Synagogue Marvels at New Rabbi

By COLlive reporter

On a warm summer’s day, Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Blima Wollenberg had their formal hachtara – induction service – performed by the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

Rabbi and Mrs. Wollenberg have also been appointed as Chabad Shluchim under the aegis of Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin of Chabad of North-East London and Essex, UK.

The Wollenbergs, along with their 7 children (who the Chief Rabbi managed to remember by name, are the first rabbinic couple to serve the new Woodford Forest United Synagogue in North-East London, formed by the merger of the former Wanstead & Woodford and Waltham Forest Hebrew Congregations.

A total of 250 people were in attendance at the ceremony on July 17 2016 (11 Tammuz 5776). Among them were Dayan Levi Raskin, Rov of the Lubavitch Kehillah in London; Rabbi Bentzi Sudak, Chief Executive of Lubavitch UK and many rabbonim, shluchim, lay leaders, community members and family.

The service was conducted by Chazzan Adrian Alexander who was accompanied by Rabbi Wollenberg’s mother on the keyboard, and parts were also played by the former rabbonim of the previous communities Rev. Stewart Myers and Rabbi Beni Fleisher as well as Daniel Sacks, a prominent teenage member of the community.

Recently-elected chairman Robin Jacobs introduced the Chief Rabbi and commented that the community is finding it hard to keep up with the Wollenbergs, who were previously in Cardiff, Wales for 8 years and in Liverpool for 4 years.

Chief Rabbi Mirvis spoke about Rabbi and Rebbetzen Wollenberg’s personal qualities, making comparisons with the biblical Mordechai from the Megillah and his leadership qualities. He made reference to the role Rabbi and Rebbetzen Wollenberg have taken on in the wider community, including his role at King Solomon High School, drawing on his years of experience as a governor at King David Schools.

Rabbi Wollenberg spoke about the importance of people, how people rather than buildings are what make a community and how he sees his role, like the word induction, as inspiring others and lighting a spark within each person, and helping them to find their niche and place in the community.

He spoke about the importance of building up infrastructure and facilities, rather than shying away, and about the centrality of hospitality and pastoral contact to his role. He also paid tribute to his wife and children making reference to the fact that it is a team effort and they are the key to his success.

He also proudly spoke about being part of the remarkable family of Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchim and the influence the Rebbe has on his life and his energy for his Shlichus.

Stephen Pack, President of the United Synagogue spoke about the US’s commitment to the newly merged community and to providing assistance with its growth and development.

He also referred to the first meeting they had with the Waltham Forest Hebrew Congregation and how they had said that one of the most important components of a merger was finding an outstanding rabbinical couple which the shul had done.