life. As well as having been the vice chairman of Deutsche Bank and more recently the chairman of Lloyd’s of London, he also served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1998 to 1999 and was the seventh Jew to ever hold the position since its formation in 1189.

“Lord Levene’s personal example might serve as a testimony to those who out of fear believe that religious identity in the UK will always act as an impediment to productive and successful citizenship,” said Sam Jacobs who attended the event.

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Over 500 people gathered in London's Brent Town Hall to celebrate 19 Kislev - with guest speaker was Rabbi Mendel Gluckowsky of Rechovot, Israel.

Inspire, the annual conference for 19 Kislev organized and chaired by Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov, director of Chabad of South London, drew attendees from all over London, as well as Essex, Leeds, Brighton, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford and elsewhere.

Guest speaker, Rabbi Mendel Gluckowsky, head of the Lubavitch community in Rechovot, Israel, delivered an inspiring speech intertwined with interesting stories from his involvement in spreading Jewish observance over the past 35 years.

"If you show others that you will make an extra effort, then the results will be seen," said Rabbi Gluckowsky.

"The evening left a deep impression on me," commented one participant.

To view pictures, click here.
 

This year Chabad Centre of Buckhurst Hill has found an innovative way  to celebrate the upcoming Chanukah festival: 65 Litres of Single Malt Whisky will fill a 7 foot high Menorah made of clear piping.

The Whiskey Menorah will be the centre-pieced of Chabad of Buckhurst Hills Chanukah celebration on on the 3rd night ofthe festival, Sunday 13th December.
 
“We have been a Chanukah trend setter in the past,” says Rabbi Odom Brandman, director of the Buckhurst Hill Chabad Centre.”

“We are always looking for something unique to make their Chanukah celebrations really special and attract attention to its aim; creating a greater interest in Jewish practise and festival observance for the wider community.”
 
Rabbi Odom Brandman, director of the Buckhurst Hill Chabad Centre , together with his community have previously built a 6 foot chocolate Menorah and a Menorah out of food cans.

For this year, they were looking for something really unique and came up with a fantastic idea. They would build a Menorah out of clear piping and fill it with Whisky. On a recent trip to Scotland, Rabbi Brandman offered a number of distilleries the opportunity to partner with them in making this dream a reality by donating Whisky to fill the Menorah. 
 
The Tullibardine Distillery, in the famous Scottish Highlands, the home of the finest in Scotch Whisky, have accepted the offer and have donated 65 litres of their Single Malt Whisky to fill this historic Menorah.
 
“It will be an amazing event,” says Rabbi Brandman. “The Whisky itself is really nice; it’s smooth, mellow and has a slightly fruity flavour. I have been on a tour of the distillery and the management there have been so helpful, accommodating and as excited as us about making this Menorah really special”.
 
The whisky will arrive, directly out of a cask, in a large drum and will be poured straight into the Menorah. The distillery is also providing empty miniature bottles and full size 70cl bottles into which the Whisky can be decanted and enjoyed by the participants of the event. The Menorah is being designed with a tap on the main stem and L’chaim’s will be “on the house” for the night.

Everyone present will be able to take home a miniature bottle souvenir filled with whisky from the Menorah and the community will then auction off the bigger bottles to raise funds to support the Chabad Centre and its outreach work.

For more information, click here.

Faith leaders, royalty, politicians and celebrities gathered at London’s Kensington Palace last week to commemorate the lives of the 166 people who perished in the Mumbai terror attacks a year ago, including the Jewish victims who were killed in the city's Chabad House.

The event - organised by the DVK Foundation which was established by Deepak Kuntawala who survived the Mumbai attacks, rescuing 150 people - was attended by over 150 international guests including Bollywood film stars, HRH Prince Michael of Kent and Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes.

During the evening Prince Michael addressed the audience speaking about the war on terror and guests and speakers stood together in solidarity for a minute of silent tribute to those lost in the Mumbai 26/11 attacks.

Rabbi Bentzi Sudak (pictured above with Prince Michael), chief-executive of Chabad Lubavitch UK, gave a heart warming address referring to the bravery and heroism of Sandra Samuel, the nanny who rescued the Rabbi Gabby and Rivka Holtzberg’s two-year-old son, Moshe, from the Chabad House.

"Here in the midst of the terror that gripped the world, we witnessed the best of mankind," said Rabbi Sudak.

"As humans, we are all interconnected; Jews and Indians, Londoners and Mumbaikars and we must remember the strength of faith that emerged in the depths of tragedy. No matter how hard it was the terrorists did not win. They did not succeed. While they tried to spread a veil of darkness on the world, humanity responded with its brightest light. We witnessed the heroism of the likes of Sandra and Deepak, and the unbreakable spirit of the people of Mumbai."

He continued by paying tribute to the work of the DVK Foundation saying: "One year on, it is our duty as keep humanity's bright light alive and shining as strong as ever. We must remember how we united and cared for one another. We need not look far to see how this is exemplified. The kitchen at the Chabad House was totally destroyed during the attacks.  Today I can say to you all, Deepak and DVK Foundation will help us to rebuild it again and start serving hot food to all those who need it most."
 

Jewish residents in Bournemouth now have a dedicated kosher food outlet thanks to the initiative of Chabad of Bournemouth.

Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Alperowitz, directors of Chabad of Bournemouth, officially opened Chabadeli this Thursday with over 60 people doing their kosher shop there for the first time. The outlet is based in their newly refurbished centre which opened its doors earlier this year following a million pound construction project.

Chabadeli will be open on Thursdays and Fridays each week and stocks over hundres of kosher food items, including chicken, meats, kugel, soup, cholent, salads, dips, fish, fish fingers, latkas, cheese, ice cream, cakes, biscuits and challah freshly baked by Mrs. Alperowitz.

"There used to be kosher shops in Bournemouth, but they closed down years ago," remarks Rabbi Alperowitz. "Even the supermarkets which offer a kosher section are stocking a more narrow range of products."

With thousands of Jews estimated to live in the sea-side city and the surrounding area, the only way to obtain kosher products has been to have them delivered from London or to travel the 200 mile round-trip to the capital.

"There is a lot of excitement about this project and on the opening day we had over 60 people come through the doors."

All proceeds from Chabadeli will be used to fund Chabad of Bournemouth’s educational programmes.

To see more pictures, click here.

Students at Leeds University glimpsed life in one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities last weekend through the recollections of Edwin Shuker, an expatriate Iraqi who fled his homeland as a boy.

More than 75 people attended the Friday evening lecture, which was sponsored by the university town’s Chabad-Lubavitch Student Centre and accompanied its weekly Shabbat dinner and services.

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