Schaeffer Family Center Construction Project Underway on Hill

The Rohr Chabad Center at CU broke ground May 9^th on the Schaeffer Family Center beginning an extensive renovation and adaptive reuse of their building at 909 14th Street on University Hill. Construction began Monday, May 12^th and demolition is fully underway. Click here for pictures of the progress. The project is slated to be complete by the end of September 2014 in time for Rosh Hashanah.

The groundbreaking and senior brunch were attended by many graduating seniors and their families, donors and community members.  Boulder Jewish News was on hand to take pictures. Ben Sanders, current president of the CU Chabad Student Board, welcomed the large group and shared his excitement at this milestone in Jewish Buff history.  He described the programs he’s been working on to bring new faces to Chabad, and to increase involvement of those who occasionally came through.   Ben left for Israel on Monday, May 12^th with a bus full of CU Jews that he recruited for a Birthright trip.  He concluded his opening remarks with:

“I know that the Israel experience will inspire an interest in Judaism and a connection to our homeland, and when we all return, that connection will only become stronger by bringing them to a real home at CU, the Schaeffer Family Center!”

Courtney Levin, 2012 alumnae and former Chabad Student Board member, described how warmly she was embraced by the Jewish Buff community.  Chabad became her home and the fellow students she met there became family.  There were 50 students on Friday nights and tents filled with 100 students on the holidays.  “It felt cozy and intimate, and most of all warm and welcoming,” she said.  “Now when I visit Chabad CU, I see over 100 students filling the yard for Shabbat dinners, and on Passover Seder, over 200 students singing and celebrating together,  proof positive that Chabad CU continues to grow!”  The Schaeffer Family Center will make so many more activities and programs possible.

Larry Halpern finished the remarks portion of the program by expressing his deep gratitude as a parent for everything that the Wilhelms have been able to accomplish so far stating:

We can’t wait to see what the Wilhelms can accomplish in the new Schaeffer Family Center!”

Rabbi Wilhelm wrapped with a warm thanks for donors and board members in attendance, Vicki Trachten Schwartz, Paul Levary, Matt Finberg, and Larry Halpern. The group then donned hard hats, grabbed shovels and headed outside to officially break some real ground.  Keep checking our blog for updates on our progress. Sign up for our newsletter, friend us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

The Wilhelms are encouraging everyone to join the campaign and help create the newest and most exciting place for Jewish life and learning in CU’s history. Click here for more information.