770 Expansion Zal Being Completed in Record Speed

Construction on the new beis medrash behind 770 has moved at an extraordinary pace in recent weeks, as crews work to have the space ready in time for the Kinus Hashluchim. Once open, it will give shluchim a dedicated place to learn during the Kinus and will remain open throughout the year, with seating for more than 300 bochurim and yungeleit.

In the past few days, crews have been working around the clock. Work continued until the final minutes before Shabbos and resumed immediately after Shabbos, continuing through the night.

On Thursday night, intensive work began in the middle of the night to lower the ground level and bring it into alignment with the floor of the big zal, marking a major development in the effort to expand 770. The work was reportedly coordinated at the last minute with all the mosdos involved. A project that would ordinarily take months, or even years, was advanced at an extraordinary pace.

The work continued until Shabbos and resumed immediately afterward. Trucks entered the site empty and left loaded with sand as crews worked to lower the ground. After many hours of intensive work, the ground level of the new building was brought down to the level of the big zal floor, a significant step toward connecting the two spaces.

“This is a major step toward the Rebbe’s vision of expanding 770,” a source told Anash.org. “Today, we are working toward that vision together with all the relevant mosdos, which have been intimately involved in every step of the process.”

The structure is being built on the site of the historic Kollel building, near the corner of Union Street and Kingston Avenue. The Kollel was established by the Rebbe in 5722 (1962) under the aegis of Machne Israel and the Rebbe’s Mazkirus. It operated from 1451 and 1453 Union Street until 5760 (2000), when it moved to its present location on Kingston Avenue, with the intention that the Union Street building would be renovated.

Two decades later, as the need for learning space around 770 continued to grow, discussions began in 5781 (2021) between Kollel management and the board of Machne Israel, directed by Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky. A temporary structure was proposed that could serve the immediate need and later be cleared when larger plans for the property move forward. The project has been several years in the making, with Kollel Menachem working together with Machne Israel, Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, and neighboring property owners.

The climate-controlled beis medrash will remain open year-round, with seating for more than 300 bochurim and yungeleit. The project is led by the Vaad Habinyan, which operates under the mosdos of Machne Israel, Aguch, and Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.

The project has been made possible through the tireless efforts and generous support of a group of dedicated individuals, working together with the three mosdos of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, Machne Israel, and Agudas Chassidei Chabad. Their joint efforts have helped bring this long-awaited development closer to completion.

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