$3.75 Million Construction Underway For Jewish Schools in Oak Park
The Chabad-Lubavitch community, which is celebrating its 50th year here in Michigan, recently announced plans to renovate and expand five Detroit area facilities. Three of those facilities, an elementary school, high school and a Rabbinical College, are located in Oak Park.
Construction is already under way on the 
elementary school, located on Coolidge Highway. Thanks to the generosity of local philanthropist Edward & Gloria Meer and family, the 12,000 square foot building will be undergoing a $750,000 makeover.
Plans are still being finalized for renovating the High School and the Rabbinical College, located on 9 Mile Road near Coolidge. The project is being headed by Alan and Lorie Zekelman of Bloomfield Hills and will double the size of the building to 20,000 square feet, at a cost of approximately $2 million. The existing structure, which was built in 1958, will be repaired and brought up to date.
On June 11th the Chabad-Lubavitch community hosted a special dinner to mark the anniversary of their leader’s passing. Alan Zekelman spoke at the event about his connection to Chabad-Lubavitch and what inspired him to undertake the project. After his mother, Wanda Zekelman, passed away a year and a half ago, Alan recited the traditional mourner’s prayer for her at the High School’s on-campus synagogue. Each time he went, he was struck by the threadbare appearance of the building and the enthusiastic glow of the students. After seeing both the school’s need for proper facilities, and their success with their students, giving made sense to him.
"Each time I stepped through the door I knew that making a commitment to them would be fulfilling for me and for them," he said.
Rabbi Bentzion Stein, head of both the elementary and high school, expressed his gratitude that the projects are finally taking place. "Our school is the source of energy for our future leaders; now we'll have a beautiful home“, he said.
This is not the first project Alan Zekelman has sponsored on behalf of the local community. He and his brothers made a donation of $10 million to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills earlier this year.
Renovations at the 9 Mile building are scheduled to be completed within 2 years. Meanwhile, the students will benefit from new accommodations just across the street. Mr. Sheldon Yellen of Belfor was instrumental in helping the school to acquire the apartment complex on 9 Mile Road near the schools’ main building. The school is still working to raise the funds necessary to cover the mortgage and to remodel the apartments for use as student housing. The total cost of the building and renovations is expected to reach $1 million.
Rabbi Mendel Shemtov, director of the College division, thanked all those in the community who have helped with these much needed projects. “The outpouring of support from the community is outstanding” he said.
Chabad-Lubavitch is the largest Jewish Outreach organization in the world today, with representatives in 47 out of the 50 states and most foreign countries. They are known for their work in education and for humanitarian activities on behalf of both Jews and non-Jews. Oak Park’s Chabad-Lubavitch schools have earned a special reputation within the organization for their graduates’ dedication and leadership.
