Over 200 community members, supporters, and friends of the Chabad Jewish Community Center of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University, gathered at the beautiful High Country Conference Center for their first Gala Celebration, entitled “Forging the Future.”
In 2006, Rabbi Dovie and Chaya Shapiro moved to Flagstaff to open the Chabad Jewish Community Center of Flagstaff and NAU. Over the past eight years, the community and student participation has continued to increase and Chabad has outgrown its current space.
Thanks to the generosity of Mr. George and Pamela Rohr, along with other donors, Chabad has acquired the 2.2 acres of land to build a permanent home.
The beautifully designed Community Center and Rohr Jewish Student Center will feature a synagogue, social hall, commercial kitchen, library, mikvah, classrooms, student lounge, and guest suites, allowing the organization to accelerate their growth into the future.
The gala celebration on Sunday, August 24, 2014, launched the $2,200,000 capital campaign for the building of the new Chabad Center, and honored five couples from the community for their outstanding work on behalf of Jewish life in Flagstaff.
The evening began with a cocktail hour that included a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and Jewish music from local musicians. The momentum continued as Rabbi Shapiro welcomed the crowd and presented each honoree with their award, a beautiful hand crafted crystal menorah. Everyone also enjoyed remarks by Rabbi Zalman Levertov, regional director of Chabad of Arizona.
During the delicious prime rib dinner, the entertainment began with a live auction where many great prizes were bid on, including Safari trips, Cancun get-aways, and tickets to sporting events. This was followed by a beautiful inspiring video presentation showcasing the remarkable work and growth of Chabad in Flagstaff over the past eight years.
VIDEO:
The guests were then encouraged to contribute to the new building fund through an appeal called Raise the Paddle.
The evening ended with dessert and thrilling entertainment by world-renowned mentalist, Marc Salem. Salem, who has been featured on 60 minutes and Broadway, kept the audience mesmerized and entertained with his wit and talent.
Participants of the gala celebration expressed their appreciation for Chabad and excitement over the expansion. Everyone left feeling inspired and invigorated to continue the campaign to build Chabad a permanent home in Flagstaff. Chabad of Flagstaff thanks all of its sponsors, donors and volunteers for their generosity and support and is looking forward to celebrating many more years of success and growth of Jewish life in Flagstaff and NAU.
If you would like to contribute to Chabad of Flagstaff’s building campaign, please visit www.jewishflagstaff.com/building
wow its amazing the way you guys grew. so heartwarming to see the rebbe ‘s kochos and al the work you put in.you were so dedicated to the camp and so caring to the counselors.keep up great work!!
Beautiful pictures !! Amazing work you
are doing ! What nachas to see !
Your cousins in Calif !
Matty & Moshe Bryski
this is so inspiring! thank you for sharing.
such a zchus to bring yiddishkeit to so many people.
much continued hatzlocha and energy to keep doing and growing.
We are sooooo proud of our children and ainiklach! We were zocheh to be at the dinner and it was SPLENDIFOROUS! The atmosphere was awesome and we wish them further hatzlacha. The building should go up and quickly be attached to the Bayis Shlishi NOW!
Mazel Tov to Dovie and Chaya, and a special Mazel Tov to Dovid and Pearl Shapiro. There is no greater Nachas out there that can top seeing children that are successfull in Shlichus. May you continue to reap pleasure from all your children and their accomplishments in life.
Shloime & Chaya-New York
Go chabad flagstaff!
-someone who worked for you
incredible to me how successfull kah are these shluchim in a small jewish comunity like Flag Staff
Definitely inspiring to see so much accomplished in eight years
Go Shapiros! We wish you all the best!
Mendy Chaya and Batya
I remember when they just went out on Shlichus several years ago. B”H, Dovie and Chaya are the most sincere couple you could ever meet. Hashem should give them so much Hatzlocha b’gashmiyus and Ruchniyus, and GELT to match their tremoundous ratzon to do the Rebbe’s Shlichus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If anybody was thinking of giving tzedakah to a certain organization and wasn’t sure which one to give it to, Chabad of flagstaff is the place! They are the nicest most wonderful and amazing shluchim out there and they could really use help towards their building now!!!
and beautiful!