By Cindy Mindell

For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Miriam Landa, director of Chabad Hebrew School, by calling (203) 373-1118, e-mailing Miriam@chabadff.com or visiting www.chabadff.com/hebrewschool

FAIRFIELD – Chabad of Fairfield will open a new Chabad Center in the building that formerly housed Hillel Academy, at 1571 Stratfield Road.
“We’re very excited about Rabbi Landa joining his outreach programs with our synagogue,” says Congregation Ahavath Achim immediate past president, Terry Augenbraun. “He will hopefully bring in a new beginning to a sad part of the history of our synagogue – the closing of Hillel Academy.”
The Jewish day school, established in 1958, occupied the building on a long-term lease and shut its doors in 2010 in order to reorganize.
Landa approached the synagogue six months ago, Augenbraun says, when he and his wife, Chabad of Fairfield co-director Miriam Landa, realized that they had outgrown the current programming space in their home on Wynn Wood Drive in Fairfield. The Ahavath Achim board and congregation voted to broaden the relationship with Chabad and allow the organization to use the preschool wing of the former school building.
“This development is not only exciting for the synagogue but for the whole community,” says Augenbraun, a 30-year resident of the city. “Fairfield is a great place for Jewish families. This new development represents the hope and future of our community.”
The new Chabad center will host Chabad’s Jewish educational and social programs, including Chabad Hebrew School.
“Our school’s underlying approach is for the children to enjoy the time spent at Hebrew School so that they are left with positive experiences and a greater appreciation for Judaism,” explained Miriam Landa, director of Chabad Hebrew School.  The program is thus carefully blended with activities, incentives, crafts, dramatics, family celebrations and other exciting extracurricular components.”
The Center will also offer Mommy & Me programs, youth clubs, and pre-holiday workshops in addition to adult education courses and social events.

For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Miriam Landa, director of Chabad Hebrew School, by calling (203) 373-1118, e-mailing Miriam@chabadff.com or visiting www.chabadff.com/hebrewschool