New Jewish Community Center Opens In Harford County

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A new Jewish community center recently opened in Bel Air with more than 300 people on hand to celebrate its grand opening.

The center was unveiled on Gimmel Tammuz and is called the Harford Chabad. It will be led by Rabbi Kushi and Fraida Schusterman. Rabbi Heschel Yarmush will serve as director of education and Doba Yarmush will take on the role of director of youth programming. At the grant opening, leaders introduced new shluchim, Rabbi Heschel and Doba Yarmush, who have joined Harford Chabad.

“Harford Chabad is more than just a synagogue. It’s a tight-knit community where people care and look out for each other,” said Rabbi Schusterman. “This new center is a dream come true. It will allow us to grow and create a welcoming space for all Jews, regardless of background or affiliation.”

The building features a spacious Shul and social hall, a kosher kitchen, classrooms, a mikvah and a Jewish library. With this new facility, Harford Chabad plans to expand offerings including Bar and Bas Mitzvah training and celebrations, wedding officiation and new youth and educational initiatives.

"Our community has been growing steadily, and we outgrew our previous space. Additionally, the pervious space was rented and doesn't create the experience that we were hoping for. The new facility allows us to serve better the increasing number of families participating in our programs and services as well as a magical touch," Rabbi Schusterman told Patch. "Everyone is thrilled about having dedicated spaces for different activities. The larger social hall, bigger kitchen and designated children's areas have been especially appreciated. There's a sense of pride in having a beautiful and more secure space that truly represents our vibrant community."

A few more of the building's highlights include a state-of-the-art sanctuary, study room and outdoor spaces for community gatherings.

"We also are building a Mikvah Ritual bath We've incorporated both traditional and modern design elements throughout," Schusterman said. "The new center will host holiday celebrations, educational programs for all ages, community gatherings, lifecycle events and weekly services. We'll be able to expand our youth programming and offer more opportunities for families to connect with Jewish tradition and with each other."

To learn more about Harford Chabad, visit www.HarfordChabad.org.