The Travelling Chassidim of London were privileged to spend Shabbos with the warm and welcoming community of Woodford Forest, East London, who has at its helm the tireless Rabbi and Rebbetzin Wollenberg and their family.
We arrived shortly before Shabbos and were warmly
welcomed by the Rabbi. The assistant Esther showed us to our comfortably
prepared rooms, which were to be our lodging quarters for the duration
of ShabbatUK.
Friday night we met the members who came to daven
and were eager to welcome us and make us feel at home in every way possible. We
enjoyed a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat, replete with singing and Maariv
davening was filled with warm songs and followed by dancing in unison – the
Travelling Chassidim and members of the local community coming together in a
rare show of unity!
We were then escorted to the Rabbi's house where a
lavish meal was served - all cooked and prepared by the Rebbetzin, the
assistant Esther and the Wollenberg children. Stories and Divrei Torah
were shared and in spite of our different backgrounds we bonded over insightful
conversation and delectable food and wine.
Shabbat morning we listened to the Rabbi's
shiur on Tanya, whose insightful yet practical words of inspiration and Jewish
thought were relevant and meaningful to all. It was then that we met Shul
members who had not been in shul the night before; what a welcome we received!
Shacharit followed with the Chassidic touch, Rabbi
Aron Weingarten leading the prayers with songs that created a cohesive and
inspiring atmosphere. The reading of the Torah was interspersed with Mazel Tov
wishes and singing for the 85th Birthday and for the birth of a
great-granddaughter – both Simchos of locals. A festive atmosphere permeated
the whole assembly and was upped to the next level by the Rabbi’s warm words of
inspiration. Rabbi Wollenberg's uplifting words about the power of the Shabbos
- specifically the impact of a nationwide ShabbatUK - as a time to
inspire others to find meaning in Shabbat and their everyday lives,
empowered the audience to raise the bar for Yiddishkeit.
After Mussaf we were led to the eating area where a
lavish sitting down kiddush lunch was lovingly prepared by the Rebbetzin and
the ever-present Esther. It was then that the atmosphere peaked with the
Travelling Chassidim singing traditional oldies as well as Chassidic songs. We
also spent the time meeting and getting acquainted with each other, discussing
our lives, communities and histories. Friendships were forged as young and old
bonded finding the things that bring us together rather than the differences
that set us apart.
One shul participant remarked "it's never been
this atmospheric before", another said "you made our Shabbos
atmosphere" - everyone was in good spirits and palpable energy was felt
throughout the whole Shabbos.
The Travelling Chassidim were again escorted to the
Rabbi's house where we were given the traditional 'chulent', kugels and
dessert. Family Wallenberg's hospitality is really legendary!
Mincha followed after a Shabbat nap
together with a cozy Shalosh Seudos - again prepared in style, sparing no
effort. Traditional Zemirot was sung as well as other Jewish niggunim; the
atmosphere was one of friendship and cohesion!
Shabbos ended too quickly but with fond memories of
this wonderful opportunity to meet such a hospitable and loving community and
to bring different sectors of the Jewish community together is really
unforgettable!
Huge Shoutout to Rabbi and Rebbetzin Wallenberg,
Esther Odze and the wonderful Wollenberg clan for going all out to make this
happen! See: Selichot 5783 - YouTube
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