Chabad to Build $7 Million Jewish Community Center

Some 350 prominent guests, partnering politicians, and lay leaders attended the Chabad Russian Center of South Florida’s Inaugural Gala at the Surf Club in January, where plans to build a $7.7 million Jewish Russian Community Center in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida where unveiled.

The 35,000 square foot Jewish Russian Community Center will be the base for the comprehensive educational and social services outreach programming Chabad offers the community, including popular classes covering everything from practical Judaism to Kabbalah. The programs are conducted in Russian and incorporate Russian culture into their events, providing the immigrant community links to their home countries, cultures and customs.

Zhanna Flaksman, an active member of the community, describes the appeal of the Chabad Russian Center: “In Russia we were Jews. And here we became Russians. We have a slightly different mentality. So when we were united by this Jewish Russian speaking synagogue we became comfortable.”

Among the 20,000 Russian Jews living in South Florida, demand was strong for a dedicated Rabbi who spoke their language. Rabbi Alexander Kaller, director of the Chabad Russian Center, arrived in South Florida nine years ago to field the needs of this community, and began his activities by holding weekly services in his living room.

Today the fledgling group has grown. More than 700 attended High Holiday services this year, and close to 100 people attend Shabbat services weekly. Having outgrown their small space, the Kallers launched the ambitious new building project.

The state-of-the-art facility, overlooking a beautiful waterfront view, will house the only Jewish Russian pre-school in South Florida, a sanctuary for Shabbat and weekday services, Sunny Isles Beach’s first mikvah, a teen lounge, library, social hall, offices and a rooftop kosher restaurant.

The idea of a center specifically for American Russian Jews has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Russian Jewish community, greater South Florida Jewish community which numbers in the millions, and local officials.

“Rabbi Kaller has a charisma that brought these people together,” said Louis Thaler, Vice Mayor of Sunny Isles Beach. “The city is very much looking forward to this community center.”

Kaller explains, “The community is elated; they are excited that the unique programming we currently offer our niche demographic will continue to grow and that we have reached a stage where we can finally put down firm roots for the furtherance of Russian Jewish life in South Florida.”