Earlier this week Ealing Synagogue was honoured to host Hava Nahshonov, Deputy Mayor of Sderot, when she made a visited and met synagogue’s members.
Hava was welcomed by Ealing United Synagogue’s Chair Gary Barak and Rabbi Vogel. She was joined by Ms Rina Shteinberg, Director of the Immigration and Aliya Department for the Sderot Municipality, her close friend and Ealing resident Ms Aina Mamaeva and Councillor Seema Kumar, who was responsible for bring the visit together.
Gary Barak was delighted to show the party around the synagogue and discuss the history of the Jewish community in Ealing and the synagogue itself.
Hava was visiting London to talk to young Jewish people who may be interested in making aliya (moving to Israel) and beginning a new life in Israel and in particular Sderot. Hava said, “as a person myself who emigrated to Israel in the 90’s I still remember the excitement and hope for a better future.” She has now enjoyed higher education, launched her own business, had her own family and puts a huge effort into public and community work to give the support to others that she once needed too.
As the Deputy Mayor, Hava has the responsibility for the absorption and foreign affairs portfolios and thrives in promoting programmes that allow immigrant families to find a true home, future and amazing career opportunities in Sderot, a city that is proud of its business, culture and leisure.
Gary commented, “It was a pleasure to meet Hava and her guests and I’m grateful to my dear friend Councillor Seema Kumar for arranging the event. It’s incredible to hear about Sderot and what the city offers, especially after what it’s been through.”
The city of Sderot is located close to the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip and has frequently been the target of rocket attacks and incursions during the course of the conflict, including, of course, October 7th, 2023, when Hamas launched an unexpected large scale terrorist attack.
Hava presented Ealing Synagogue with a beautiful Silver Havdalah Set and in return Gary gave all the members of the visiting party commemorative books celebrating Ealing Synagogues 100th centenary.CC
