Torah in Memory of Ilford Shliach

Coinciding with his second Yarzheit, Chabad Lubavitch North East London and Essex, remembered their fellow colleague, Rabbi Moshe Muller obm who dedicated his life as a Shliach to the Chabad House in Ilford, Essex UK for some 21 years, with a Siyum and Hachnosas Sefer Torah, On Sunday Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

The last letters were written in the Muller family home, overseen by Head Shliach to Essex, Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE and respected Sofer Rabbi Arele Tiefenbrun.

The Sefer Torah was achieved by the entire community coming together, dedicating letters, columns and Sedras, by family, friends and many of Rabbi Muller’s Mushpo’im and students.

Many came to the house to have a chance to write a letter in this special Sefer Torah, including Rabbi Odom Brandman, Shliach to Buckhurst Hill, Essex, local Rabonim of neighboring Shuls, fellow Shluchim from around the UK, Anash of London and beyond and the local communities of Essex. The last two words were completed by Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE, Mr. Bentzion Bernstein with Yosef and Avremel Muller, Mr. Ovadiah Klein with Zalman Muller, then Shimi, Yitzie and Mendel Muller completing the Sefer Torah.

The completed Sefer Torah was carried out of the home by Mr. Mendel Muller, the eldest son of Rabbi Muller obm watched and accompanied by his mother Mrs. Brocha Muller and their daughters, Chaye Mushka and Shoshie.

The 350 strong crowd of men women and children accompanied by a music van much singing and dancing made the 20 minute procession under a specially prepared chupah on wheels. The route through the streets of Ilford, took the main Cranbrook Road, around the Gants Hill roundabout a major road artery, holding all the traffic back whilst the procession made its way to the recently opened Chabad Lubavitch Centre in Gants Hill, Ilford. Watched by hundreds of onlookers, in amazement at this most beautiful sight on the streets of Ilford, demonstrating the strength of the Jewish community as strong and united, a true Kiddush Hashem.

Met by the existing Sifrei Torah, Hakafos, singing and dancing continued in the Chabad Centre, with a reception, concluding with some words of Chizuk from Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin MBE, and Mincha.

“Rabbi Muller, a dedicated colleague and fellow Shliach, was tragically taken from us two years ago at a young age, leaving behind a massive void and a large family, community and so many others bereft,” Rabbi Sufrin said. “In our new Centre opened just six months ago, some of his students dedicated a room in his memory. However, a Sefer Torah in his memory which represents the essence of Yidishkeit, Jewish education and the future of our people, is what Rabbi Muller, himself a sofer, stood for and worked towards every day of his life. As such this Sefer Torah ensures that his memory and legacy will be remembered and replicated each and every time it will be used in our busy Chabad House,”

A special Shacharis minyan was arranged for Monday morning so that his son Mendel was able to read from it for the very time this Sefer Torah was being used before leaving back to Yeshiva in New York a few days later.