By Manny Frishberg, JTNews Correspondent
Berry and Nechama Farkash have, in a sense, become the victims of their own success. In the four years since the family moved to Issaquah, the Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi and rebbetzin have developed a welcome home for the Jewish community on the far Eastside of the Puget Sound region — so much so that the combination of home and rented spaces they have been using for the various programs of Chabad of the Central Cascades can no longer accommodate all the needs of the community they have been building.
“When we first came here we rented a house. Then, two years later we rented a larger house and rented space for our Hebrew school in the local community center; we rented space for our holiday events,” said Rabbi Farkash. In the past year, the organization has seen tremendous growth in its youth group, and a recent Hanukkah event drew 350 people.
“Our programs are growing very much, our services and our classes and everything,” he said. “We can’t rent any more space.”
Last month, the local Chabad organization announced they have contracted to buy a piece of land on the Sammamish Plateau where they hope to build a new Jewish center, which will be the home of a new Jewish preschool and the various programs and classes they have been busy organizing and leading. Chabad located an acre-and-a-quarter lot in the center of the plateau that already has a 2,300-square-foot house on the property, which Farkash said they plan to expand to provide both a living space and a place where they can consolidate their Hebrew school and regular programs.
“It’s still not enough space to have big programs like our High Holidays or anything major,” Farkash said, “but we could run those basic programs, basic classes and our Hebrew school.” And that is just the beginning of what they envision: once its new preschool opens this year, Farkash hopes subsequent add-ons and renovations will eventually turn the building into “a full-fledged community center.”
Thus far, the community’s response has been exceptional. Rabbi Farkash said that in just the first couple of weeks since announcing their plans and capital campaign to finance it, they were able to raise $150,000 toward the down payment. Speaking with the JTNews a week before the New Year, he said they had received additional pledges of at least $30,000 and expected to have the “close to $200,000” for the down payment before closing on the property, coming about a week later.
“We have a large community — we have 300 families that are involved and we have another 1,200 that we know just exist. We still didn’t approach a quarter of the families,” he said, “but in the previous two weeks, everybody that we mentioned it to, everybody gave something. It was very impressive to see how the community came along to it. You’re talking about a community that was totally unaffiliated – people that are totally disconnected to anything. The only outlet for Judaism in this area is us, and to see them come along and give thousands of dollars to this thing was very impressive.”
In total, the cost of the house and property, which is located on the corner of Black Nugget and Highland Drive, will cost Chabad of the Central Cascades $570,000. In addition, for the planned expansions, they will continue to raise money until Passover. Rabbi Farkash said they hope to bring in an additional $250,000 by then to begin the first phase of construction.
Members have suggested architects, one of which is expected to be chosen after closing on the property, with the intention of breaking ground around Pesach. But until they have detailed plans and builders lined up, Farkash said, they will not have a concrete estimate of the total they will need to raise.
Passover is also the time he said they expect to open the new facility to the community.
“We’re going to do a prayer dedication and we’re going to bring a new Torah in that’s being written,” Farkash added.
Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin, the regional leader of Chabad for the seven states that includes Washington, praised the Farkashes and the Issaquah community for their efforts, including the outpouring of financial support. He explained that it is one of the principles of Chabad that all the money for the new center, as well as its ongoing activities, come from the Sammamish Jewish community.
“The regional offices are there for guidance and inspiration and planning,” Levitin said. “But financially, overall, each satellite office is financially responsible and has to raise its own funds. The activities are coordinated with the regional offices.
“This is a dynamic young couple…[who are] reaching and touching many of the people there, “ he said. “We look forward to tremendous growth at providing facilities and programs and projects for the expanding Jewish community in that area with the Hassidic warmth and touch and love which Chabad is known for — it’s nonjudgmental in welcoming every Jew into our activities and our homes with just pure joy and love.”
The Farkashes said they have high hopes for the new facility.
“It’s going to be a nice piece of property. It’s right in the middle, it’s got easy access from I-90 – people from the area will be able to come and it’s the beginning of our future,” Rabbi Farkash said. “It’s walking distance from Klahanie and walking distance for Issaquah Highlands. People who eventually want to start walking to shul are going to have that ability.”