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Inauguration Ceremony for New Jewish Center Marks Five Years of Growth for Chabad of Lake Norman
April 2024
On Sunday Feb. 25, Chabad of Lake Norman held a grand opening for its new community center on Bethel Church Road in Cornelius NC. Dozens attended the inauguration ceremony, including the center’s founders, donors, regional rabbinical leaders, community members and many others.
“Chabad of Lake Norman is more than just a synagogue, it’s a lighthouse that reaches out to Jews wherever they are, no matter their background or religious affiliation,” said Rabbi Chaim Greenberg, who co-directs the center with his wife Chaya, in his opening speech at the event.
“It’s a place for the community to come together and unite, a space to connect to each other and to G-d, and a venue where we can celebrate joyous events and programs for all ages.”
Since opening in 2018, Chabad of Lake Norman has served the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, Troutman, Statesville and Denver. In addition to hosting Shabbat and holiday services, it offers programs such as Hebrew School and summer camp for kids ages 4-12, visits to local senior citizens, and adult educational classes. With the new space, the Greenbergs are looking forward to expanding their Jewish lifecycle events such as Bar and Bat Mitzvah training and celebrations, wedding officiation as well as facilitating Jewish burial arrangements.
The inauguration event was highlighted by the keynote address delivered by Rabbi Yossi Groner, the longest-serving rabbi in the Carolinas. Among the distinguished speakers were Budd & Leslie Berro, respected community leaders and Rhoda Miller, who spoke about the importance of Chabad’s role in Lake Norman Jewish life.
“Since Oct. 7, Jews around the country have responded to rising antisemitism and the conflict in Israel by doubling down on their faith and their heritage,” says Rabbi Greenberg. “At this fraught time, Jews are standing tall and proud, and the opening of our new center is a sign that we aren’t giving into fear.”
Since 2020, the Lake Norman community has seen a large influx of new Jewish residents. The center will be a hub for rapidly growing Jewish life in the area, and features a multipurpose hall which serves as the synagogue sanctuary and social hall, as well as a youth room for educational classes and recreational activities. Chabad has also purchased a new parcel of land across the street from the current center and has plans to expand the center in a later phase of development.
About Chabad of Lake Norman
Chabad of Lake Norman was founded in 2018 to serve the local Jewish community. They are dedicated to building on the philosophy and mission of ChabadLubavitch by providing Jewish communities the education and resources they need in order to celebrate their culture and engage in Jewish practice in an easy and accessible way.
After the Holocaust, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, transformed Chabad into a worldwide movement, dedicated to caring for the spiritual and material needs of all Jews, wherever they could be found.
Today, over 3,500 Chabad institutions are located in more than 85 countries, with a new center opening on the average every ten days. In South Africa, South America, Russia, Australia, Asia, the U.K., and many parts of the U.S.A., Chabad has become the most dynamic and dominant force within the Jewish community.
