The New Chabad Community Center – Tokyo, Japan
Building Campaign Kicks into High Gear
It began in July of 2000 with the arrival of Rabbi Mendel and Chana Sudakevich in the city of Tokyo. Energized by the legacy of their teacher and mentor, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose core teachings and philosophy centered on the importance of reaching out with love and nonjudgmental acceptance to fellow Jews and putting them in closer touch with their heritage, the Sudakevich's came to town with a passionate desire to make a difference. They founded Chabad of Japan which, from its humble beginnings in an apartment in Roppongi, has since blossomed into an ever-growing center of Jewish activity.
From synagogue services to early childhood programs; Hebrew School to teen programs; community outreach activities to an extensive adult education program; Chabad has, in the short span of eight years, introduced a new dimension of growth and dynamism to the Japan Jewish community. With its warm and inviting spirit, Chabad prides itself on being a place where people from all walks of life – regardless of previous background or affiliation – can feel at home. A place where young and old, families and individuals, can come together— to connect, to celebrate, to worship and to study. A place where people care. And smile. And live life to the fullest.
Along with the pride of the Center’s successes have come the challenges of its growth: Lack of adequate classroom space for current and future school programs; overflow crowds at services and community events; lack of adequate facilities in which to offer many sorely needed programs; and the lack of a conducive headquarters to serve as the hub of Chabad’s outreach activities throughout the region.
In January of 2008, an exciting development took root that would enable Chabad to not only meet these challenges head-on but potentially create one of the most unique centers for Jewish life in Asia. With the help of a group of generous and committed friends and supporters, Chabad has signed to purchase a 5 story building in Central Tokyo. Located on in Shirakana-Takanawa, the acquisition of this property marks a truly historic moment in the annals of the Tokyo Jewish community. The dream of building a beautiful new community complex was born. A campaign was launched.
In this critical time, fund-raising efforts have been stepped up, studies are being conducted and plans being drawn up for a one-of-a-kind project. A modest five-story complex is planning on being renovated be built to include: a pre-school with outdoor play area; classrooms for Hebrew School and adult education; Shul; a library and cultural center; restaurant that can accomodate holiday events and family simchas; a fully-equipped commercial kitchen; a Judaica shop; and a state-of-the-art Mikvah.
“We’ve really come a long way over the past seven years,” says Rabbi Mendi Sudakevich, “but the greatest days for Chabad of Tokyo are yet to come. Yes, we still have ways to go, but I think that once more people out there get to know what we’re trying to build here for this community – for our children and our children’s children – there will be a new groundswell of support for this endeavor. The critical thing now is for us to get the word out in a big way and have this campaign generate the excitement it needs…. and deserves.”
Having recently signed the contract to purchase, the campaign to build the new Chabad Center is indeed coming up on a pivotal turning point. With an overall campaign objective of $2.5 million of which $1,250,000 has thus-far been raised, the project is well underway.
“The initial launch of any large project is usually the most grueling and challenging one,” said Rabbi Mendi. “If we are going to cross that finish line and finally make this incredible dream a reality for the Jewish community of Tokyo, it’s going to have to become a true grass roots effort. We need people at all levels to come on board and be a part of history in the making. If that happens, the pace of things will pick up rapidly. The bulldozers will begin rolling, the cement barrels will begin churning and, before long, we will all stand with pride and solidarity to rejoice in the amazing Center that we will have built together.”
The new Chabad Center of Tokyo will not only enable the organization to broaden the scope of its current activities by effectively doubling, tripling and even quadrupling its current capacities and enrollments; it will also make a whole new range of programs and services available to the community at large.
“With his project, we’re not just looking to kick things up a notch or two,” says Rabbi Mendi. “We’re looking to take the accomplishments of the past eight years and use them as a foundation and springboard to a whole new beginning… We’re looking to build a beautiful, warm, welcoming new Center of Jewish life that will open its doors and its loving heart to so many more people – a real community center – that leaves nobody behind!”
True to form, Rabbi Mendi then waxes passionate: “As long as there are children out there who are in need of an education; as long as there are people out there hungering for companionship or for knowledge; as long as there are those who are searching for hope, for meaning or for answers; as long as there is a need for a community to join together in the celebration of life; we must not rest until we build this wonderful center that will fill those vital needs.”