A new chapter for KU Chabad is beginning with the opening of its new 10,000-square-foot facility at the University of Kansas.
The official grand opening celebration is set for Sunday, Nov. 2, at 12:15 p.m. at 1203 W. 19th St., Lawrence, KS 66046.
The new center is the first building in the state of Kansas constructed specifically to serve Jewish students. Organizers say the project represents years of planning and community partnership aimed at creating a lasting home for Jewish learning, wellness and connection.
The facility includes a student lounge, library, dining hall, wellness and mental-health spaces, synagogue, study and reflection rooms and the first commercial kosher kitchen in Lawrence. The center will also serve as a community hub, offering classes, events, and programs for residents across northeast Kansas.
“This moment is truly historic for our community and for the state,” said Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, co-director of KU Chabad with his wife, Nechama. “For the first time, Jewish students in Kansas will have a permanent and welcoming space built just for them — a place of warmth, meaning and belonging.”
The opening comes at a time when Jewish communities across the country are confronting a rise in antisemitism. Nechama Tiechtel said that context gives the new center added significance.
“At a time when antisemitism is rearing its ugly head, this building stands as a beacon of Jewish pride and culture,” she said. “It promotes awareness of Jewish heritage and educates the broader community about Jewish faith, tradition and history. It’s a message of hope and light in difficult times.”
The center’s design reflects that message. Among its unique features is a 12-foot multicolored menorah that faces the KU campus and changes colors to mark holidays and celebrations. A large outdoor sculpture depicts the Ten Commandments, symbolizing enduring moral values, and in the front plaza a 50-foot mural by British-Israeli artist Solomon Souza celebrates the connection between Kansas and Jewish heritage. The artwork combines images of sunflowers, prairies and the Kansas landscape with Jewish symbols and scenes from Jewish history.
The building also includes a serenity garden known as “Sarah’s Stream,” created in loving memory of Sarah Milgrim, a KU alumna who was tragically murdered in Washington, D.C., earlier this year in what authorities described as an act of hate and antisemitism.
The garden is designed as a peaceful space for reflection and healing.
“It’s a place to pause, remember and draw strength from love and faith,” Tiechtel said.
KU Chabad has been active in Lawrence since 2006, hosting Shabbat dinners, educational classes, community service projects and mental-health initiatives. The new building replaces smaller facilities that had been used for more than two decades.
This project became a reality thanks to numerous benefactors who collectively contributed over $5 million toward the campaign’s $6 million goal. To help reach the goal, KU Chabad has launched a crowdfunding campaign inviting KU alumni, parents, and friends to participate by visiting homeforkuchabad.com. Every gift made through the campaign is being doubled, making each contribution twice as impactful.
“While the building is new, the vision is timeless,” Tiechtel said. “It’s about joy, connection and education — a place where Jewish life can thrive and where the broader community can experience the beauty and richness of Jewish tradition.”