For Chabad at Rice, a dream years in the making is now taking shape.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Students, alumni, parents, donors, community members and university leaders gathered for the ceremony, marking a new chapter for Jewish life on campus.<\/p>\n
For Rabbi Shmuli and Rebbetzin Nechama Slonim, who run Chabad at Rice together, the day was emotional.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many years, it\u2019s been a dream,\u201d said Rabbi Slonim, \u201cand today, we have the privilege of watching that dream become a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ceremony took place in a large, air-conditioned tent, a welcome respite from the Houston heat.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For many, Chabad has become a second home \u2013 a place to practice Judaism, build friendships and find community.<\/p>\n
This year also marks Chabad\u2019s 10th year on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cAllow me to introduce 10 of our dear alumni, each representing a graduating class from Chabad\u2019s very first year,\u201d said Nechama Slonim. \u201cTogether, their reflections tell the story of these past 10 years and give us a glimpse into the future we are building.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the alumni was Adam Cohen, who experienced Chabad\u2019s support during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other alumni recalled experiencing the Mitzvah Marathon, Sushi Social, friendships and laying tefillin \u2013 and, especially, Nechama\u2019s cooking \u2013 experiences that made Chabad feel like home.<\/p>\n
That sense of belonging is central to the new building.<\/p>\n
\u201cInside 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,\u201d Nechama said. \u201cBut above all, the new Chabad house will be a home \u2013 a place of deep connection and identity for every single student.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The new center\u2019s story began in April 2021, when property near Chabad\u2019s rented house went on the market.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey wanted $1.5 million for dirt. And at that point, our budget was about $300,000 a year,\u201d Rabbi Slonim said.<\/p>\n
Still, he saw the opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Slonims purchased the property and assembled a team to bring the project to life, including the Benjamin Johnson design team.<\/p>\n
The campaign\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan and I realized there was a building there. There was a rabbi there and a rebbetzin. There was food there, and we hadn\u2019t given money to any of those four different campuses,\u201d said Danziger. \u201cBut somebody in the past had done that so our kids could benefit. \u2026 And it seemed like the right thing to do going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Known for bringing humor to his remarks, Rabbi Slonim joked that the project required expertise beyond rabbinical training.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis groundbreaking is about much more than a building,\u201d Rabbi Slonim said. \u201cEvery student who walks through our doors brings a unique story, questions, hopes and dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Chabad at Rice, the new building is ultimately about creating a place where Jewish students can find community during college \u2013 and carry that connection long after graduation.<\/p>\n
The Chabad house currently reaches about 300 students.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many more students can we reach? There are approximately 1,000 Jewish [college] students across Houston,\u201d said Rabbi Slonim, \u201cand our vision for the next decade is simple and bold. That every Jewish student should have a place to call their Jewish home.\u201d<\/p>\n