Mrs. Hennie Sufrin, 76, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Mrs. Hennie Sufrin, co-founder of Chabad Lubavitch centres in N. E. London and Essex in England who was loved by all in Ilford, passed away Thursday, Av 4 5770.

She was 76 years old.

Simply known as “Hennie,” her listening ear and helping hand were legendary and she was seen as the matriarch of the North-East London and Essex Jewish community.

Henne Elke Sufrin was born in Dublin, Ireland, where her parents, R’ Chanoch Henoch and Mrs. Wolfson, were active members of the Jewish community, often hosting the shochtim and other visiting frum Jews.

After learning in the known Gateshead Seminary Beth Midrash Lemoroth, the women’s teacher training college, she married Rabbi Aron Dov Sufrin in Manchester and moved to London.

Legendary chossid and Shliach Rabbi Benzion Shemtov, in charge of building Chabad-Lubavitch throughout the UK, approached them to get involved.

A short while later, Rabbi AD Sufrin became the Director of Education and member of the board of Lubavitch UK (working alongside Rabbi Nachman Sudak and Rabbi Faivish Vogel.)

Mrs. Sufrin held a teaching position in the Lubavitch Girls High School for a number of years and head-teacher for some of those years as well.

In 1976 with the Rebbe’s blessings they moved to Ilford, Essex, home to 30,000 Jews, where they opened their home to all.

“They moved during the days when it was unfashionable to be outside of anywhere other than Stamford Hill or Golders Green,” a family member told COLlive.com.

Hennie, best known for her lively open “Irish” character, led with zest numerous classes and other programs for women throughout the week.

One of her most cherished projects was her Tuesday Morning Ladies Sem where she would organize different speakers on various topics to address the ladies. “The sem was her joy and pride,” the family said.

“Many in the community and beyond, used to telephone her and visit her to share their woes, seeking some “chizuk” and inspiration which they always found after contacting her.”

Their son Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin and his wife Devorah joined them in 1983 after their marriage and began the groundwork to build what is known today as the thriving Chabad Lubavitch Centre.

Since the passing of Rabbi AD Sufrin in 1997, Mrs. Hennie Sufrin has continued to play an active leading role in the education services offered by the Chabad Centre.

She is survived by her children Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, Shliach in Ilford, Essex, UK; Mrs. Baila Hecht of Crown Heights (wife of Rabbi Shea Hecht); R’ Eli Sufrin of Florida and R’ Boruch Sufrin of California.

She is also survived by her sister, Marilyn Cohen of London.

LEVAYA AND SHIVA

The funeral will be leaving Schonfeld Square Thursday at 3:30 pm, passing by Lubavitch House (Lubavitch UK Headquarters) at 3:45 pm.

Shiva will be at the home of Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, 15 Highwood Gardens, Ilford, Essex.

Baruch Dayan Haemes.