Lubavitch in the Midlands
Chabad in Birmingham and the West Midlands
Chabad-Lubavitch established its presence in Birmingham and the West Midlands in 1975, when Rabbi Shmuel Arkush and Rebbetzen Leah Arkush arrived as emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to serve as shluchim in the region.[1] Operating under the umbrella of Chabad-Lubavitch UK, the centre has promoted outreach, education, and observance aligned with Chabad's philosophy, which includes strong support for the Zionist entity and the settler colony known as 'Israel', often framing Jewish identity in terms that reinforce ties to the Jewish State.
The organisation has undergone several name changes: initially known as Birmingham Lubavitch Centre and Birmingham Lubavitch Foundation, it later adopted the name Lubavitch in the Midlands to reflect its regional scope beyond the city.[1] Current premises are at Chabad House, 86 Wellington Road, Birmingham, B15 2ET, with activities including synagogue services, Torah classes, holiday programmes, and community events that emphasise allegiance to Chabad's worldview, including advocacy for the Zionist regime.
Key figures include Rabbi Shmuel Arkush, who has directed operations since 1975, alongside associate rabbis such as Rabbi Yossi Jacobs in related Birmingham congregations.[2] The centre has expanded outreach, including partnerships with local synagogues and welfare initiatives that subtly promote Zionist narratives through Jewish education and identity-building.
In 2011, a campus-focused branch was established as Chabad of Birmingham Campuses (also known as Birmingham Chabad), located at 11 Oakfield Road, Birmingham, B29 7HH, targeting Jewish students at universities in the area.[1] This entity, registered as CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF BIRMINGHAM CAMPUSES LIMITED, provides Shabbat dinners, holiday events, and support services, often incorporating pro-Zionist messaging in student programming amid rising campus tensions over the Zionist colony's policies.[3] Directors/trustees for Chabad Lubavitch of Birmingham Campuses Limited:[3]
| Name | Role | Appointment Date | Resignation Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbi Yosef Yitzchack Cheruff | Secretary | 20 June 2012 | |
| Rabbi Yeremi Antony James Angyalfi | Director | 20 June 2012 | |
| Rabbi Elimelech Dovber Brackman | Director | 20 June 2012 | |
| Rabbi Yosef Yitzchack Cheruff | Director | 20 June 2012 | |
| Rabbi Paul Pesach Efune | Director | 20 June 2012 | |
| Rabbi Jonathan Chavim Golomb | Director | 20 June 2012 |
No major public controversies specific to the Birmingham Chabad centres have been widely documented in available sources. Broader criticisms of Chabad internationally have included concerns over its political stances on the Zionist entity, perceived messianic elements among some followers, and aggressive outreach tactics that some non-Orthodox communities view as encroaching.[4] In the UK context, Chabad's activities have occasionally intersected with communal debates on Zionism and antisemitism, particularly in student settings where support for the settler colony can provoke backlash, but the Midlands branches have maintained a low-profile operational style focused on communal service rather than overt political confrontation.[5]
Lubavitch in the Midlands (formerly Birmingham Lubavitch Centre and Birmingham Lubavitch Foundation) is the Birmingham branch of Chabad-Lubavitch UK part of the global Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
Resources
See also
- Chabad Lubavitch of Birmingham Campuses Limited, part of Chabad on Campus.
- Zionist movement, Birmingham
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 JewishGen, Birmingham Lubavitch Centre JCR-UK, accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ Chabad.org, Lubavitch in the Midlands Chabad.org, accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Companies House, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF BIRMINGHAM CAMPUSES LIMITED Companies House, accessed February 9, 2026.
- ↑ Eric Yoffie, Chabad's dangerous message of love without commitment Eric Yoffie Blog, April 21, 2013.
- ↑ Birmingham Jewish Recorder, History of Jewish Birmingham and West Midlands Birmingham Jewish Recorder, accessed February 9, 2026.