A Little About Us
Shalom! I'm Rabbi Mendy Blank, and I'm thrilled to greet you.
Together with my wife, Menucha, we're dedicated to creating a warm and inclusive space where everyone, regardless of background or affiliation, feels welcome to connect with their Jewish heritage and traditions.
Growing up in South Beach, Florida, I didn't know I would end up being a Rabbi and or ever thought of living in Emeryville, CA. It took me time, but after lots of deep torah study that led me to Rabbinic schools in Chicago, France, NY, and London, I knew I wanted to share that love for Judaism with others. Finally I met my wife Menucha Ferris, a Berkeley native with a passion for early childhood education, who brings her unique perspective and warmth to our community.
Together, we have four adorable children, Chana, Levi, Yaakov, and Moussia who fill our lives with joy and laughter. And would love to share their joy with you!
Whether you're looking for spiritual growth through services and Torah classes, celebrating Shabbat and holidays in a vibrant community, or simply seeking connection through educational programs, we have something for everyone. At Chabad Emeryville, we believe everyone has a unique and valuable role to play. We're not just a community center, we're a family, and we can't wait to welcome you with open arms.
Come join us for our upcoming events, services, and programs, and experience the warmth and connection that makes Chabad Emeryville truly special. See you soon!
Now we would love to hear about you!
Please reach out and introduce yourself.
Everyone has unique talents, and we need everyone's input in community building. Please contact us with your great ideas, for volunteering, or to find out how you can contribute to the community.
Mission Statement
We provide the joy of Judaism to the entire Jewish community in the Emeryville area. Strengthening Jewish awareness, pride and continuity for our present and future generations.
We provide a venue for Judaism in a traditional yet contemporary and relevant manner that will enhance the Jewish experience for all who participate in our programs, events and informal encounters.
Chabad Emeryville services every individual or family. We are open to Jews of every shade, stream, or color, whether they consider themselves secular, reform, conservative, traditional, or undecided. Each individual and family defines the level of involvement that fulfills their own needs.
Our organization fulfills its mission by providing unique Jewish experiences that touch and inspire their participants and by creating exciting hands-on programs for children and families that bring tradition alive. Our full range of services includes Shabbat experiences, adult education, children's programming, outreach support, and counseling services for those in need.
We are dedicated to inclusiveness as we provide traditional Judaism in a very open and accepting way that permeates all our programs and services. We create an environment that allows everyone to feel comfortable and connect with their Judaism. No matter how people define their relationship to their Jewishness, be it reform, conservative, agnostic, or traditional, here at Chabad the labels are irrelevant. Every individual’s meaning of their Jewishness is respected as our center thrives on the common ground of our Judaism itself.
Our Values
·We believe Judaism should be experienced in a joyful, relevant and meaningful manner.
·We respect every individual for who they are, and don’t try and impose any practice of Judaism on anyone. We believe that diversity enriches our Jewish community.
·We are there for everyone regardless of religious observance or beliefs, affiliation or lack of it.
·We believe in nurturing everyone’s journey of self-examination and making meaning of their Jewishness.
·Involvement in Chabad Center is open to everyone regardless of one's financial means.
·Our shared history and common bonds as a Jewish community are an eternal source of connectedness, strength and support. The Chabad Center is dedicated to sustaining our Jewish communal life and its inspiration and empowerment for us all.
More About Chabad
With over 3,000 international branches, Chabad-Lubavitch is one of the largest Jewish organizations in the world today.
Chabad-Lubavitch embraces a philosophy of study, meditation, and social outreach that bridges rigorous academics with proactive community involvement. Chabad’s rapidly growing array of educational institutions, outreach programs, and social services has made it one of the most dynamic forces in modern Jewish life.
“Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for “Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge,” and Lubavitch is the town in White Russia where the movement was based for more than a century. The word “Lubavitch” means “brotherly love,” which is emblematic of the love and dedication that characterizes Chabad-Lubavitch and its emissaries.
See more about Chabad Philosophy
Founded in 1772 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, Chabad promotes the mystical, traditional, legal and social principles of the Torah — while using modern methods and technology for education, community outreach, youth programs, crisis intervention, and other social services. Chabad is always innovating new approaches for its educational and community services but keeps them rooted in traditional Jewish values.
Chabad has consistently been at the forefront of Jewish education and community activism. The work of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe who assumed leadership of the movement in 1950, is legendary. Motivated by a profound love for humanity and spurred by boundless optimism, the Rebbe lifted the global Jewish community from the ashes of the Holocaust and launched an unprecedented range of Jewish institutions, outreach programs and social services.