KU’s Jewish student organization is building a $6 million Chabad Center on 19th Street and Maine. The center will be completed this fall, and will feature a commercial kosher kitchen, lounge, library, housing and a dining hall.

Donivan Bullins | [email protected]

KU Chabad grew from just four people to over 700 in 20 years. Chabad students are looking forward to a bigger space that can accommodate the large volume of people.

“I’m really happy that they raised enough money to build a new center because it got cramped a lot of times for big events and holidays,” said Asa Maker, a Chabad attendee. “The backyard would just be full of people. It’s a much-needed expansion, and I think it will bring people into the Jewish community.”

Chabad is one of the world’s largest Jewish organizations. KU Chabad provides a home away from home with kosher meals, religious services and educational events.

“We act as an encyclopedia for all things Jewish,” said Rabbi Zalman, head of KU Chabad.

Once the new Chabad Center is built, Rabbi Zalman hopes to offer more programs.

“We hope to offer a kosher meal plan every day. We hope to offer much more programming because we have much more capacity and space, so there is going to be a tremendous uptick in engagement, no question about it,” Zalman said. 

The Chabad Center has currently risen $3,534,142 for the new building, which is 58% of their total goal of $6,000,000.

For more information on donations or updates, visit the New Chabad Center’s website or the KU Chabad website.