For 15 years, The Shul of Bellaire has been building Jewish life one person, one family and one connection at a time. Now, it has taken the first major step toward building a permanent home for a vibrant Jewish future in Bellaire.
A day before the 32nd yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose vision and inspiration gave birth to The Shul of Bellaire, the community secured an acre of land on Bellaire Boulevard at the corner of 3rd Street that will become the future permanent home of The Shul.
The milestone marks the beginning of a multiyear process to create a permanent center for Jewish life serving the Bellaire area. The future campus is envisioned as a vibrant home for prayer, education, hospitality, community gatherings and the many programs that have become central to The Shul’s mission.
Founded in 2011 by Rabbi Yossi and Esty Zaklikofsky, under the auspices of Chabad-Lubavitch of Texas, The Shul has grown from a small storefront into a thriving center of Jewish life serving hundreds of individuals and families from across the Jewish spectrum.
Today, The Shul’s programming reaches children, teens, adults and families through Shabbat and holiday services, Camp Gan Israel, Hebrew School, CTeen Bellaire, adult education, women’s and men’s programming, preschool initiatives, family events and community-wide celebrations throughout the year.
“The story is not simply about a building,” Rabbi Zaklikofsky said. “It is about the Jewish lives that have been built here and the Jewish future we are creating together.”
Reflecting on the Jewish community’s response following Oct. 7, 2023, Rabbi Zaklikofsky said the vision represents a powerful statement of confidence in the future.
“After Oct. 7, our community asked an important question: How do we respond? Some marched. Some advocated. Some volunteered. Some gave.
“Every one of those responses matters. But our enduring answer must also be to build, to strengthen Jewish life, invest in the next generation and create something permanent that declares our confidence in the Jewish future.”
Esty reflected on the significance of reaching this milestone after years of community growth.
“For over 15 years, we have watched children grow up here, families celebrate together, friendships develop and people discover a deeper connection to Judaism,” she said. “Knowing that we are now laying the foundation for a permanent home where future generations will experience those same moments is incredibly meaningful.”
The announcement followed a recent campaign event, hosted by Rhoda and Steve Saka, where community members learned about the plans for the future campus from Todd Blitzer, principal of The Mirador Group, and viewed preliminary architectural concepts.
The gathering highlighted the broad impact of The Shul’s work and the vision for a future space that will allow the community to continue growing. Community leader Todd Blue shared his personal connection to the Zaklikofskys’ mission.
“Rabbi Yossi and Esty are keeping the main thing the main thing,” Blue said. “Rabbi Yossi helped me discover the Jewish light within my own heart. [My wife] Karen and I are deeply grateful for what they have given our family, and we are fully aligned with the mission of The Shul. We look forward to seeing this vision become a reality.”
The afternoon also featured reflections from teens whose lives have been impacted by The Shul’s programming.
Emery High School student Noah Ackerman spoke about bringing Jewish experiences into students’ daily lives.
“Working with Rabbi Yossi taught me that Judaism doesn’t have to feel complicated or far away,” Ackerman said. “Sometimes, it can happen right in the middle of a school day, in a small moment, and still mean something significant.”
CTeen Bellaire member Isabel Gomar reflected on the impact of participating in a CTeen trip to New York with Esty.
“My experience traveling to New York with CTeen Bellaire encouraged me to be more open and confident about being Jewish,” Gomar said. “In a time when it can sometimes feel easier to stay quiet, it gave me the confidence to proudly embrace who I am.”
The Zaklikofskys expressed deep gratitude to the many individuals and families whose generosity, belief and partnership made this milestone possible.
“We are humbled by the number of people who stepped forward and said, ‘We believe in this future,’” Rabbi Zaklikofsky said. “There will be an opportunity in due time to properly recognize and honor those who partnered with us in such a meaningful way.”
A transformational leadership gift from Gary Davis provided the critical foundation that helped make securing the property possible, alongside the generosity and partnership of many others who helped bring this vision to life, including Kenneth Katz, whose tireless efforts helped move the project forward.
As planning and permitting move forward, the future campus will provide expanded opportunities for Jewish learning, connection, celebration and community engagement for generations to come.
“The land has now been secured,” Rabbi Zaklikofsky said. “The building will take shape over the coming years. But the mission remains what it has always been: building Jewish lives, one person and one family at a time, now with a permanent home to help carry that mission forward.”
Community members interested in learning more about the project or
becoming involved may email info@jewishbellaire.com