Chabad House Breaks Ground for New, Expanded Center

On Friday, May 11 in a short but stirring ceremony, Chabad House broke ground for a new building which will be attached to its current facility. The expansion, an estimated 3 million dollar project, will give Chabad House an additional 11,000 square feet in and out of which to operate. Phase I, a social hall that can seat 400 with additional space that can be opened when needed, and an expanded kitchen, is projected to be completed by  Fall '07 in time for the new semester. Dr. Rodger Summers, Vice President of student affairs at BU speaking on behalf of BU President, Lois DeFleur, congratulated Chabad House upon this momentous occasion and spoke of how Chabad House has enriched not only the lives of Jewish students at BU but has strengthened the entire Binghamton University community. Outgoing Chabad student board president, Harris Ringelheim shared with the exuberant crowd that when the building is completed it will be the largest Chabad House Jewish Student Center on any campus. Michael Wright, president of Chabad House, Dr. Barry Raff, Rivkah Slonim, student representative David Shmookler, and Rabbi Aaron Slonim also delivered remarks. After the ceremony, the program continued with the senior picture, services, a dinner honoring the graduating seniors, many of whom spoke to the crowd and an oneg that went far into the night.