The Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning
A human life is a universe.....
and the Chabad Center is a building designed to house it.

Preschool Built For All Of the Child Many preschools offer top-notch education for a child’s mind and body. Gan Yeladim meets the highest standards and then offers more. Her heart is ready to give and care, but she needs to be shown how. Her soul is fresh and budding—it needs to be watered with tales and wisdom of the sages, with a sense for things the hands cannot touch. Her heritage is a treasure chest, and her fingers eagerly reach for the keys. The child has a conscience, perhaps not yet developed, but it will be the most important factor in getting life straight. And she needs to feel part of her community, a great, international and eternal one, to which she belongs and which belongs to her. Gan Yeladim touches every facet of the child. We stimulate the mind with ideas, skills, music and art. We help the body grow strong and healthy with a state of the art play center and nourishing snacks.But we also give the child those other things so valuable for a wholesome and rich life. We show her the heritage that belongs to her,  nurture her soul, train her conscience, teach her heart and let her know she belongs.Most importantly, Gan Yeladim provides a child early in life with a firm sense of identity and pride in who she is.

The Friendship Circle The Friendship Circle reaches out and extends a helping hand to families of children who have special needs, and involves them in a full range of Jewish and social experiences. The Friendship Circle is made of five integral links: volunteers, children with special needs, parents, staff and supporters. Together, they form a seamless whole. Each link in the chain is strengthened by all the other links, each one gains when the other gives or receives.The circle is complete. All it needs is a setting to thrive and expand. And that will be this building. “The Friendship Circle currently serves over sixty families in the Fairfield County area. With an established space, we could serve three times that number.”                         Malya Shmotkin, Friendship Circle director “Allen came over to the house one day and Ari’s life has never been the same since. Truthfully speaking, Allen is the first friend Ari has ever had. I think that’s so with a lot of the kids the Friendship Circle deals with.” —a parent “The Friendship Circle was originally created for many reasons. We felt a responsibility for the community to serve those who have special needs. We felt an urgency that these children should not be excluded from our community. But what we didn’t realize is how much this program would provide for those who volunteer.”                                                                                 Jared Mehl, Chabad Board Member

A Place for Everyone For singles, couples, mothers, fathers busy people, retired people & just plain curious people “The learning minyan is a great hands-on way to learn. Just as vital is the discussion over breakfast that follows. And perhaps the most important feature of the Shabbat services is the community kiddush experience.” —Seth O., an attendee “The JLI is a series of very professionally executed courses. This is truly what they promised: adult Jewish studies the way it was meant to be.” —Arkady B., an adult student “Becoming a mother was a major transformation for me. But I wasn’t ready or able to give up my own personal growth. I need to get out and talk with other intelligent people, to keep learning new things, to keep my adult mind active. With Chabad, I know my kids are in good hands while I’m attending a class. I know I’m learning things that will help me be a better mother. And I find the classes very stimulating.” —Elaine F., a mother

Built For the Whole Community Jews need to do Jewish things togetheras a community. All of us can celebrate Shabbat together or enjoy a communal Passover Seder or a Lag B’Omer picnic—and it doesn’t matter which synagogue or temple we intend or don’t intend to visit tomorrow. "Our community includes every person who comes through the door. Our smorgasbord programmingis designed to fit all sizes, providing something for everyone. Everyone is comfortable, everyone learns, everyone has a good time.” “When it comes to our building, there’s no such thing as, I don’t go there. I’m orthodox/conservative/reform/newage/ secular/humanist/whatever. The goal in Chabad is that any body should be able to walk in off the street and feel like they’ve always belonged there.”“That’s why Chabad doesn’t have membership. Because there isn’t any body who isn’t a member.”                                                                                                        Rabbi Moshe Shemtov,                                                                                                        Director of Community Development