'Home away from home' for Jewish students on Jacksonville's Southside planning $2.4 million building

In 2006 Rabbi Shmuli Novack and his wife, Chana Novack, founded what they hoped would become a cultural and religious center for Jacksonville's Southside Jewish community and a "home away from home" for Jewish students at the University of North Florida and other area colleges.

Ten years later their vision for Chabad of Southside has become so successful they have outgrown their small facility near UNF. On Sept. 18 the Novacks will lead a groundbreaking for a new $2.4 million, 10,000-square-foot building, designed largely to serve more students in the Chabad on Campus program.

"What we strive to do … is create a home for them, a sense of belonging for Jewish students," Shmuli Novack said. "A sense of community."

A NEED, A HAVEN

Chabad, the rabbi said, is not a building, but a movement, an international Jewish outreach movement.

The Novacks, who met in New York and have four young sons, came to Jacksonville as part of his rabbinical training. They saw a need in area Jewish college students: Some of them came from cities with larger Jewish communities and were seeking more faith-based outlets, others did not grow up with a strong Jewish identity and were seeking greater ties to the faith.

"They didn't have a lot of options," Shmuli Novack said. "There were a lot of options for other faiths. The students felt … a little bit isolated."

Also, most Jewish services in Jacksonville are clustered in the San Jose and Mandarin areas, miles away from UNF and other Southside campuses.

The Chabad of Southside, with the Novacks as co-directors, began in rented meeting rooms but in 2009 built a small facility near UNF. The center offered weekly Sabbath meals, prayer services and social events, as well as a Jewish preschool run by educator Chana Novack - the Ganeinu Early Childhood Development Center - and a Jewish day school. Also the Chabad began a prison visitation ministry and an outreach to Jewish visitors in town for medical care, among other things.

The Chabad on Campus program provided a haven for Jewish students at UNF, Florida State College and Florida Coastal School of Law. The center not only promotes Judaism and social interaction among Jewish college students but encourages them to take on leadership roles in the Jewish community and helps them build the skills and confidence to do so, Shmuli Novack said.

"The objective is to help students find their own place … to give them the tools," he said.

Also, the Novacks - he is 35, she is 33 - and the center act as an extension of the students' families, counseling them on life and career decisions. Many of the students grow so bonded that they all become family, returning for visits after graduation and inviting the Novacks to their weddings. After the couple's youngest son was born, Chabad students cared for the other three children and maintained the home front until they returned, said Chana Novack.

Mike Gottlieb, a UNF alumnus who was a student-athlete, said Chabad "had a positive impact in my life" while he was in college.

"Their ability to create a community feel among all Jews was really special and it's something that has carried with me through the years," he said.

Shaq Speigel, a Florida Coastal School of Law alumnus, agreed.

"Chabad of Southside has really become a special place for me," he said. "When I think of happiness, I think of Chabad. When I was going through hard times, Chabad was there for me and always will be."

Such former students support the expansion plans.

"Finding Chabad was one of the best things that happened to me during my college experience," said Steven Bigio, a recent UNF graduate. "I am excited to be able to support this project for the present and future students at UNF."

UNF President John Delaney said the new center will be a "great addition to the area."

"I'm confident our Jewish students will take advantage of all the amenities and services that will be available," he said.

THINKING BIG

The new facility is projected to be completed in about 18 months, according to the rabbi. The finished product, designed by architect Craig Sommers, will have a student lounge, library, full kosher kitchen for Shabbat and holiday meals, kosher café, dining hall, activity room and preschool. Donations have been made by couples Lazar and Raissa Finker-Frenkel and Dinie and Ryan Shapiro,with the remainder of the funding to be collected throughout the community.

From the start a decade ago, the Novacks said they envisioned an eventual expansion.

"We always think big," Chana Novack said. "The enthusiasm and support from the community and alumni for this ambitious undertaking has been inspiring. The new center will enable us to vastly expand the scope and reach of our activities."

Beth Reese Cravey: (904) 359-4109

CHABAD OF SOUTHSIDE

To donate or get more information, contact the Chabad at 11271 Alumni Way, Jacksonville, FL 32246-6685 or (904) 646-4434 or go to southsidechabad.com