Dedication of first-ever Sephardic Synagogue on Public University Campus

In a spirit of rejoicing and celebration, Chabad House Jewish Student Center at Rutgers University and its ten affiliate Chabad Houses serving central and southern New Jersey, will celebrate their National Founders Dinner at the Grand Ballroom of Chabad House, 170 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, on Thursday, December 11, 2014 (the 19th of Kislev, 5755) at 6:00 PM.  More than 500 community leaders and supporters are expected to pay tribute to memory of Mr. Harry Franco, Mayor of Deal, NJ, and a renowned leader of the Sephardic Community. Harry Franco served in many capacities in the formative years of the Chabad House, and was a major persona in introducing many key supporters to Chabad. He personally led many initiatives to build and ensure the financial stability of Chabad on campus. Harry’s sons, Mr. Isaac Franco and Mr. Jack Franco will accept the “Kesser Shem Tov- Master of Good Name Award” for their family.

In addition, Chabad House will present Mr. Jeffries Shein with the “Lifetime Patron Award”. Mr. Shein has been involved in a major way in support of Chabad from its inception in 1978, and was recently active in all construction phases of Chabad House.

The gala dinner is celebrating the Thirty Sixth Anniversary of the Chabad House. The 90,000 square foot Chabad House features Housing Suites for 107 men and women, a three hundred seat Synagogue, Judaica Library, student lounges, computer areas, and a 750 person Kosher Dining Hall with Commercial Kitchens. This Gala Dinner will also feature the dedication of the "Franco-Asיkenazi Family Sephardic Synagogue” to serve the growing number of Sephardi students attending Rutgers. All of the above combined creates a unique edifice that proudly serves as the largest Jewish Center on any public university in the world.

The dinner will commemorate thirty-six years of educational programs and activities serving the student population at Rutgers University and a unique panoply of educational and social welfare programs throughout central and southern New Jersey.

Dinner chairpersons are: Mr. Doron Cohen, Chairman, Dun & Bradstreet, (Israel) Ltd.; Mr. Donald Epstein, CFO, Matrix Companies; Mr. Roger Fine, Corporate Vice President, Johnson & Johnson (Ret.); Mr. Isaac S. Gindi, V.P., Century 21 Dept. Stores; Mrs. Lita Greenberg; Mr. David Halpern, Atlantic Realty; Mr. Donald Hecht, Partner, Hecht & Co.; Mr. Michael Hecht, Partner, Hecht & Co.; Mr. Danny Kahane, Developer; Mr. Steven Katz, Partner, Sterling Properties Group; Amy B. Mansue, President and CEO, Children’s Specialized Hospital; Mr. Ronald C. Rak, JD. President and CEO, St. Peter’s Healthcare System; Mr. Richard Saker, CEO and President of Saker ShopRites, Inc.; Mr. Rick Schottenfeld, Chairman, The Schottenfeld Group; Mr. Myron “Mike” P. Shevell, Chairman, The Shevell Group, NEMF; Mr. Ken Silverman, Chairman, The Silverman Group; and Mr. Jerold Zaro, Esq., Sills, Cummis, and Gross.

Rabbi Yosef Carlebach, Director of Chabad House, will report on the new complex and its outreach programs and activities this past year. Participants at the dinner will receive a special coffee table 36th Anniversary Album pictorially depicting the history of Chabad House from its first days in a rented room at the Rutgers Student Center to its location today as the largest Jewish Center on any public university campus in the world.

For more information or reservations for the Gala Dinner or the Building Campaign or to receive the Thirty Sixth Anniversary Album, please contact Chabad House at (732) 296-1800 or write to:  Chabad House, 170 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 or email dinner@chabadnj.org