A Lasting Home for Jewish Life
at ohio university
After years of searching, we have secured a permanent home for Chabad at Ohio University.
Located in the heart of campus, this new Chabad Student Center will provide the space and stability needed to serve a growing Jewish community for generations to come.
With your support, we can transform this property into a vibrant center for Jewish life and ensure a strong future for every Jewish Bobcat.
Make a Donation
Dedicate a space
give through our registry
Build the Future of Jewish Life on Campus
Your gift will help create a permanent, welcoming home for Jewish students to gather, learn, celebrate, connect and thrive for generations.
A Growing Need
For more than a decade, Chabad at Ohio University has grown alongside the Jewish student community we serve.
Each move to a larger space has allowed us to reach more students, expand programming, and deepen our impact. In 2018, we moved to our current location on Court Street – and quickly outgrew it.
Today, holiday meals mean clearing out all the furniture to squeeze in rows of folding tables, programs must be carefully scheduled to avoid overlap, and many students cannot fully benefit from all that Chabad has to offer.
Our current location has served us well, but it was never designed to meet the needs of the thriving Jewish community that exists today. To continue growing and serving students at the highest level, we need a home built for the future.
Room to Grow. Built to Last.
After years of searching and many false starts, we found what we had long hoped for: a permanent home for Jewish life at Ohio University.
Located at 12 N. College Street, just steps from College Green and surrounded by fraternities and sororities off of Court Street, this exceptional property places Chabad at the center of student life. It allows us to meet students where they are while creating a visible and enduring Jewish presence on campus.
This new Chabad Student Center will transform the student experience by providing welcoming spaces to study, celebrate Shabbat and holidays, build friendships, and recharge in a true home away from home – all accessible 24/7.
The lower level will feature a student lounge, large event space, commercial kitchen, and fitness room.
The main floor will include a sanctuary/library, smaller event space, offices, and a dormitory for Jewish underclassmen, housing up to 12 students.
The upper floor will serve as the Rabbi’s family residence, ensuring a constant and welcoming presence in the building. The property also includes outdoor gathering space and dedicated parking.
A Sustainable Future
The property’s excellent condition minimizes renovation costs, while student housing and the on-site residence contribute to the center’s long-term sustainability. Together, these features create a strong foundation for Jewish life that can serve students for decades to come.
We have already taken a major step forward by purchasing the building for $1.2 million and securing this opportunity before it was lost to another buyer.
While we will begin serving students in the building immediately this Fall, we must now raise the funds necessary to strengthen the center’s financial foundation and complete the renovations and furnishings that will bring this vision to life.
Your support will help secure the future of our community and transform this house into a vibrant Jewish home for every student who walks through its doors.
Create a Lasting Legacy
Make your mark on campus
Dedication Opportunities
The new Chabad Student Center will serve generations of Jewish students at Ohio University. Through a dedication, vibrant Jewish life, learning, and community on campus can be your permanent legacy.
$1,000,000 - Center Name
The new Chabad Student Center will be a welcoming home for students and a hub for Jewish life on campus for generations to come.
$360,000 - Sanctuary
A beautiful and peaceful space for prayer, learning, and connection, serving as the spiritual heart of the Chabad House. Will double as a library for English Jewish books and resources.
$250,000 - Commercial kitchen
A fully equipped kosher kitchen designed for daily meals, Shabbat, and large-scale holiday feasts.
$200,000 - Dormitory
A mini residence hall for Jewish underclassmen who want to live in an independent, community oriented, Jewish environment.
$150,000 - Social Hall
An expansive all-purpose room for holiday dinners, Sorority and Fraternity events, and larger programming.
$150,000 - Main floor dining room
A vibrant and beautiful hub for Shabbat dinners, classes, events, and social gatherings.
$100,000 - Student Lounge
A comfy space for students to hang out, play games, read and create amazing memories, with a snack bar and coffee station.
RESERVED - FItness room
A mini gym with the latest fitness equipment for students to stay in (physical) shape.
$100,000 - Offices
Dedicated workspaces and a conference room for Chabad staff to coordinate programming, student support, and outreach.
$100,000 - Outdoor terrace
An outdoor space perfect for BBQs, social gatherings, and a beautiful sukkah during Sukkot.
$50,000 - Guest suite
A comfortable, fully furnished suite for visiting parents, scholars, and guests.
reserved - aron kodesh
$20,000 - Tree of life
Make this Building a Home
Give Through our Registry
This fall, students will walk through the doors of our new permanent home for the very first time.
Before they arrive, we need to furnish and equip the building to create a warm, welcoming environment where they can connect, learn and grow together.
Browse the Registry and help transform this building into a true home for our Jewish Bobcats.
*More items will be added in the coming weeks and months — stay tuned!
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