Living Chassidus Debuts Plan for New Building in Crown Heights

By Sara Liba Schrager

Excitement buzzed around the room on a recent Sunday at Living Chassidus’s dual launch events for their new building campaign. At two separate events for women and men at the Jewish Children’s Museum, participants in Crown Heights’s official Chabad House for singles and newlyweds enjoyed a delicious fleishig buffet while taking in some monumental news: Living Chassidus’s intent to purchase a beautiful building as a permanent home base for all of its programming.

Attendees at each event heard from Living Chassidus directors Rabbi Sharon and Michal Weiss, current participants, alumni, and members of the newly-formed building committee about the incredible impact of Living Chassidus’s programming to date and the immense potential that the new building represents. Participants shared how life-changing Living Chassidus has been for them already; for example, one current participant shared at the women’s event about how the community supported her through the difficult emotions of her mother’s first yahrzeit. And the speakers expressed enthusiasm for the immense opportunity provided by the purchase of the new building.

Besides providing a permanent location for the organization’s ongoing shiurim, farbrengens, social events, Life Skills classes, one-on-one counseling, and more, the purchase of the building will allow a dedicated space for the new Living Chassidus shul, create a hall for l’chaims and other simchas, and provide ample space for hosting larger Shabbos and Yom Tov meals and programming. Additionally, the space will include administrative offices, hospitality suites for visiting alumni, family, and friends, and living space for the shluchim so that they can easily provide programming on site without trekking across the neighborhood.

After sharing this exciting vision, Rabbi Weiss introduced a bold initiative: the Living Chassidus Founders Club, inviting a pioneering group of 200 donors to commit $100 of their maaser per month to fund the building’s mortgage and upkeep. With these crucial Founders forming the bedrock of support for the new Chabad house, the Weisses will have the freedom to focus on what matters most: the programming that ensures all singles and newlyweds in Crown Heights have a place to turn to for community, support, and both spiritual and practical needs.

To join the Founders Club and play a pivotal role in the next stage of Living Chassidus, go to livingchassidus.org/building and make your donation today!