New Haven

New Haven is the second largest city in the state of Connecticut in the United States with approximately 130,000 residents, and previously served as the state capital.

The city is a coastal city, founded around 400 years ago in 1638, and is home to Yale University, considered one of the leading universities in the world.

History of Chabad in New Haven

On Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 1944, a branch of Yeshivas Achei Temimim New Haven was established, under the leadership of Rabbi Mordechai Dov Ber Altein and his two assistants Rabbi Dov Ber Levy and Rabbi Zev Schildkraut. In early winter of 1945, a special building was constructed for the yeshiva and after necessary renovations, the students moved in.

In Elul 1946, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent Rabbi Moshe Yitzchak Hecht to assist the yeshiva which had fallen into debt and difficulties. He worked there with mesiras nefesh for decades as a shliach of our Rebbeim, with great success.

Shortly after arriving in New Haven, alongside the yeshiva, Rabbi Hecht established a Jewish school in his home, and within months the institution had over 150 students.

In 1965, he opened a girls' high school in the city. When Rebbetzin Chana passed away on 6 Tishrei, Rabbi Hecht requested from the Rebbe to name the high school after her, and so on 7 Tishrei the high school was named 'Beis Chana'. Over the years, he also opened kindergartens in the city.

On 11 Nissan 1972, Rabbi Hecht presented the Rebbe with the key to the city during yechidus, on behalf of the mayor.

In early summer of 1976, R' Dovid Shlomo Deutsch established a branch of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in the city called 'Yeshivas Beis Dovid Shlomo' and in 1978, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Kalmanson was appointed to lead it.

In 2004, a mesivta called "New Haven Mesivta" was also opened alongside the yeshiva gedola, and shortly after, the local community - which until then consisted almost entirely of shliach families and institution staff - experienced a surge in growth, expanding from 25 families to 150 families in just ten years. The relative proximity of New Haven to Crown Heights (less than two hours drive) aids the community's development, with bulk deliveries from store owners and services to the New Haven community, and more. Today it maintains full community institutions and activities like any other Chabad community, including a branch of N'shei uBnos Chabad, Shifra and Puah, mikvaos tahara, minyanim and farbrengens on Chassidic occasions, and more.

Currently, there is also a Chabad kollel operating in the city under the leadership of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Kessler.

Chabad Institutions in the City

• Chabad Boys' School.
• Chabad Girls' School.
• New Haven Mesivta (Yeshiva Ketana) - Led by Rabbi Yosef Lustig.
• Yeshivas Beis Dovid Shlomo (Zal) - Led by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Kalmanson.
• Kollel Avreichim - Led by Rabbi Shneur Zalman Kessler.

Shuls in the City

• Chabad Lubavitch Community Shul.
• Trakklin Shul. And many more Chabad shuls that have been added in recent years.

Key Figures in the City

• Rabbi Boruch Sholom Cohen - Mashpia in the Chabad community.
• Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Alperowitz - One of the Rebbe's shluchim in the city, and mashpia in the local Chabad yeshiva.