This year marked 10 years since the merger of Wanstead & Woodford United Synagogue & Waltham Forest Hebrew Congregation (Boundary Road) and the appointment of Rabbi & Rebbitzen Wollenberg. During these difficult times, it seemed the perfect opportunity to dedicate a weekend of celebration of this great success and also celebrate our Rabbi Wollenberg’s 50th birthday.
The celebratory Shabbat started with around 85people attending a delicious Friday night dinner. Jo Grose, Chief Executive of the United Synagogue was our special guest. She & the Rabbi have known each other since meeting at the JSoc at Birmingham University, so it was particularly significant that she could join us, both for the dinner and the Shabbat service with kiddush lunch. She spoke warmly of how exceptional our Rabbinic team is; how successful the appointment had been and how our Rabbi is so energetic & inspirational in the way he leads our Community.
The celebrations continued on Sunday, when nearly 300 people were treated to a sumptuous afternoon tea. Existing & past members mingled with other local Rabbis, other local faith leaders, dignitaries including the Mayoress of Redbridge and special guest The Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. Children who attended were treated to a magic show & there was a photo booth to commemorate the day.
Rabbi Mervis dedicated the main hall as the Forest Suite & the small hall as the Grove Suite and then listened whilst various members, young & old, gave short speeches on their thoughts & experiences about our wonderfully warm & welcoming Community, led by our inspirational Rabbi & Rebbitzen Wollenberg
Rabbi Wollenberg then gave special thanks to his wife, Blima. who works so hard at his side, as well as to all the Shul Council members & the vast number of hard working volunteers.
The afternoon concluded with the Chief Rabbi praising our ‘glorious community’, ’extraordinary’ Rabbinic family and the huge achievement in making a success of the merger or ‘schidduch’ as he called it!
By Paula Saffer
Photos by Gary & Nathan Schwartz
