Foundation Partner Chabad Russian Center Set to Expand with New Sunny Isles Beach Jewish Community Center
Founded and run by Rabbi Alexander Kaller and his wife Chanie Kaller, the Chabad Russian Center of South Florida provides the Miami community it serves with everything from Hebrew classes to women’s groups. The heart of the Center lies in its innovative bilingual preschool program, which gives children a strong foundation for educational success and acts as a safe and supportive space for them to learn about Jewish identity and traditions in a familiar cultural space. The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation has been a proud supporter of the Center since 2019.
In the early 2000s, Rabbi Alexander Kaller and his wife, Chani Kaller, noticed a problem in their community. While Miami was home to a large population of Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants, there was no central place for them to gather and connect. Determined to ensure their rich culture was not forgotten, the Kallers began hosting small gatherings in their home. As word of these gatherings spread, they expanded to a small storefront nearby.
Nearly 20 years later, the community built by the Kallers has become the Chabad Russian Center, which serves more than 4000 families in the Miami area through its many programs, including The Gan Frida School, Hebrew School, teen and leadership programming, adult education, volunteer opportunities, family and community Shabbat and Holiday programs, and much more.
As the community continues to grow and evolve, so does the Chabad Russian Center, which is currently in the process of building a new home for itself. Overlooking the beautiful Biscayne Bay and the State Oleta Park, the new waterfront Sunny Isles Beach Jewish Community Center is set to be a state-of-the-art facility for the vibrant and growing group of young professionals, families, children, residents and new transplants who rely on the Chabad Russian Center for community and cultural alliance.
Currently under construction, the new JCC will provide a permanent home for the Center’s essential programs and services. Once completed, the six-story building will feature a sanctuary, a grand ballroom, a scenic rooftop terrace, a daily chapel, a full-service kitchen, a library, a youth center, a restaurant and lounge, an office space and, of course, an entire floor dedicated to the Gan Frida School – which recently expanded its offerings to kindergarten as well as a preschool – funded by the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation.
“We are growing quickly with the continuous and generous help of partners like the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation,” said Rabbi Kaller. “Right now, the Gan is at capacity in its current location, so we are looking forward to moving into the new space, which will allow us to welcome even more children. We are incredibly grateful for the Foundation’s ongoing support, and excited to see what the future holds for our whole community.”
To learn more about the Sunny Isles Beach Jewish Community Center, visit: https://sibjcc.org/
