Newly Expanded Chabad House Opens at UChicago

On Family Weekend this fall, the University of Chicago’s Jewish students had something to celebrate — the grand opening of an expanded Chabad House, marking a new chapter for Jewish life on campus.

“We bought our current building back in 2010,” explained Rabbi Yossi Brackman, who, together with his wife Baila, established Chabad at UChicago in 2002. “It serves its purpose well, but over time, we realized more space was needed.”

While the Chabad House has long been a home for students, recent campus challenges have made such spaces even more essential. In recent months, Jewish students across the country — especially at UChicago — have faced growing tension and open antisemitism on campus.

Earlier this year, a pro-Palestinian encampment on the university’s main quad lasted nearly two weeks. Jewish students reported incidents of harassment and exclusion from campus spaces. That, Rabbi Brackman said, is part of what makes the new space so important. “It’s a statement — Jewish life here is strong and thriving.”

The expansion, completed this year, transforms the Chabad House into a spacious multipurpose center. The $4 million project includes additions such as a large event space that seats 150 students, a recreation room, a mikvah, a library, and meeting rooms.

The building campaign launched with a few key gifts, including several legacy donations and an anonymous lead donor. The new event space was dedicated by Joyce Z. Greenberg — whose family also sponsored the University’s Center for Jewish Studies, a key part of UChicago’s academic engagement with Jewish history and thought — in memory of her father, Baruch Zeger.

The expansion also reflects the needs of UChicago’s Jewish student community. “There are about 900 Jewish undergraduates, and an equal number of graduate students. It’s a unique thing — the university has more graduate students than undergrads,” said Rabbi Brackman.

That balance shapes much of Chabad’s programming. “For example — we host two Passover Seders, one for each group,” Brackman explained. “It allows everyone to celebrate in a way that feels personal to them.” Now, these programs can take place in a spacious and comfortable setting.

Another distinctive aspect of UChicago is its campus layout. “Everything here — the college, the graduate programs — it’s all in one place,” Brackman noted. “Chabad is just a block away, so everyone’s connected.”

Fourth-year philosophy student Zachary Greenspan said that since the Chabad House reopened, “I’ve seen so many more students — even people who’ve been here for years but had never come to Chabad before.” He added, “It’s not just accommodating the existing crowd — it’s expanding interest.”

The grand opening on November 9 drew some 150 people — students, alumni, and families. “I’d never realized how many people were involved with Chabad until that day,” said Greenspan. “It was packed — a number of nice speeches, and our new student band — the ‘Chaband,’ played Jewish songs.”

One of the speakers, alumnus Mark Raphael, reflected on his own time at Chabad. “It was a period of renewal in my Jewish identity,” he said, noting that it led him to become more observant “to the delight of my grandparents.”

Greenspan said moments like that show undergraduates something deeper. “People often think of Chabad on Campus as just an undergrad thing,” he said. “But seeing grad students, alumni, and families — it gives a sense of continuity, that Jewish life doesn’t end with college. You can build a future around it.”