A little more than two years after her youngest son inaugurated a satellite center of Drugsline, one of London’s premiere drug crisis prevention and counseling programs, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II formally honored the organization’s founding director, Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin, as a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

The October investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace came amidst increasing official attention being shown to Drugsline, which Sufrin founded in 1991 as a non-denominational service for those struggling with drug addiction. In the summer of 2007, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and seventh in line to the British throne, inaugurated the program’s Gants Hill offices and met with Drugsline staff and volunteers. The royal again met up with Sufrin, who is based in London’s Ilford section, during a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2008.

A letter this summer informed Sufrin of his inclusion in the list of the Queen’s 83rd birthday honors.

Speaking about the royal recognition during an address at the Nov. 16 grand banquet of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, Sufrin asserted that his program – whose Web site contains a welcome in not only English, but Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati and Hebrew as well – has broken down barriers.

“Some have asked me, why not denominational?” said Sufrin. “Thru Drugsline, we have broken down many preconceived boundaries between communities.”

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II honored Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin of Ilford, England, during an Oct. 25 investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II honored Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Aryeh Sufrin of Ilford, England, during an Oct. 25 investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Sufrin, who became a Member of the Order of the British Empire, founded Drugsline – a non-denominational drug crisis prevention and counseling program – in 1991. The honor came two years after Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, inaugurated one of Drugsline’s new centers, and a year after Sufrin was invited to the palace for a summer garden party.
Sufrin, who became a Member of the Order of the British Empire, founded Drugsline – a non-denominational drug crisis prevention and counseling program – in 1991. The honor came two years after Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, inaugurated one of Drugsline’s new centers, and a year after Sufrin was invited to the palace for a summer garden party.

“Some have asked me, why not denominational?” Sufrin said at the Nov. 16 grand banquet of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, three weeks after the investiture. “Thru Drugsline, we have broken down many preconceived boundaries between communities.”
“Some have asked me, why not denominational?” Sufrin said at the Nov. 16 grand banquet of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, three weeks after the investiture. “Thru Drugsline, we have broken down many preconceived boundaries between communities.”

Paul Marks, treasurer of Chabad-Lubavitch of Ilford, emceed a reception after the presentation of the MBE colors.
Paul Marks, treasurer of Chabad-Lubavitch of Ilford, emceed a reception after the presentation of the MBE colors.

Member of Parliament Lee Scott addresses the Drugsline reception.
Member of Parliament Lee Scott addresses the Drugsline reception.

After Scott’s speech, Sufrin and the legislator hugged.
After Scott’s speech, Sufrin and the legislator hugged.

Mayor of Redbridge Councillor Chan addresses the reception.
Mayor of Redbridge Councillor Chan addresses the reception.