Mayanot Raising $2.5M to Build

Mayanot opened its doors in 1996, in their warm yet modest home.

Their goal then and now, is to connect young Jewish people from around the world to their past, present and future, truly acting as crossroads of Jewish life for many throughout the years. From the birth of the Women’s Program in 1998, and the launch of Mayanot’s Birthright Israel program in 1999 to the start of the Post High School Gap Year program just last year, Mayanot has always been building the Jewish community.

Today, Mayanot is moving to the next phase, building the Mayanot World Center.

The Future World Center, located just beyond Jerusalem’s city entrance, boasts five floors and will more than double the size of Mayanot’s current facilities. With it’s rooftop, panoramic views of the city, the new center will become the main hub for many of the organization’s existing programs and will be the catalyst for the creation of several more.

Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, co-founder and director of Mayanot, described it as a “Center for Chabad Outreach in the heart of Jerusalem.” The centrally located property will house a study hall, lecture halls, classrooms, internship opportunities and roughly 220 beds, offering more than “80,000 nights of Mayanot!”

The center will include accommodations for Shluchim, particularly those on Campuses worldwide. With the opening of the World Center, Mayanot will have the ability to host Shluchim and their communities for Shabbatons, volunteer programs, internships and much more.

“Our location in Jerusalem gives a unique opportunity to bring the Rebbe’s dream to reality,” said Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, co-director of Mayanot. “As a top destination for young Jewish travellers, Jerusalem is the place where the Jewish soul becomes hungry. Mayanot will be there to feed that hunger.”

In addition to the Mayanot Institute’s educational programming, the new World Center will usher a new era in Mayanot’s offerings for today’s Jewish youth. Among the new projects, Mayanot will house a state of the art Lone Soldier Center, complete with a lounge, laundry facilities, break room and more. “Nothing is more important than giving back to those who already give so much to us” Rabbi Gestetner said.

This Wednesday, Mayanot is taking their cause to the masses with the $2,500,000 #LetsBuidlIt Campaign. Thanks to several generous donors and Mayanot family members, every dollar donated from Wednesday, Dec 21, 1:00PM Eastern until Thursday, Dec 22, 5:00PM will be quadrupled!

“We are coming back to you, you who have gotten us this far, to help us move this project to the next level,” Rabbi Shemtov concluded. “Together we can do this, Let’s build it!”

Click here for everything you need to know about the Mayanot World Center. http://www.mayanot.edu/worldcenter/

Learn more on Facebook (Men’s | Women’s) and visit the campaign page at www.causematch.com/Mayanot.