Welcome to ChabadAU
Welcome to Chabad Lubavitch of the AU Community!
Our Mission:
Chabad AU's mission at American University and it's surrounding communities is to inspire all Jews to discover and strengthen their connection to each other and their Jewish Heritage.
This is accomplished through classes and programs that promote Jewish knowledge and practice culminating in a personalized Jewish experience in a warm, non judgmental and welcoming environment to Jews of all backgrounds or affiliation.
Our mission is driven by the Chabad philosophy based on these 3 core values: indiscriminate love of every Jew, love of the Torah and love of G-d.
Who We Are:
We are a project of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) - the representative in our nation's capital of the international Chabad-Lubavitch movement, the largest Jewish educational and social service network in the world, with over 3,500 centers in 50 states and more than 80 countries. We are also American University's branch of Chabad on Campus International. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, inspired both of these Jewish phenomena and spearheaded their development.
Objective:
Since Chabad AU's founding in 2012, we have brought Judaism to life for the Jewish community in AU Park and surrounding neighborhoods, as well as students and faculty at American University.
We welcome Jews from every background, level of observance, and affiliation.
Our programs and classes have always been designed with you in mind, so feel free to drop us a line about your personal interests and check out our website for more information about upcoming events.
We’d love to hear from you and look forward to meeting you in person!
Rabbi Yehoshua and Esti Hecht
MEET OUR TEAM
Rabbi Shua Hecht
Esti Hecht
Rabbi Shua Hecht was raised in Nice, France. As a teenager and later as an adult he pursued Rabbinics, studying in Yeshivas Toras Emes in Israel, the Rabbinical College of America, and serving as a student-mentor in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
While studying in Miami, Rabbi Shua received his Rabbinical ordination from Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Malachi, Rabbi Yehuda Yaroslavsky and served as Assistant Rabbi to Rabbi Chai Amar of Chabad Lubavitch of Golden Beach.
Rabbi Shua and his wife Esti co-founded Chabad Lubavitch of the AU Community in September 2012.
Esti Hecht (nee Shemtov) is a native Washingtonian. She pursued Judaic Studies at Machon Shoshana in Jerusalem, and then Beth Rivkah Seminary in Brooklyn, NY.
Upon completing her studies. Esti assumed a position as program-coordinator at TheSHUL-Lubavitch Center, running youth programming and classes such as Women and Wisdom.
Currently Director of Education and Marketing at Chabad AU, she is passionate about teaching and has served in educational capacities inspiring all ages - from pre-schoolers to adults. In addition to her work with ChabadAU, Esti has also directed Camp Gan Israel - Washington, DC since 2011.