Harford Chabad will open a new Jewish Community Center serving as their permanent location this weekend.

To commemorate the moment, a grand opening ceremony will take place at 4 p.m., Sunday at 38 E. Broadway in Bel Air, featuring kosher food, live music and a tour of the space.

“Harford Chabad is more than just a synagogue, it’s a tight-knit community where people care and look out for each other,” co-director, Rabbi Kushi Schusterman, said in a news release. “This new center is a dream come true. It will allow us to expand our community and create a welcoming space for all Jews, regardless of background or affiliation.”

In 2010, Rabbi Schusterman and his wife created Harford Chabad, first operating out of a basement then transitioning to their home before finding a temporary space on 15 N. Bond St. The Jewish Community Center, which took almost a year to complete, will allow them to fully operate out of one location with enough space to accommodate participants and their programs. For 15 years, Harford Chabad has served both Harford and Cecil counties.

The synagogue not only hosts Shabbat and holiday services, but also offers programs such as Hebrew school, adult education and the Jewish Women’s Circle of Harford County. They also provide resources for addiction intervention, crisis and marriage counseling services.

The new space will allow Harford Chabad to expand offerings such as Bar and Bat Mitzvah training and celebrations and wedding officiation. According to the statement, the space will house a large sanctuary, social hall, kosher kitchen, classrooms, a mikvah ritual bath and a Jewish library.

“The opening of our new center is a sign of good times ahead,” Rabbi Schusterman said.

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