CV Jews Celebrate New Year in New Synagogue

For Jewish people, Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Sunday night, marks the beginning of a new year. This year is significant for Castro Valley’s Jewish community as they will celebrate Rosh Hashanah in a new synagogue, the Chabad Jewish Center of Castro Valley.

The spacious 4,500-square-foot facility is at 21666 Redwood Road, near the entrance to eastbound Interstate 580. Located entirely on street level, the new Chabad center is easily accessible for people with mobility challenges.  

The facility was purchased in the spring, and after several months of preparations, it’s become a fresh and inviting center for Jewish life and worship.

In addition to a sanctuary, with seating for 80 people, and a social hall, the center will also house the Chabad Hebrew school, youth and cultural events, and eventually Chabad’s preschool.

Rabbi Shimon and Chanie Gruzman founded the congregation in 2013, and things have grown steadily.  The rabbi says the new center was necessary to accommodate the ever-growing crowds. Recent Chanukah celebrations have attracted 300 attendees.

The new center will allow the congregation to expand many of their existing programs, which were limited by a lack of space in their current rented facility. “Our Passover Seders, our holiday celebrations, our events, will all be that much larger and that much more inclusive,” Rabbi Shimon said. 

The new center will also house a new Judaic library, with titles for both children and adults, which will be a serene space for reading, contemplating, and connecting. 

"This is very exciting for our community,” said Rabbi Shimon. “We are thrilled to make this new space our new spiritual and cultural home, and there is no better time to do it than Rosh Hashanah, the new year."