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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

New Chabad center launched in London

British Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks will be the guest of honor on Wednesday evening at the official opening of Friends of Lubavitch UK's new exclusive center, the Gaon Club, in the West End of London.

Situated in the prestigious Bond Street area of central London directly off Oxford Street, London's busiest shopping street, the Gaon Club will be a space for young professionals and business people to meet in a relaxed and stylish setting and conduct business or social meetings. Jewish community members from across the world who come to London on business will also be welcomed.

"The response to the concept of the Gaon Club alone has been phenomenal," said Rabbi Mendy Vogel, program director of the Gaon Club. "People have been phoning daily to find out when they can come and see the new center and we're delighted to tell that our doors are now open."

It will also serve as a hub for social and educational activities for Jews of all backgrounds, though it will focus primarily on the thousands of young Jews living and working in the greater central London area.

Gaon Club facilities include a beautiful and comfortable business lounge furnished in a modern, streamlined style, a library, a dining area in which a variety of food and drink will be available, use of a computer with Internet access, a Bloomberg terminal and a meeting room.

"We are honored that the chief rabbi will be opening the Gaon Club and regard his presence at the launch as most fitting for the new center," said Rabbi Yosef Vogel, director of the Gaon Club. "London has become the financial capital of the world and consequently has attracted many Jews. Because of the Chabad worldwide name recognition, we are their initial port of call and we have become a loose community for them. As a result of this great demand there has been phenomenal support to increase our activity, which eventually resulted in securing 3,000 square feet in central London to respond to the demand of young professional Jews."

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