A new home for Jewish life: Chabad at Rice breaks ground on new Jewish Student Center

For Chabad at Rice, a dream years in the making is now taking shape.

On Aug. 30, Chabad at Rice broke ground on a new 16,000-square-foot, three-story Jewish Student Center at 1915 University Blvd., directly across from Rice University.

Students, alumni, parents, donors, community members and university leaders gathered for the ceremony, marking a new chapter for Jewish life on campus.

For Rabbi Shmuli and Rebbetzin Nechama Slonim, who run Chabad at Rice together, the day was emotional.

“For many years, it’s been a dream,” said Rabbi Slonim, “and today, we have the privilege of watching that dream become a reality.”

The ceremony took place in a large, air-conditioned tent, a welcome respite from the Houston heat.

Rice University vice president Kelly Fox spoke at the ceremony. Houston Hillel Rabbi Kenny Weiss also attended, along with Rabbi Shimon and Rebbetzin Chiena Lazaroff, regional directors of Chabad, and donors, including the Grinshtein family, for whom the building will be named.

Since opening in 2016, Chabad at Rice has grown into a center of Jewish life, serving approximately 300 students annually at Rice and other Houston-area campuses. Students participate in Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, Jewish learning, leadership development, volunteer projects and social events.

For many, Chabad has become a second home – a place to practice Judaism, build friendships and find community.

This year also marks Chabad’s 10th year on campus.

“Allow me to introduce 10 of our dear alumni, each representing a graduating class from Chabad’s very first year,” said Nechama Slonim. “Together, their reflections tell the story of these past 10 years and give us a glimpse into the future we are building.”

Among the alumni was Adam Cohen, who experienced Chabad’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m representing the class of 2024. I think that, for me, something that really set the tone was back in the COVID era, when we were dealing with the outbreak. I got sick and was isolated seven to 10 days. During that time, Chabad was able to deliver challah and wine to me while I was locked away.”

Other alumni recalled experiencing the Mitzvah Marathon, Sushi Social, friendships and laying tefillin – and, especially, Nechama’s cooking – experiences that made Chabad feel like home.

That sense of belonging is central to the new building.

“Inside the new Chabad Student Center, there will be a bustling student lounge, a game room, study spaces, an extensive Jewish library, a beautiful dining room and a classroom dedicated to Jewish learning and education,” Nechama said. “But above all, the new Chabad house will be a home – a place of deep connection and identity for every single student.”

The need for more space became apparent as Chabad outgrew its current 3,000-square-foot facility, which regularly welcomes about 40 students for Shabbat and approximately 100 during major Jewish holidays.

The new center’s story began in April 2021, when property near Chabad’s rented house went on the market.

“They wanted $1.5 million for dirt. And at that point, our budget was about $300,000 a year,” Rabbi Slonim said.

Still, he saw the opportunity.

“There’s never going to be a better location for the students, just across the street. On the other hand, this is way out of our budget, but everyone told us to go for it.”

The Slonims purchased the property and assembled a team to bring the project to life, including the Benjamin Johnson design team.

The campaign’s first donors were Susan and Paul Danziger. Paul Danziger recalled a time when his four children attended different colleges throughout the U.S., and each had gone to Chabad houses on their respective campuses.

“Susan and I realized there was a building there. There was a rabbi there and a rebbetzin. There was food there, and we hadn’t given money to any of those four different campuses,” said Danziger. “But somebody in the past had done that so our kids could benefit. … And it seemed like the right thing to do going forward.”

Known for bringing humor to his remarks, Rabbi Slonim joked that the project required expertise beyond rabbinical training.

“Now, for some reason, despite spending seven years in rabbinical school, they never taught us anything about architecture, construction or project management. Apparently, we spent the first few years learning how to cut the challah and the next four years learning how to cut the middle matzah at the Seder.”

The center will include an expansive ballroom, commercial kosher kitchen, student lounge, cafe, Judaica library, classrooms and meeting spaces, with room for as many as 250 students.

“This groundbreaking is about much more than a building,” Rabbi Slonim said. “Every student who walks through our doors brings a unique story, questions, hopes and dreams.”

For Chabad at Rice, the new building is ultimately about creating a place where Jewish students can find community during college – and carry that connection long after graduation.

The Chabad house currently reaches about 300 students.

“How many more students can we reach? There are approximately 1,000 Jewish [college] students across Houston,” said Rabbi Slonim, “and our vision for the next decade is simple and bold. That every Jewish student should have a place to call their Jewish home.”

To learn more about Rice at Chabad, contact Rabbi Slonim at rabbi@jewishriceu.com or 713-909-4725.