Building begins for Hillsboro's first Jewish community center and synagogue

HILLSBORO -- Construction has begun for Hillsboro’s first Jewish community center and synagogue.

Chabad Hillsboro is building what will be known as the Chabad Federman Jewish Center near Southwest Brookwood Avenue and Southeast Bentley Street.

The congregation bought the foreclosed property and renovation of the existing building started this month, said Rabbi Menachem Rivkin.

This first phase of construction includes moving the house to the back of the 0.3-acre lot atop a new foundation. It will be remodeled with a library, study hall, kitchen, dining area and Hebrew school center. The space will also be home to classes and other programming.

It could take as little as three or four months to complete and will cost about $70,000.

A fundraising campaign was started in February and so far has raised $30,000.

The second phase of the project will call for a brand new, 1,800-square-foot synagogue. Current estimates for construction costs are between $180,000 to $300,000 and Rivkin said it will be built as money is raised from the community.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to be a part of the first and only Jewish essence of Hillsboro,” Rivkin said. CONTINUE...