Clearwater Ushers in a New Era

After many months of planning, Rabbi Levi and Rebbetzin Miriam Hodakov broke ground for the Feldman Campus for Jewish Life and the Tabacinic Chabad Center just 2 weeks before ushering in a new year. Rabbi Hadakov, who founded Shmais.com, the original news site for anash, moved on shlichus to Clearwater in 2006.

The campus is being named in honor of longtime community pillars and philanthropists Marvin & Linda Feldman, who made a lead gift to the $1,500,000 project.

In a letter to the community, Marvin Feldman noted, “There will be no membership and there will be no dues at Chabad. There will, however, be a building that must be built and paid for. Judaism offers us a rich and rewarding way of life, but it’s not free. Those of us who, thankfully, can afford the programming we need must carry the load for those less fortunate. It’s what Jews do. When there is a need we help and we ask each other to help. We are asking you to join us in helping Chabad reach its goal.”

The over 5000 square foot center will carry the name of the Tabacinic family of Bal Harbor, FL, in recognition of the lead gift made by philanthropists Moris & Lillian Tabacinic.

Current plans for the campus include a large sanctuary/ social hall, a multi-purpose room, a library, a spacious and inviting lobby, offices, commercial kitchen, state-of-the-art women’s Mikvah, children’s playground, and an outdoor pavilion with space for 200 people to celebrate Shabbos and yom tov. The facility will also be home to Clearwater Kosher, Chabad’s popular Kosher store.

“We are humbled and touched by the outpouring of support both large and small from every segment of our special community for this historic project. Our community’s enthusiasm and excitement is palpable with many already impatient to start building,” said Rabbi Hodakov. “To have raised $1.2 million dollars since the launch of this project is an amazing accomplishment, but we still have more to do. With G-d’s help, we hope that as the project moves forward, those on the fence will jump off, get involved and become part of Jewish Clearwater’s exciting growth.”

“I am really looking forward to the new building so that we can expand our ever-growing array of programs and classes that we offer for both young and old,” added Mrs. Miriam Hodakov.

The program included live Klezmer music, the blowing of the Shofar, light dinner, moon-bounces for the kids and of course, the actual groundbreaking.

To make a donation, visit www.JewishClearwater.com.

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