Chase Bank, as part of its Community Giving Program, is giving away $1 million dollars to a charity and the Friendship Circle has made the final cut! Now, it's up to you to help the Friendship Circle and the Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan to win. The Friendship Circle provides assistance and support to the families of children with special needs as well as to individuals and families struggling with addiction, isolation, and other crises. In addition to helping those in need, the Friendship Circle empowers and enriches its network of volunteers, the majority of whom are teenagers, by enabling them to reap the vast rewards of giving of themselves. Voting is quick and easy, in just three steps!

levertovs featured in the austin american statesman

The Austin American Statesman recently profiled Rabbi and Rochel Levertov in an article featuring their extraordinary outreach to Austin Jewish community. "Before there was an H-E-B Kosher Store, Rabbi Yosef Levertov would order frozen chicken and red meat to keep in a freezer at the Chabad House, a center for University of Texas students who wanted to have a spiritual home on campus. "When Levertov arrived in Austin in 1984, he said, his mission as the leader of the house was to offer students 'a home that brings you home.' Read the full article at the Austin American Statesman.

menorah lighting at city hall featured on kxan news

Chabad organized city-wide Menorah Lightings throughout Chanukah, including at Northcross Mall, the Texas State Capital, and Bais Menachem Hebrew Academy. This year, KXAN News at 10 covered the Menorah Lighting at the City Hall, as Austin's mayor Lee Leffingwell joined in. Thanks to all those who helped out and attended the various Menorah Lights, making them all rousing successes. If you didn't previously have the chance to support these activites, it's not too late; just use our Chanukah donations page.

the chabad gala was a rousing success

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, Chabad of Austin hosted a gala dinner at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, honoring Rabbi Yosef and Rochel Levertov and their twenty-five years service to our community and an esteemed group of friends and supporters of Chabad. This was a historic event and Chabad of Austin would like to thank all those who supported the cause, from the attendees and donators to our volunteers. You can still visit the AustinGala.com website to view and interact with the Gala Book.

reminder to update your addess books

You've just updated your clocks, so now it's a good time to remind you to update your address books. Bais Menachem Hebrew Academy and the Chabad Center for Jewish Living has moved. We've setted into our new and improved facilities and school is in session. Come by for weekly Shabbat and Havadalah services! Mark down our new address: 4210 Spicewood Springs Road Suite A-100 Austin, Texas 78759 As usual, Mincha will be begin at sundown Friday following immediately by Maariv and Shacharis will begin promptly at 10 am on Saturday. All are welcome! Also, the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center at the University of Texas, located at 2101 Nueces, just celebrated its ribbon cutting November 1st. While the address for students may be the same, the Center is totally renovated. The transformation has been incredible!

smile on seniors

It was a beautiful Tuesday afternoon in Austin. The sun beamed overhead in a cloudless blue sky, and throngs of Austinites were outdoors enjoying the balmy temperatures. But for 80 year-old Anna Wald, the day had turned dark and frightening. Alone in her room in the senior citizens home, Anna had lost her footing and fell hard to the floor. Her head cracked against a table as she fell, and she now lay bleeding profusely and unable to call for help. Frantically, she pressed her panic button, kept for moments just like these, but the mechanism failed... Read the full story about Austin Chabad's incredible new program, Smile on Seniors. Then, sign up - as a volunteer, as a senior, or as a supporter!

chabad austin photos

The latest photos of Chabad in Austin:

bais menachem hebrew academy launches it's own web site

Bais Menachem Hebrew Academy recently launched it's very own website, at http://www.austinhebrewacademy.com.

Bais Menachem Hebrew Academy photos:

chabad needs your help!

Chabad of Austin wants you to be a partner in our outreach efforts! We are not supported in any way by any national organization; like other Chabad Houses around the country, we depend on your support to continue our programs to area students and residents. Here are a few ways to help: You can write a check which will be tax deductible to Chabad House and mail it to our address below You can charge a donation on your credit card, many alumni's and friends who have moved from Austin have given us their CC number and we deduct a monthly donation!  To donate through PayPal, click here and put cjso@www.utexas.edu as the payee Another way is by donating your stocks and bonds to Chabad House; there is a great tax benefit: the appreciation value of the stock is not claimed as income, yet for our organization when we sell, we receive the full current value (and we are tax exempt). call the Rabbi for details. Click here, register and shop through "igive.com" and receive discounts from name brand web sites. Chabad Austin will receive some percentage from your purchases. You can use our automated pledge card which gives you options to sponsor many of our activities. Another way to help, is by using a Randall's Remarkable Card, when you use it; ask at the register to link your card to charity number 702.