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A ghost tour at a synagogue in Enfield in 2009 caused intrigue rather than fear among the local Jewish community. CHRISTINE MILLER goes to investigate
The mysterious chase above Enfield Synagogue and Winchmore Hill
When you hear the words ‘Enfield’ and ‘Paranormal’ in the same sentence, you would be forgiven for letting your mind wonder about the strange series of events that took place in 1977 and would become known around the world as The Enfield Poltergeist.
However, the North London area is not limited to the terrifying events at 284 Green Street, but has also witnessed many more unusual events.
One such story dates back to 2009, when a strange tale of the supernatural emerged from the heart of Middlesex, England, where an esteemed rabbi, Yitzchok Sufrin, began experiencing unexplained phenomena in the apartment above the Enfield and Winchmore Hill Synagogue .
A terrifying presence
The disturbing events first began when part-time Rabbi Sufrin spent time on weekends in a small apartment above the synagogue.
At first everything seemed fine.
However, Rabbi Sufrin was soon made aware that he was not the only one taking advantage of the quaint apartment. One day he started hearing knocking, which in itself may not have been a cause for great concern. But this was soon accompanied by windows that seemingly opened on their own. He left windows that he was sure of closed tightly.
But the most disturbing incident was yet to come: the rabbi then witnessed what he could only describe as a “foreign presence” lurking in the apartment.
He wasn’t the only one who had witnessed the unusual sounds, unpredictable windows and indeed the strange ghost.
In fact, Rabbi Sufrin’s congregants told him that the series of strange phenomena he had experienced were nothing new, as they had been reported before.
But who or what was the cause of the unrest in the small apartment?
When I spoke to members of Enfield and Winchmore Hill Synagogue, it quickly became clear who they thought was to blame. The working hypothesis was that these manifestations and the general mischief could be attributed to the lingering spirit of Rev. AI Lewin.
A synagogue guard?
Rev. AI Lewin’s bond with the synagogue in Enfield was deep. He had been an important figure in the community when the spiritual center first opened its doors in Enfield in 1949. Could it be that his spirit, who had played a crucial role in the founding of the synagogue, still lingered and even watched over the congregation in the church? life after death?
The idea of a former spiritual leader returning as a guardian or observer is of course nothing new. Perhaps the pastor has some unfinished business to take care of. Perhaps it was his strong emotional bond with the building that kept him tied to the earth. Or perhaps he wanted to preserve the sanctity of his former religious residence.
Whatever the reason behind the pastor’s appearances, the Rabbinical Center of Europe took the entire situation seriously. They advised the synagogue in Enfield and said two special prayers called Tikkun should be said to help heal the situation – one for the site itself and one for the soul of the deceased man.
They also asked Israel’s leading Sephardic Rabbi, Shlomo Amar, and Rabbi Yitzchak Batzri, an expert in Kabbalah, for their opinions, and they both suggested using these Tikkun prayers. (It is important to note that London’s Beit Din, the local religious court, has no set rule or policy for dealing with ghost tours or exorcisms.)
Perhaps these prayers worked, as there has been little mention of the pastor’s ghost since. But as with everything paranormal, we know all too well that nothing is that simple. Could the pastor take another one now? hidden position when it comes to his supervision of the synagogue?
Perhaps the only way to find out is to spend a night alone in the apartment and experience it for yourself.
Read more about Haunted Enfield
There is much more to the ghosts and legends of Enfield than meets the eye. Check out our website for many more spooky London stories, as well as true stories from across the UK and Ireland.
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