It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Rabbi Nachman Sudak OBE, head Shliach and Principal of Chabad Lubavitch UK. He was 78 years old.
Rabbi Sudak was sent to England in 1959 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe OBM, as his personal Shliach (emissary) charged with a mission to reinforce and help develop Jewish life in the UK, by establishing schools and outreach programmes. He did this with tremendous self-sacrifice until his last days, consistently putting the needs of the community ahead of his own personal needs.
Under his leadership Chabad Lubavitch UK grew into a national organisation that now includes 14 schools, 25 community Chabad Houses and 11 Campus Chabad Houses. This extraordinary achievement was recognised by the Queen when she awarded him an OBE in the 2001 New Year’s Honours List. In his acceptance speech, Rabbi Sudak acknowledged that he did not accept it as a personal tribute to his own work, but rather to the dozens of Rabbis and Rebbetzins who devoted their lives to furthering the aims of Lubavitch to bring all Jews closer to their heritage.
Rabbi Sudak was a deeply committed Chassid (disciple) and Shliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and embodied the Rebbe’s call to work tirelessly for wellbeing of every individual.
In the late ‘80s the Rebbe personally appointed Rabbi Sudak to be a member of the executive of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, the central governing committee of the global Chabad Lubavitch movement, as well as the executive boards of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel, respectively the educational and the social services arms of the movement.
His presence will be sorely missed, whilst his example will serve as a spiritual legacy, continuing to inspire the family of Shluchim in the UK and the continued growth of Chabad Lubavitch UK.
He is survived by his wife and dedicated partner in all his work, Mrs Fradel Sudak, may she live and be well, and their children Rabbi Leivi Sudak (Edgware), Mrs Bassie Raskin (Stamford Hill), Mrs Esther Kesselman (Southgate), Mrs Chanie Alperowitz (Bournemouth), Rabbi Kasriel Sudak (New York), Rabbi Mendy Sudak, (Stanmore), Rabbi Sholem Ber Sudak (Stamford Hill), Rabbi Zalman Sudak (Edgware), Rabbi Bentzi Sudak (London).
He is also survived by his siblings Mrs Batsheva Schochet (Toronto) and Mrs Bracha Bogomilsky (New York).
The levayah (funeral) will take place on Monday at 2PM at Lubavitch House, 107-115 Stamford Hill, London, N16 5RP. The burial will take place at 3PM at Adath Yisroel Burial Grounds, 246 Carterhatch Lane, Enfield, EN1 4BG.
Shivah will take place daily until Sunday morning at 37 Portland Avenue, London, N16 6HD.
Condolences can be sent to [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Ha’emet – Blessed be the True Judge.