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Learning. Outreach. Development.
בס"ד
In partnership with Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation
ש
אלא תורה אין מים
WESTCLIFF COMMUNITY
KOLLEL
The Community
Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation (SWHC) was founded in 1906. At its peak in the
1960s and 70s, there were over 1200 family members. Although now smaller, it is still a
vibrant community, home to over 650 families. Recently there has been a steady influx of
people moving here, some are returning to where they grew up, while others are young
families with children, unable to afford London housing prices. There are also about 2500
unaffiliated Jews in the Westcliff area and its surroundings.
SWHC is the only Jewish community in a radius of 30 miles. It has retained its uniqueness of
being one community where all religious and social activities revolve around one Shul. The
diverse membership of Jews from all observance levels has remained united for over 110
years!
Westcliff-on-Sea offers all the amenities required for a Jewish lifestyle. It boasts a large and
magnificent Shul alongside a community centre, and daily Minyanim. There is a beautiful,
newly-built modern Mikveh, conforming to the highest Halachic standards. A kosher shop,
a cheder, and separate schools for girls and boys are all in place. In various stages of
planning and building; an Eiruv, a Men’s Mikveh, Keilim Mikveh, and another kosher shop.
2
At only an hour from London, Westcliff provides affordable housing and a calm lifestyle near
the sea. Several Charedi families from London have already moved to Westcliff, and are
enjoying the many benefits. Westcliff-on-Sea is a town that is steeped in Jewish history and
has incredible potential for further growth.
INTERIOR OF THE SHUL DAILY MINYAN
WESTCLI FF COMMUNITY
KOLLEL
אלא תורה אין מים
The Kollel
Despite the large number of Jews and the great communal infrastructure in Westcliff, many
people do not get involved in any form of Jewish life because there is not enough education
or outreach programmes. Across the world, particularly in the USA, communities in similar
situations have established Community Kollels with great success. Rabbi Binyamin Bar, with
the full support of the community leaders of Southend & Westcliff Hebrew Congregation, is
aiming to follow this model. The goal is to create a Kollel which would combine high-level
learning, outreach to Jews of all observance levels in the area, and help develop the
religious vibrancy of the community.
3
The Westcliff Community Kollel would serve a multi-faceted role:
Provide outreach to local unaffiliated Jews through educational and social activities.
Offer one to one learning for men and women.
Create community activities for all levels of observance to increase the community’s
religious vibrancy.
Give opportunities for serious Bnei Torah to grow in learning with clearly defined
learning goals and to benefit from first-hand training in Kiruv and Rabbonus.
Facilitate the forming of a Charedi Community, creating a Makom Torah in Westcliff.
Offer affordable housing for Bnei Torah who wish to settle within close proximity to
London.
BETH HAMIDRASH AT SWHC KOLLEL AT A BETH HAMIDRASH
WESTCLI FF COMMUNITY
KOLLEL
אלא תורה אין מים
4
Alexandra Road Shul
First built in 1912 and in use until the
1990s. Now a protected listed building.
Finchley Road Shul
Exterior of the current Shul, built in
1968. Also pictured in the background,
the Talmud Torah building.
Mikveh
A beautiful newly rebuilt Mikveh, within
a 2 minute walk of the Shul.
Talmud Torah
This building is used primarily for the
School, Cheder and Youth Club. It is
also used for the Nusach Sefard
Minyan.
WESTCLI FF COMMUNITY
KOLLEL
אלא תורה אין מים
Cheder
SWHC Cheder excursion to the sea to
say Tashlich. The school is within
walking distance of the Sea!
New Families
Rabbi Binyamin Bar helping affix
mezuzos for one of the new Charedi
families who have moved to Westcliff in
the last year.
Adult Education
Engaging all sections of the community
in learning Torah.
Schools
There is a flourishing Charedi boys
school, also a girls school and a
nursery.
WESTCLI FF COMMUNITY
KOLLEL
אלא תורה אין מים
Support
This project is warmly endorsed and
guided by some of UK’s most
prominent Dayanim and Rabbonim
including some of the veteran Kiruv
Rabbonim. It is also endorsed by
Southend & Westcliff’s past
Rabbonim and lay leaders. Please
see below for their messages of
support.
I warmly recommend the concept of a
Kollel for the Southend and Westcliff
community. Having served as Rabbi of
the community, I can testify to the
commitment of its members to Jewish life
and practice and their thirst for Jewish
knowledge. I lend my full support to Rabbi
Bar’s efforts in enabling this project to come to fruition.
Rabbi Emmanuel Levy
Southgate United Synagogue (Former Rov of SWHC)
I am delighted to support Rabbi Bar's
initiative to develop a Kollel within the
Southend Community that can underpin
the planned educational initiatives and
partnerships moving forward.
Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE
Chabad of NE London & Essex
I fully support and endorse the
development of a Kollel in Southend and
it will be a shining light to the Jewish
community.
Derek Silverstone
President of SWHC
7
Dayan Menachem Gelley
Rosh Beth Din
London Beth Din
Harav Ephraim Padwa
Av Beth Din, Union of Orthodox
Hebrew Congregations
I fully support the wonderful
idea of establishing a Kollel
in Southend. It will further
enhance the community
and Jewish life.
Rabbi Dr Michael Harris
Hampstead Synagogue
(Former Rov of SWHC)
I fully support Rabbi Bar’s
great initiative of having a
Community Kollel in
Westcliff. May it be
successful with Hashem’s
help.
Rabbi Shlomo Fink
Chassidic Kehilla of
Westcliff
A small step for man, but a
very large step for our
community. I am so excited
at the prospect of a Kollel in
our town.
Roy Barnes
Vice President of SWHC
WESTCLI FF COMMUNITY
KOLLEL
אלא תורה אין מים
Rabbi Binyamin Bar
Rabbi Binyamin Bar was born in Strasbourg, France to a family
with a heritage of rabbinical scholars. He learned in Yeshivos for 10
years in England, Israel, and America, and received Smicha and
practicum training from Rabbonim in Israel, America, and Canada.
Whilst in Yeshiva, Rabbi Bar authored two booklets of Talmudic
essays. He continues to learn in a Kollel on a part-time basis,
focusing on Monetary Laws – Choshen Mishpat.
Since 2006, Rabbi Bar has been the Rov of the Southend and Westcliff area, with a Shul
membership of some 650 family members, and is responsible for another 2500 local Jews .
Rabbi Bar’s work in Southend & Westcliff includes amongst others: the introduction of two
Sifrei Torah, rebuilding of its Mikveh, education programs, sending youth to yeshivas and
seminary, encouraging and facilitating the integration of the newly arrived Charedi families
to Westcliff. He has built close connections with Dayanim and Rabbanim throughout
England as well as local government officials in his capacity as the Town Mayor’s Jewish
Chaplain and Hospital Chaplain. Rabbi Bar is married to Rebbetzin Chaya Faigie, a noted
educator, daughter of Rabbi Sholom Jundef, Rov in Lakewood, New Jersey, and grand-
daughter of the legendary Reb Elimelech Gavriel (Mike) Tress zt”l.
43 Finchley Road, Westcliff-on-Sea Essex, SS0 8AD, United Kingdom
+44 1702 393535 | +44 7813 004196 [email protected] | www.kollel.uk
אלא תורה אין מים
WESTCLIFF COMMUNITY
KOLLEL