Good things are worth waiting for. The Chabad of Wilmette is proof. For over 20 years, the Chabad of Wilmette operated from temporary spaces. These spaces even included a funeral home. Now this center for Jewish life and learning has a permanent home. The new 8500-square-foot building is on Chicago’s North Shore. It is a dream come true for the community.
Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein and his wife Rivke managed Chabad’s activities. They started in their basement. Then they moved to a storefront in OK Cleaners Plaza. Slowly they expanded into adjourning stores. Interest grew as did their programs and services. These were scattered in several locations.
Without a comfortable facility it was difficult to build a cohesive community. There are many Jewish people in Wilmette. Hundreds of families are involved year-round with Chabad.
The new facility includes a large sanctuary. It has classrooms for Hebrew Schools and adult education. An industrial kitchen and a recreational area for teen programming are also included.
The building reflects warmth with Jerusalem stone and stained-glass windows. This makes locals comfortable about joining. Overflow crowds and burgeoning enrollment were the catalyst for the new center. Space was tight. The facilities were limited. More spacious quarters were needed. It would serve as the central hub of activities.
Rabbi Flinkenstein wanted the synagogue to be nicer and more elegant than one’s home. The beauty of the Chabad House may be a draw. The contagious warmth keeps people coming back. It is a feeling of being part of a family.
Dr. Eitan Schwarz is a psychiatrist. He felt like he did not belong where he’d been going. One day he found himself at the Chabad center. He was looking for a place he could fit as a Jew. No one asked him if he had a membership. He was welcomed with open arms. He found a treasure in Wilmette.
The entire community is accepting and non-judgemental. At Chabad there is a real hominess. Everybody knows everybody. It is like a family. Schwarz appreciates the Jewish authenticity he found. The Chabad representatives are very bright people. Their approach to Jewish practice is relevant today. It is okay to grow into doing something new Jewishly. This is what the future of Judaism has to be in America.
Nitza Kahn joined while Chabad’s new center was under construction. She says it really is about the rabbis and rebbetzins. These people are unreal. There is no one like them and their children.
The extensive use of Jerusalem stone is an integral part of the design. Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein and his wife hand-picked the stones. They came from a rock quarry in the Judean hills. The idea was to have a piece of Israel in Wilmette. The stone has warmth. It provides an immediate emotional connection with Israel.
The stained-glass windows adorn the sanctuary. They represent mitzvah campaigns. These were initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Other windows depict Jewish holidays. Inspiration should lead to action. The versatile new building can accommodate a wide variety of programming. This includes holiday services and Hebrew school. It also hosts adult-education classes and social events. Chabad of Wilmette welcomes every Jewish person. This is regardless of affiliation or knowledge. The goal is to create a warm environment. People can explore their heritage in a non-judgmental atmosphere.