Frisco | June 2022

NONPROFIT Chabad of Plano/ Collin County The center oers services and programs for Jewish community T he year was 1992 when a red-bearded Rabbi Menachem Block arrived from New York with his wife, Rivkie, and their children, 18-month-old Eli and 1-month-old Mushkie, to start a Chabad in Plano. Over the ensuing 30 years, the rabbi’s beard color was not the only thing that experienced change. Block explained that a Chabad is rooted in the philosophy of life, love and acceptance of every member of the Jewish faith, regardless of their level of knowledge and observance. In addition to being a synagogue, the Chabad of Plano/Collin County oers Hebrew School for children, adult classes, day camps, a preschool, holiday celebrations and more. “The emphasis of Chabad is we perform the functionalities of a synagogue, and we have another element, which is the outreach,” Block said. As soon as the Blocks arrived in Plano all those years ago, the rabbi said he immediately started introducing himself to the Jewish community. From 1992-2000, the Chabad’s activities were held at the Blocks’ home, including a Hebrew school that Rivkie started. “When we started, it was very haimish—that is a Jewish word for very cozy,” Block said. “It was small [and] intimate—if you had 10 people show up, it was a big day. We prayed in our garage and went into our living room to eat.” Eventually, Block met Plano business leader Abe Lang. “He proved to be my largest nancial supporter,” Block said of Lang. “He bought this land and became responsible for the building. Once he gave a signicant gift, many others gave.” The land, located on West Park Boulevard, is the site of the current Lang Chabad Center, which was completed in 2005. As the Chabad grew, the Block family did as well. Over the years, four of their eight children, along with their spouses, have launched a Chabad in Collin County. The Frisco branch opened in 2014; the one in Legacy West opened in 2017; branches in Allen and McKinney came along in 2019; and one in Rockwall County opened in 2020. Block described the center as a very active part of Plano’s Jewish infrastructure. “It’s a place to send a child to camp; come in and celebrate a holiday; a place to say a prayer; [and] to cry on someone’s shoulder,” he said. “We provide a place for life cycle events and much more than that; it’s a place to reconnect to God.” BY KAREN CHANEY

“THE EMPHASIS OF CHABAD IS WE PERFORM THE FUNCTIONALITIES OF A SYNAGOGUE, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ELEMENT, WHICH IS THE OUTREACH.” RABBI MENACHEM BLOCK

Rabbi Menachem and Rivkie Block pose with their family at the Chabad’s 1999 groundbreaking.

COURTESY CHABAD OF PLANOCOLLIN COUNTY

Rabbi Menachem Block said the Chabad will likely need to expand within the next ve years.

KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Rabbi Menachem and Rivkie Block started the Chabad of Plano in their home in 1992.

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Chabad of Plano/Collin County 3904 W. Park Blvd., Plano 972-596-8270 www.chabadplano.org • Chabad Hebrew School for children in grades K-7 • Jewish Learning Institute adult education classes • The summer Gan Israel Day Camp for children in grades K-7 • Gan Gani Preschool • Youth and teen programs that include bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah clubs JEWISH SERVICES The programs the Chabad of Plano/Collin County oers include: • The synagogue Chabad of Plano Shul

Chabad of Plano/Collin County oers a Gan Israel Day Camp for children.

COURTESY CHABAD OF PLANOCOLLIN COUNTY

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Rivkie Block is the director of the Chabad’s preschool and day camp.

KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

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