Community Unites to Build Chabad of Toco Hills’ New Center
by Leibel Kahan – Lubavitch.com
It’s a new $3 million home for Chabad in Toco Hills, built by local families working together. “This wasn’t something that just happened overnight,” said longtime community member Erica Davis. “It was everyone giving what they could and believing that eventually we’d get there.”
Chabad of Toco Hills was established ten years ago by Rabbi Yale and Rickelle New. The Atlanta neighborhood with a strong Orthodox Jewish community, had several established synagogues, but there was a desire for a Chabad presence that could serve as a hub for education and community programming.
In the early years, the community held services in homes, taught classes wherever space was available, and rented the local school’s classrooms or gym for larger events.
“It started small, but it built slowly and steadily,” said Seth Fleishman, president of Chabad of Toco Hills since 2017. “Families who connected stayed, invested, and started working toward something permanent. When Rabbi Levi and Sara Loebenstein joined us, it strengthened our leadership and helped us continue to grow. But the dream was always to have our own space.”
After years of planning, the community purchased a corner property in the heart of Toco Hills and began construction. “We weren’t just members waiting for someone to build us a building,” Fleishman said. “We were participants in creating something from the ground up.”
The result is a 12,000-square-foot facility featuring a sanctuary, social hall, and classrooms for youth and adult programming. “This building allows us to grow and expand our programs in a way we never could before,” said Rabbi New.
The opening ceremony drew more than 120 attendees, including community members, donors, and friends from across Atlanta. “It’s not just a building,” said Erica Davis. “It’s a home for the community we’ve built together over the past ten years.”
For Fleishman, the milestone represents both an achievement and a beginning. “Having our own space allows us to reach more people and expand programs for our families,” he said. “It’s been amazing to see how everyone — young families, longtime residents, and newcomers alike — have embraced this effort. Now we get to focus on what comes next.”
