Last Sunday afternoon, June 29, Harford Chabad held a grand opening celebration for its new community center at 38 E. Broadway in Bel Air. More than 300 people attended the gathering.
The inauguration ceremony for the Harford Chabad Center for Jewish Life featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speeches, gourmet kosher food, live music, and a community reception and tour.
“Harford Chabad is more than just a synagogue; it’s a tight-knit community where people care and look out for each other,” said Rabbi Kushi Schusterman, co-director of Harford Chabad with his wife, Fraida. “This new center is a dream come true. It will allow us to expand our community and create a welcoming space for all Jews, regardless of background or affiliation.”
At the event, it was announced that Rabbi Heschel and Doba Yarmush will serve as director of education and director of youth programming, respectively, at the new center.
Since opening in 2010, the Chabad group has served Harford and Cecil counties. In addition to hosting Shabbat and holiday services, it offers a Hebrew school, an adult education program and the Jewish Women’s Circle of Harford County, as well as resources for life-cycle events, addiction intervention, crisis and marriage counseling services.
With the community center, the Schustermans hope to expand Harford Chabad’s offerings, including b’nai mitzvah training and celebrations, wedding officiation and more.
The new facility features a large sanctuary and social hall, a kosher kitchen, classrooms, a mikvah (ritual bath) and a Jewish library.
“Amid the tensions between Israel and Iran, our response is not fear, but faith and confidence,” said Rabbi Schusterman. “At this time, we are standing tall and proud. The opening of our new center is a sign of good times ahead.”
More than 1,000 Jews are believed to live in Harford County. Besides Harford Chabad, the county is the home of Temple Adas Shalom in Havre de Grace, which was founded in 1955 as the Harford Hebrew Congregation.
For information, visit harfordchabad.org or harfordhaven.org/grand-opening.
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