Printed fromChabad.org.uk
ב"ה

UK News

The latest news stories about Chabad Lubavitch from around the UK.

JLI: Rohr Jewish Learning Institute

In June, Chabad Lubavitch UK marked the fiftieth anniversary of the fateful week that redrew the map of the Middle East forever. Half a century later, Israel continues to face numerous existential threats. The summer course offered by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute Survival of a Nation: Exploring Israel Through the Lens of the Six-Day War offered a fascinating & captivating insight into what was at the time considered by many to be the most improbable and astonishing victory in military history. Topics covered the ideas of Jewish homeland, anti-Israel sentiment, ethics of war, capturing territories, and peace-making.

JLI Communcation 2a.jpg 

As with all JLI programmes, this course was designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. JLI, the adult education branch of Chabad Lubavitch, offers programmes in more than 1,100 communities across the world and is undoubtedly the largest Jewish education network. More than 156,000 people have taken JLI courses in English, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, French & Braille.

JLI Communcation 1.jpg 

Forthcoming courses for 2018 include ‘Communication: Its Art and Soul’ which will contrast Jewish thought with scientific discovery to unearth the essence of communication and how to utilize its powers to better ourselves, our relationships, and all of society; and ‘Existence’ a philosophy series which challenges us to rethink everything we know about our universe. To explore the nature of our world and the meaning of the human condition and contemplate existential questions about consciousness, the physical, and the metaphysical, to unveil the hidden unity and pervading truth of our existence.

To sign up or find out more information about the next course, click here

UK Launch of CTeen

CTeen is a global family of Jewish teens, dedicated to changing the world through acts of goodness and kindness. Through a fusion of fun, friendship building events, humanitarian outreach, mitzvah observance, and engaging Torah study, teens are empowered to actualize their inner infinite potential, while cultivating a strong sense of Jewish identity, pride and mission.

CTeen 1.jpg 

Launched in the UK this year, CTeen programmes and youth groups are now accessible in 26 countries around the world in hundreds of locations. CTeen delivers a comprehensive curriculum based on a three-part framework: Educational, placing education at the forefront, ensuring every programme is designed to enhance the development of important life skills; Humanitarian, helping teens build compassion toward others by giving back to the community through various humanitarian projects; and Social, assisting in the building of social skills though positive affiliations, ensuring personal growth in a society where working together is the key to advancement.

 CTeen 2.jpg

Currently operating in Birmingham, Borehamwood, Bournemouth, Essex, Leeds, London & Manchester, more groups will spring up all over the country in early 2018. Click Here for more information or to find a group near you.

Chanukah throughout the UK

Thanks to many individual sponsors and our wonderful corporate friends we held, for the first time, a Chanukah lighting in the heart of the City at New Street Square in addition to celebrations at various offices throughout London.

Thank you to all at Charles Russell Speechlys, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Grant Thornton, Linklaters, London & Regional Properties, Mishcon de Reya, PricewaterhouseCoopers, TaylorWessing, and Weil for either sponsoring or hosting an event.

Chanukah National 1.jpg 

 Chanukah National 2.jpg 

Aside from the London lightings, Chabad Lubavitch UK were also proud to hold more than 60 public Chanukah lightings throughout the country from Edinburgh (with First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon) to Bournemouth and from Cardiff to Solihull – and everywhere in between.

Chanukah National 3.jpg 

Chanukah in the Square

Continuing with our theme of squares… we were privileged to present alongside the Mayor of London, Jewish Leadership Council, Jewish News, the London Jewish Forum & CST the Chanukah event to top all others - Chanukah in the Square – with more than 1,000 people of all ages coming together to celebrate.

Chanukah in the Square 1.jpg 

The crowd were treated to free doughnuts and a performance by the Maccabeats before joining in with the Chanukah songs ahead of the lights being switched on. This was the tenth year that the Menorah has been installed in Central London. It is one of the largest in the world, and shines brightly for the 8 day duration of Chanukah, reminding the city of the miracle of the Festival of Light and the religious and cultural contribution of the Jewish community in the capital.

Chanukah in the Square 2.jpg 

Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: “Fantastic atmosphere at the Chanukah in the Square festivities in Trafalgar Square this evening. The enormous contribution the Jewish community makes to our city is a shining example of London at its best. To everyone celebrating - Chanukah Sameach #Chanukah #Hanukkah

Chanukah in the Square 3.jpg

 

Sukkah in the Square

This year, the Sukkah in the Square was as successful as ever. In partnership with Deloitte, Weil, TaylorWessing, Linklaters, Mishcon De Reya, The PR Office, Charles Russell Speechlys, and Hogan Lovells, Chabad Lubavitch UK were proud to build the Sukkah in the Square, (located in New Street Square EC4), for the seventh year in a row.

Sukkah 1.jpg 

On the Monday of Chol Hamoed, a lunch sponsored by Deloitte & Weil was held for over 400 city workers and on Tuesday, thanks to an anonymous sponsor, a Sushi Lunch was offered to a similar number.

Guest of Honour was Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis who said that such a publicly located Sukkah is “a wonderful celebration of the mitzvah… allowing people to show pride in our faith whilst reaching out to gather others around us.”

Sukkah 2.jpg 

Rabbi Bentzi Sudak added that the Sukkah was so tightly packed you could “really feel its embrace.” The Sukkah is open each year on every intermediate day of Sukkot and hosts a variety of events including Young Professionals evenings and Breakfasts in addition to the main lunches.

 

Chabad Seeks to Reclaim the Lost Art of Human Connection

How are our almost constant interactions with devices affecting our relationships?

This question is what drove  Chabad Lubavitch UK to offer Communication: Its Art and Soul in 14 locations around the UK. Beginning January 2018, they will present the first lesson of this new six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI).

 “Jewish wisdom includes many powerful and original insights into the art of communication that are more relevant today than ever,” explained Rabbi Bentzi Sudak of Chabad “The goal of this course is to mine these texts and seek out their golden teachings. I believe this can help us reclaim the lost art of deep human connection in spite of our devices.”

 “Can you think of a more timely and pervasive issue?” asked Rabbi Zalman Abraham of JLI’s Brooklyn, New York headquarters. “Many people take communication for granted, but it is the very fabric of our society. The goal of the course is simply to make us better parents, better spouses, better co-workers, better friends, and better people across the board.”

 In Jewish philosophy, communication is more than just a tool: it is who we are. Humans are defined as communicative beings with a communicative soul, and aligning ourselves with this soul is our raison d’être. In Communication: Its Art and Soul, we contrast Jewish thought with scientific discovery to unearth the essence of communication and how to utilize its powers to better ourselves, our relationships, and all of society,” rads a description of the course on JLI’s website.

 The course has received rave reviews from relationship professionals, including Harville Hendrix, founder of IMAGO Relationship Therapy and author of the best-selling book, Getting the Love You Want. Hendrix refers to the course as “truly artful and soulful—an absolute must.”

 “The integration of these two streams of knowledge—the secular/psychological and Jewish tradition—is remarkable,” writes Mona Fishbane, former director of couple training at Chicago Center for Family Health, endorsing the course. “The approach is sophisticated, practical, and sure to be helpful to students.”

Such is the course's acclaim, that in the United States, Medical and mental health professionals, including social workers and family therapists, can earn continuing education credits for attending.

 Like all JLI programs, this course is designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.

 Interested students may call 020 7078 7469 or visit www.myJLI.com for registration and for other course-related information. 

_______


JLI, the adult education branch of Chabad-Lubavitch, offers programs in more than 800 locations in the U.S. and in numerous foreign countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Panama, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela. More than 400,000 students have attended JLI classes since the organization was founded in 1998. 

Looking for older posts? See the sidebar for the Archive.