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L’Chaim - Chabad Reaches Thousands Over Marathon Holiday Season
The festivals at the start of the Year saw dozens of programs by Chabad impacting thousands of Jews in the greater Manchester region.
From the days preceding Rosh Hashana leading all the way through the holiday of Simchat Torah, L’Chaim-Chabad arranged programs to teach, inspire, spread awareness, and provide resources to Manchester Jews. The goal was to reach every Jew, and empower them to find the joy, meaning and beauty in the ancient traditions, and enabling those otherwise unable to to participate to enjoy Holiday events.
Prior to Rosh Hashana, 10,000 copies of the Holiday Times were distributed, providing many how-to Holiday guides, inspirational and informative articles, recipes, games and more for the season. Apple and honey packages were distributed to spread a sweet message and generate holiday awareness.
Kids were part of the preparation, with more than 600 participating in the High Holiday Mission Campaign, earning rewards for fulfilling Holiday “missions.” L’chaim’s adult education division ran a three part holiday course at the Heaton Synagogue to delve into Kabbalistic and Chassidic teachings of the festivals.
On Rosh Hashana itself, a unique explanatory service enabled many to follow along in a potentially confusing and foreign prayer book, finding relevance and engagement in the services. Dozens of volunteers also spread throughout the city, including five hospitals and 15 senior centers to blow the shofar for the many Manchester Jews unable to attend synagogue and hear it for themselves.
The close of the solemn High Holy Days, meant preparations for the 
joyous days of Sukkot were already well underway. Hundreds performed the Mitzvah of shaking the Lulav and Etrog at any one of the public Sukkot at Tesco and Albert Square opposite Town Hall, or the hundreds of home and business visits. The public Sukkot also offered refreshments for passers by to enjoy, and volunteers ready to explain, discuss and offer insights into the Holiday, during Sukkos Jewish people in over 30 old age homes were visited.
The community is ever grateful to public sukkah sponsors Jonathan and Ed Gee of CG and CO, Sir Howard Bernstein and the Manchester City Council for their support and assistance in ensuring the success of the Sukkot, as well as the CST for their dedication to the safety and security of the Jewish community.
Sukkot saw L’Chaim’s teen and children divisions bursting with activity. CTeen enjoyed Go-Karting, Pizza in the Sukka and Sukka story time. the opportunity was used to launch CTeens help the homeless charity campaign. The “Boys’ Zone” Club at Holy Law Synagogue had their own pizza party, with a trip to Snow Park and Rock Climbing.
Each night of Sukkot meant a new party. There was Shawarma in the Sukka, hosted by Ian Lewis and Daniel Berke from Lewis Hymanson Small Solicitors LLP, which featured a talk by Ishmael Khaldi from the Israeli Embassy. Of Course, the family favorite Simchas Beis Hashoeivah celebrations at Beis Menachem and other communities were tremendously popular, with hundreds enjoying the fun family activities and numerous attractions.
Simchat Torah brought the month long festivities to a close amid much joy and fanfare. Volunteers trekked across the city to being the joy and spirit of the day to members of most of Manchester’s Synagogues.
L’Chaim was a major presence at the Jewish Pride demonstration against Anti-Semitism at the Manchester City Center attended by more than 2,000. The L'chaim-Chabad Mitzvah tank was there to distribute Shabbat candles, and assist hundreds in putting on tefillin to proudly display their Jewishness.
There was likely not one Jew in Manchester who did not get at least a slight taste of the Holidays thanks to the monthlong efforts of Chabad volunteers and staffers.
