About
We are grateful to share our 2025 Growth to Thrive campaign has now been launched!
Our aim is to inspire new members to join the growth of Chabad Islington through our Supporters Club as well as for current supporters to increase their monthly donations.
This Chanukah has marked the 14th Islington Menorah lighting since founding Chabad Islington in 2011. The community has since seen incremental growth with a particular spike in engagement since October 7th 2023.
Impact
A recent story is Brandon, who moved to the area from abroad and was feeling insecure as a Jewish person in the neighbourhood. Noticing the Rabbi’s son with kippah and tzitzis at Highbury & Islington train platform, he felt so moved at this sight which filled him with warmth and pride as a Jewish person. This led Brandon to discover Chabad Islington and join our shabbat dinner as well as the Islington Jewish history walking tour, he was elated to find out there is a vibrant local Jewish community who warmly welcomed him and made him feel that Islington is a place where one can proudly be Jewish. Brandon regularly attends Shabbat dinners, which have warmed his heart and made him feel he has a home away from home.
Become a part of Jewish Islington’s growth
The release of the 2021 Census data reveals that Islington now boasts the 10th largest Jewish community of London with a 41% rise (2714) since the 2011 Census (1915). Our first community space near Angel which was leased 3 years ago acts as hub for creative activities and provides a refreshing approach to engaged Jewish education. The Chabad House provides a safe haven for Jewish life, building a stronger identity and happier Jewish community of Islington.
Melissa, a first time mum who recently moved to the country, was feeling isolated and insecure in the area. We received a request to support her with meals and immediately set out to bring her freshly baked challah before Shabbat, assuring her that she has a community which cares for her. She had not gone outside her front door for 3 weeks and felt encouraged to go out for the first time to join Babyccino, a weekly meetup at Chabad for parents and young babies.
Growth since October 7, 2023
Activities that have seen a major spike in engagement:
School talks
Jewish Holidays
Shabbat dinners
Adult education
One on One counselling
New programmes started & standout achievements:
Aleph Club weekly after school club - engaging children with Jewish pride.
launched with 7 children in September, 3 more joined in January
Torah scroll fundraiser completed
the first torah in over 100 years, to be inaugurated in Sep 2025
Obtaining Islington Council VCS multi-year funding
recognising Chabad as a key partner to Islington's community sector
Monthly Shabbat morning warm kiddush
Themed Friday night dinners focusing on Jewish heritage
£13k fundraiser in support of Rabbi Mendy's 100k ultra-marathon
To continue supporting and scaling this growth we need the financial support of our community. Our operations have a wider reach which requires more capacity. We currently cover some of the expenses through grant fundraising and subsidised fees for events which we aim to keep affordable for everyone to access.
Growth and demand in our community keeps on increasing. Data from before Covid, pre-Oct 7th, post-Oct 7th and the past four months looks like this:
Number of RSVP to events:
Website page visits:
*based on data from the previous 4 months
You can make all the difference
We do not turn anyone away, more demand equals more provision of service which we unquestionably provide. This is in addition to underlying costs increasing due to inflation. We now turn to you to consider helping in covering the costs of this growth.
Annual budget Chabad Islington:
Income
Expenses
A significant reliable income of Chabad Islington is from benefactors who donate on a monthly basis. Monthly donations range from £2 a month to £750 a month.
Our aim is to raise £27,777 more a year which can be achieved through the following pathways:
Progress towards target:
Secure today Jewish Islington’s tomorrow
To build on existing successes, join our Supporters Club Challenge to secure further growth with a full range of community events that are truly accessible to all.
You can support our campaign by making a commitment to
**join our Supporters Club or for members increase your monthly donation**
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