Valley Chabad, which has served the Saddle River and Pascack Valley area in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, for more than 25 years, recently broke ground on a brand-new 21,000-square-foot facility. The milestone marks the culmination of a nearly two-decade struggle that survived repeated municipal obstruction and ultimately led to intervention by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The cornerstone-setting ceremony drew community members, local and state elected officials, and families, with children’s activities marking the occasion.

For years, Valley Chabad operated out of a private home. As the community grew, so did the need for a permanent center. Beginning in 2006, Valley Chabad made multiple attempts to purchase and develop properties in Woodcliff Lake for a permanent Chabad House.

Each time, the borough found ways to block the plans – purchasing parcels before Valley Chabad could close on them or rezoning land specifically to prevent religious use. The pattern repeated itself across multiple properties between 2006 and 2013.

Without a permanent location and with no clear path forward in Woodcliff Lake, Valley Chabad was forced to rotate between rented offices, schools, event halls, and hotels.

“The Hilton was like our second home,” said shliach Rabbi Dov Drizin.

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice intervened, filing a lawsuit against the Borough of Woodcliff Lake. The federal government alleged that borough officials violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), a federal law designed to protect religious communities from discriminatory government interference.

According to prosecutors, the borough’s repeated actions substantially burdened Valley Chabad’s ability to operate and worship freely, and the pattern of obstruction was not accidental.

Faced with the federal lawsuit, the borough agreed to permit construction of the Chabad House and paid Valley Chabad $1.5 million to settle the related claims.

Valley Chabad purchased the Woodcliff Lake property two years ago. The project recently received unanimous approval from local boards and zoning officials, and construction is expected to be completed next year.

The two-level building will include a shul, social hall, library, Hebrew school, preschool, teen lounge, classrooms, and community gathering spaces. It will also become the permanent home of Friendship Circle and CTeen.

“It has been a real spiritual home, a place of learning and connection and a lighthouse for the community,” Rabbi Drizin said. “The idea is to have a real center for learning, education, and connection — for people of all walks of life to come and connect and learn. We call it a Chabad House. It’s a home. It’s a big home.”

“People are welcome to reach out and connect,” he added. “It’s a warm, embracing place for people of all walks of life.”

After 25 years of serving the community and nearly two decades of fighting for the right to build, Valley Chabad is finally getting a permanent home.