Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue exceeded its £1.2m target to fund a vital renovation project.
The 36-hour fundraiser totalled £1,265,588 to date and will now allow new areas to the shul, repurpose others and brighten up the estate.
Lord Alan Sugar, a member of the shul, donated half the amount, £600,000, to the campaign, and challenged the community to raise the remainder.
Lord Sugar and community members created an Apprentice-style video on YouTube for the campaign where two teams from the community competed to come up with fundraising ideas for the shul. The video amassed over 6,500 views.
Rabbi Baruch Davis, Minister of Chigwell & Hainault, thanked dedicated workers, volunteers and team leaders who worked around the clock on the project. He said, “A huge thank you to more than 1,000 people who have given to this tremendous project. Above all, to Lord Sugar’s son Daniel, who has been with us every step of the way.”
Former member and US Vice-President Fleurise Lewis commented, “I have never seen such an incredible campaign. From the video, from the messages that people are writing, you could just feel that everyone really wants this project to happen, really believing in the potential for the future.”