New KU Chabad Center Opens as “Home Away from Home” for Jewish Students

Bob Cutler cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of the new KU Chabad Center. Emma Hale // KUJH News

The University of Kansas officially opened the Chabad Center for Jewish Life on Sunday, marking a historic moment for Jewish students on campus.

The new 10,000 square-foot, $6 million facility will serve as a hub for learning, wellness and community connection. Completed ahead of schedule and under budget, it includes a student lounge, study library, synagogue, mental wellness areas and Lawrence’s first commercial kosher kitchen.

“We are witnessing a revolution, a new horizon, for the future of Jewish life at KU,” Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel said, who founded Chabad at KU with his wife, Nechama, in 2006.

The center also features a dining hall, hospitality suites, and an outdoor Serenity Garden with Sarah’s Stream, dedicated in memory of Sarah Milgrim. A 50-foot mural titled “Be the Light” by artist Colomon Souza highlights the building’s message of faith and community.

For many students, the center offers a much-needed sense of belonging.

“There’s so many Jews and non-Jews alike that are here, just excited to celebrate the building,” Casey Tepper, KU Chabad Student Leader, said. “It’s gonna be so good for our community to have a place where people can go and feel at home.”

“On the first day I moved in, Zalman and Nechama were there, helping me and giving me snacks. Right then and there, I knew I had a Jewish family here at KU,” student Eli Maker said.

Chabad at KU continues to host weekly Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, and wellness programs, serving as a home away from home for hundreds of students each week.