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University of Maryland Hillel Groundbreaking on the new Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Center For Jewish Life at University of Maryland.
The University of Maryland (UMD) Hillel is proud to announce it is breaking ground on a brand new 40,000 square foot building in College Park. The new building will include a kosher dining area, café, rental catering spaces, worship spaces, study areas, classrooms and more.
“As someone who has had the privilege of leading Maryland Hillel for over 20 years, I am deeply moved by this milestone. This groundbreaking is not just about building a new physical space; it’s about expanding our home and sense of community. Our roots at Maryland began on this very site in the 1940s,” said Rabbi Ari Israel, Executive Director of UMD Hillel.
The official groundbreaking celebration will be held on Sunday September 8, 2024, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, and will include a variety of dignitaries and speakers. It will be held at UMD Hillel’s future address at 7505 Yale Avenue in College Park, Maryland.
Darryll J. Pines, the President of the University of Maryland will be speaking at the event, along with Adam Lehman, CEO of Hillel International; Rabbi Ari Israel the Executive Director of UMD Hillel; Ross Charkatz, President of the Board of Directors UMD Hillel; Howard Rosenbloom, President and Executive Director, The Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Foundation; and Emma Steinhause, Student Leader, UMD Hillel.
“For generations, Maryland Hillel has been a platform where Jewish students could come, connect, lead, and contribute to the vibrant University of Maryland community. We are grateful for the countless students, alumni, parents, and friends who have been part of this journey, helping to create a thriving, dynamic community both within our walls and throughout our campus. Maryland Hillel has always been ahead of the Jewish curve, today, with this new facility, we will continue to shape it,” said Ross Charkatz, President of the Board of Directors, UMD Hillel.
“We are grateful for how Maryland Hillel has supported thousands of terps for the last 85 years and are excited to see how this new facility will continue to help our students find the belonging, meaning and strength needed to move fearlessly forward,” said Dr. Darryl J Pines, President, University of Maryland.
The new two-level facility is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2025. The space will be a place for students to deepen their personal connection to Judaism and the Jewish community, receive leadership training, participate in social justice initiatives, eat, socialize and study. It will be a vibrant and dynamic space that reflects the entrepreneurial students who come to it, the traditions they value and their aspirations for the future.
### Media Contact: Leah Bregman, Development Associate Email: lbregman@marylandhillel.org Phone: 301-450-2574
