Hundreds of happy students and supporters of Mesivta Lubavitch Miami gathered earlier this month to cut the ribbon on the yeshiva’s brand new, 3-acre, $10 million campus.
Centrally located in Miami Gardens, just minutes away from Lubavitch Educational Center’s boys and girls schools, the new facility will provide much-needed space for the rapidly growing Mesivta to thrive.
“Our mesivta has seen tremendous growth since LEC first purchased the property five years ago,” says Rabbi Motti Schurder, menahel. “This year we have over ninety bochurim, ka”h, and we’re bursting at the seams. This new campus, coupled with recent new hires of additional maggidei shiurim and mashpi’im, allows us to continue growing and be equipped to meet the needs of our students.”
The state-of-the-art facilities spare no finishes with spacious classrooms, a 180-bed dormitory, a beautiful on-site mikvah, and an ample dining hall. A grand wooden aron kodesh, handcrafted by Nissim Boaron and donated in loving memory of Efraim Fishel and Hilda Brafman, graces the well-lit beis medrash. Wide windows cover the entirety of the outward-facing walls, welcoming in the bright Florida sunshine. Coffee stations, recreation rooms, and future sports fields promote the bochurim’s physical wellbeing. Nothing is lacking.
After hearing from Rabbi Leib Schapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Miami’s Yeshiva Gedolah, and cutting the ribbon, the assembled filed into the hall to complete a new sefer Torah sponsored by Motti and Miri Levi and their children, Yaniv and Taryn Levi, in loving memory of their mother and grandmother, Sima, on her first yahrzeit. Amid joyous song and dance, the new Torah was then welcomed to its new home via the imposing atrium entrance, also dedicated by the Levi family.
“Our community really rallied to make this happen,” says Rabbi Benjy Korf, LEC’s Head of School. “We are incredibly grateful to our generous donors for their ongoing support and for always pushing us to reach higher.”
The campus is a testament to the generosity of dozens of kind supporters and their faith in the mesivta’s vision. Many chose to dedicate their contributions to loved ones who serve as an inspiration to those around them.
Continuing a proud family tradition of supporting LEC, David and Eda Schottenstein gave the first donation toward the acquisition of the property. During the event, they formally dedicated the modern dormitory residence in honor of David’s grandparents, Leon and Jean Schottenstein.
The educational building was named for Dovi Fellig, of blessed memory, by his parents, Zalman and Mimi Fellig. “A building is not defined by its walls but by its foundation,” said Mr. Fellig. “Looking at this beautiful new Dovi Fellig campus, we remember that the true foundation is not concrete or steel but the neshama of a young man whose name it now carries. We are not only opening a building, we are establishing a home where Dovi’s light will continue to shine, guiding the next generation of bochurim.”
The cafeteria, fittingly named for Reb Avrohom Aharon and Rivka Rubashkin, known for their unparalleled hachnasas orchim, was generously sponsored by their daughter Mrs. Guttal Goldman and family. As for the Meir and Chyena Avtzon Beis Medrash: “My grandparents fought for a proper, Chassidishe chinuch with mesiras nefesh in Russia and here in the United States,” says Chyena Freedman who donated the Beis Medrash with her husband Velvel. “They would be amazed to see how far we’ve come, where what was once underground is now proudly and openly housed in such a beautiful, big building.”
Additional major support came from Mendy and Chanie Fischer who sponsored Mikvah Mei Menachem, Yechezkel and Yehudis Srulevitch (a level of classrooms), Chaim and Rochel Schochet and Yossi and Ayelet Bortunk (classrooms), and Eyal and Leah Anavim (coffee corner). The campus’s future sports fields were sponsored by Zalman and Pessie Schochet.
Architecture notwithstanding, the yeshivah prides itself primarily on its soul. Eda Schottenstein pointed to the chinuch found at LEC as the reason for its success. “You can always buy an education but you can’t buy yiras shomayim. I can tell you from experience that LEC provides an excellent academic education but more importantly, the ability to build a true relationship with Hashem.”
The Mesivta’s growth in size and space has come alongside the bochurim’s continuous growth in learning and chassidishe hanhaga. Daily shiurim in nigleh and chassidus are complemented by ongoing farbrengens, mivtzoyim, and special programs and initiatives run by the bochurim shluchim.
“Every bochur has different strengths and abilities and it’s up to us as mechanchim to develop them,” says Rosh Mesivta Rabbi Eily Smith. To that end, the yeshiva implements a unique four-tier class placement system with defined academic goals for each level. “At the end of the day, we want every bochur to feel challenged and be empowered to progress according to his capabilities.”
“With Hashem’s help we will fill this beautiful campus with bochurim eager to learn and grow into true Chassidim, who will reach their fullest potential in a Chassidishe environment,” says Rabbi Korf.
LEC thanks all those who worked tirelessly on this project, including Rabbi Mencham Kozlovsky, Rabbi Mendy Korf, architect Jaime Shapiro, Rabbi Mendy Katz, Rabbi Yossi Zavdi, Boruch Sandhaus, Yossi Rudd, and Menachem Mendel Korf; and those who organized this beautiful event including Ms. Shayna Bortunk, Mrs. Dvora Brand, and Mrs. Tzivi Schurder.
—-
Support Mesivta Lubavitch Miami and Jewish education for all of South Florida’s Jewish children by joining the annual LEC Dinner on March 10, in Miami! Get your tickets today!
Kol hakavod