Another 770 Was Inaugurated

With tremendous pride and jubilation, a crowd of over 350 people gathered together to witness the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the New Chabad Jewish Center in Tacoma.

The New Chabad Center, run by Rabbi Zalman and Miriam Heber, is a replica of 770 – Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn, NY.

The program began with an outdoor ceremony including greetings by the Lt. Governor of the State of Washington, Brad Owen, Mayor of Tacoma, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Merkos Linyonei Chinuch, New York, and Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin, Head Shliach to the State of Washington.

As the ribbon was cut, all children present released red helium balloons up in the air, as the entire crowd cheered, sang and danced with tremendous joy. A lively Hachnosas Sefer Torah welcomed the Torahs from the old shul to the New Chabad Center amidst music and dancing.

An indoor program followed including a presentation by the Chabad Hebrew School and the dedication of the New Hebrew School classrooms. An award ceremony for donors and supporters, and a buffet dinner and celebration, followed while children enjoyed an outdoor magic show.

Mrs. Itu Lustig, a holocaust survivor and grandmother of the Shluchah, addressed the audience and moved the crowd to tears as she declared that this was the best response to what her family endured during the holocaust.

Many shluchim and their families came from as north as Vancouver, British Colombia to as South as Portland, Oregon and participated in the historic event. It was uplifting and inspiring to have so many shluchim and their families gathered together for this special simchah.