Church To Become Chabad Center

By ELLEN WEISMAN STRENGER – NJ Jewish Voice

Chabad at the Shore has announced plans to purchase a building at 6605 Atlantic Avenue in Ventnor as its new home. The former Episcopal Church, located just blocks away from Chabad’s current shul, is tentatively scheduled to open as “The Chai Center” on August 9 after undergoing $200,000 worth of renovations, said Chabad at the Shore director Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport.

At the Voice’s deadline, Chabad was scheduled to close on the building, which cost just under $1 million, on June 10.

The new 10,000-square-foot “Chai Center” will comprise a “campus” of several buildings. According to Chabad’s website, the main building will house a 250-seat sanctuary; a social hall; “hospitality rooms” for visiting scholars and guests; a rabbi’s study, library and office suites; and a commercial kitchen which will also offer kosher catering services. A separate school building will hold several classrooms, offices and an additional kitchen.

“There is also a beautiful outdoor space,” said Rapoport, where Chabad plans to have a playground, garden and “sukka plaza.”

A flood prompted Chabad’s new building purchase. In December, Chabad’s Ventnor Shul, located at 6412 Ventnor Ave., was forced to close when frozen pipes at a neighboring establishment caused substantial flood damage, said Rapoport. Chabad then moved its base of operations to Rapoport’s home and began intensifying its ongoing search for a new location.

“We had been searching for a home for our growing organization for several years,” explained Rapoport. “The way we see it, Hashem had a plan for us, and here we are.”

The Chai Center “will allow for many more people to be inspired and infused with love and pride in their Jewish identity…. and will serve as a beacon of light and warmth for the Atlantic and Cape May County Jewish Communities as well as the thousands of visitors who come each year,” according to a May 21 Chabad announcement.

“Our old location served us well for about seven years, but it was not large enough for us to be able to accommodate all the people who would come and join us,” Rapoport added.

Although Chabad’s Ventnor Avenue shul has been repaired and reopened, Rapoport hopes the organization will move to its new home by the end of the summer. “The plan is once we finish repairs and changes to the new building, turning it into a shul, we hope to have a grand opening celebration August 9, where we showcase the new building for the first time and honor all those who are contributing to the project.

Fundraising is “well under way” to enable Chabad to cover the costs of the $1.2 million project, he said. Of that total, $400,000 is needed this summer, half of which will go toward freshening up the building and converting it into a synagogue. This involves removing stained glass windows and other remnants of the building’s Christian past and adding Jewish artwork, an ark, mezuzahs, and other elements that make the building look and feel Jewish.

Those wishing to contribute can choose among numerous dedication, memorial and tribute opportunities, all of which are listed on Chabad’s website, www.chabadac.com. According to the website, “This is…an opportunity to honor the name of a family member or loved one by dedicating a room or item in our new facility.” Requested donations range from $500,000 for a campus dedication to $1800 for mezuzot.

“It’s very exciting,” said Rapoport. “We pride ourselves on creating a place where all Jews feel welcome and encouraged to celebrate their faith. With the right space, we will be able to do this on a much larger level.” .