The Need
Jerusalem, a vibrant international city, has a population of 900,000 people. The city’s deep spiritual roots and rich cultural heritage draw thousands of Olim (new immigrants) from all over the world each year.
With many immigrants settling in South Jerusalem, there is a need for a warm center for communal and spiritual life to welcome them and help them flourish in their new environment.
Chabad of Baka has been welcoming and supporting Olim for over eleven years and has the expertise and proven track record to accommodate their needs. Reaching out to every individual, Chabad of Baka caters to children of all abilities, teenagers, seniors, young professionals, couples, and families.
As the world becomes virtual and people become more transient, they search for concrete and physical connections with their community and heritage. They seek to put down new roots and be a part of something bigger and eternal.
The new Chabad of Baka center is the multifaceted facility that will serve all of these needs and a vehicle for fulfilling the dreams of our community and our people.
One of the hardest things about being an Olah is being away from your family. Chabad of Baka provides that family for you. On the first day I met Nechama Dina, I felt like she was a friend, more than a Rebbetzin. Every single person who walks through the door feels welcome. -Ayala Gordesky
Our Impact
Increased Participation, Greater Reach and Connectivity
The building of a permanent center will attract new participants as it allows for greater stability, quality, and diversity of programs.
Strengthening Jewish Life for Olim in Jerusalem
The warm and welcoming English-focused environment provides a familar and comforting setting for Olim/immigrants and a community that empowers them to succeed in their new life.
Jewish Unity
Jews from around the world come together to create a Jewish center where everyone – visitors, new immigrants, and long time residents – feel at home.
The Friendship Circle
With a permanent facility, the Friendship Circle will provide more families with special needs with the support they need to grow and feel connected. It will also provide more teen volunteers with an opportunity to learn and mature by working with children with special needs and giving their time to an important cause in their community.
Enhanced Jewish Literacy
A fixed venue and new classrooms will allow us to expand our Jewish educational programs with a greater variety of classes and events.
Children & Youth Program
A new and up to date pyhsical structure offers a safe and dynamic space to increase our programming for children and youth.
Community outreach
Our activities for the broader community will benefit from a more recognizable and iconic presence in the city. In addition to organizing large scale events at city venues, we can now create happenings in our inclusive center and invite people in.
“Chabad of Baka is absolutely flourishing. All of the components are there: the services, the outreach prgrams, the community, the warmth, and the hospitality. All that’s left is for the Hendels and Chabad of Baka to have a place they can call home.” -Tamir Goodman, Pro basketball player and coach
