B”H
About Us
Welcome to Chabad Okanagan
Welcome to Chabad Okanagan, a warm and welcoming Jewish centre dedicated to making the world better by sharing the warmth, wisdom, joy, and depth of Judaism with every person we have the privilege of meeting.
At the heart of Judaism is the belief that every single human is created by Almighty G‑d in the very image of His own infinite dignity and purpose, and is then endowed with their own unique soul and path in life.
Not all souls are identical.
Not all people are meant to walk the same path.
Judaism is passionate about the fact that the beauty of humanity is not found in sameness, but rather in people bringing their unique gifts and perspectives, and their personal strengths and light to help build a more compassionate, meaningful, complete and peaceful world.
For this reason, authentic Judaism has never centred itself around proselytizing, and is in fact opposed to trying to make everyone part of one faith.
Indeed, our prophet Isaiah says (56:7) that when the third temple is rebuilt, it will be “a house of prayer for all nations”.
It is not written that it will be a house of prayer for Jews and everyone will believe in Judaism, not at all! Rather it says that all nations will celebrate their independence peacefully and find the temple a equally shared meaningful place for prayer.
While the Jewish path is understood as the sacred mission of the Jewish people, simultaneously every human soul is likewise entrusted with its own sacred mission.
This is why Chabad (or Chabad-Lubavitch) approaches the world with both a deep commitment to strengthening Jewish life and a deep respect for the infinite dignity, value, and spiritual purpose of all humanity while supporting them on their unique path with whatever we can offer.
For the Jewish person, Chabad Okanagan exists to help make Jewish living more accessible, meaningful, joyful, alive, and deeply relevant to everyday life. Through Torah learning, holiday celebrations, Shabbat experiences, youth programs, lifecycle services, mentorship, counselling, community gatherings, mitzvah opportunities, and personal connection, we strive to help Jewish individuals and families strengthen their relationship with G‑d, their heritage, and their community.
At the very same time, Chabad is at the forefront of contributing positively to society as a whole. People of all backgrounds are welcomed through educational initiatives, cultural events, public holiday celebrations, inspirational speakers, counselling conversations, humanitarian efforts, community care, and opportunities for meaningful connection, kindness, healing, and growth.
Our goal is not to erase differences between people or faiths, but to help find the blessing in it, and to discover the conducive Divine purpose in creating these differences; inspiring more goodness, compassion, moral clarity, joy, family values, spirituality, and human connection into the world for everyone.
We serve individuals and families throughout Kelowna and the greater Okanagan Valley, including Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Kamloopps, Nelson, and surrounding communities through programs and active personal outreach designed to bring warmth, meaning, support, education, joy, and authentic human connection into everyday life.
We are not membership-based.
Our doors and hearts are open to everyone.
Learn more: https://www.jewishokanagan.com/109866
What Is Chabad?
Chabad (or Chabad-Lubavitch) is perhaps the largest, most dynamic and fastest growing Jewish educational and outreach movement in the world, with thousands of centres operating across more than 110 countries.
The word “Chabad” is an acronym for the Hebrew words:
Chochmah, Binah, Daas
Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge.
These represent the belief that Judaism is meant to engage not only faith alone, but the heart, mind, emotions, intellect, and soul altogether.
The word “Lubavitch” is where we originated, a Russian word meaning “city of love”.
For over two centuries, Chabad has emphasized joyful Judaism, deep spirituality, practical kindness, meaningful learning, personal growth, love for every Jew and for all people, and the understanding that every human being possesses infinite Divine worth and dignity.
Chabad centres around the globe offer support in all areas of life, even in times of crises, and strive to create environments where Judaism feels alive, warm, accessible, intellectually meaningful, spiritually uplifting, and deeply relevant to modern life.
Learn More: https://www.jewishokanagan.com/jewish-centers/
The Rebbe
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, known around the world simply as “The Rebbe,” was the visionary leader who transformed Chabad into a global movement of education, compassion, moral responsibility, and spiritual renewal.
The Rebbe taught that every individual possesses immense dignity, untapped potential, and a unique mission to bring goodness and light into the world.
He believed deeply in the power of education, kindness, moral clarity, community, and personal responsibility. He encouraged people not to retreat from the world, but to elevate it through acts of goodness, learning, compassion, faith, honesty, generosity, and human connection.
Under the Rebbe’s leadership, Chabad centres were established in places where Jewish life once seemed impossible to sustain. Today, his teachings continue to inspire millions of people from all walks of life around the world.
The Rebbe became widely respected not only within the Jewish world, but internationally among political leaders, educators, academics, diplomats, scientists, artists, and people searching for moral clarity and spiritual direction. Individuals from many backgrounds sought his counsel and guidance on matters ranging from education and ethics to leadership, medicine, public policy, mental health, science, and community building.
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to education and humanity, the Rebbe was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honours in the United States. In addition, the Rebbe’s birthday is marked annually in the United States and many other countries as Education and Sharing Day, a day dedicated to emphasizing the importance of education, moral values, and acts of goodness.
One of the Rebbe’s most famous teachings is that the world is like a perfectly balanced scale, and that one deed, one word, or even one sincere act of goodness can tip the entire world toward healing, redemption, and light.
His vision continues to guide everything we do.
Learn More: https://www.jewishokanagan.com/therebbe
The Shluchim Model
Chabad Okanagan is led by a married couple and their family, working together as shluchim, emissaries of the Rebbe.
This is not accidental. It is part of the unique model the Rebbe envisioned.
A Chabad centre is not simply an institution with programs run by people who get hired for the position.
It is meant to be a living Jewish home.
A place where people are welcomed with warmth, where children see Jewish life lived with joy, where community is built through real relationships, and where leadership is expressed not only through teaching and programming, but through family, hospitality, care, and personal example.
The Rebbe sent couples and families around the world to build communities with devotion, creativity, courage, and love.
Chabad Okanagan continues in that spirit, serving the Okanagan with heart, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility.
Learn more: https://www.jewishokanagan.com/1088
How Chabad Okanagan Is Supported
Chabad Okanagan is supported by the generosity of caring individuals, families, and community partners who believe in this work.
There is no central Chabad head office that funds our programs, salaries, building expenses, outreach, events, or day-to-day operations. Like most Chabad centres around the world, Chabad Okanagan is locally sustained. The work we do here is made possible by the people who care about seeing Jewish life, kindness, education, community support, and meaningful connection flourish here in the Okanagan.
From time to time, we may also receive limited grants for specific programs or eligible community initiatives. These are deeply appreciated and helpful, but they do not replace the ongoing support needed to sustain the full scope of our work.
Every Shabbat meal, class, hospital visit, holiday program, children’s activity, public celebration, counselling conversation, cultural event, and personal act of care is made possible through the partnership of people who choose to give.
In a very real way, our donors are not simply supporting Chabad Okanagan. They are partners in everything Chabad Okanagan brings to life.
Join Chabad Okanagan by donating here.
Meet with the Rabbi to see the budget and dream big ideas together for our valley [email protected]
The Meaning of a Mitzvah
One of the timeless teachings emphasized in Jewish thought and in Chabad philosophy is the importance of mitzvahs.
A mitzvah is often translated as a “good deed,” but its deeper meaning is far more profound. A mitzvah is the recognition that life itself is sacred, that our choices matter, and that through acts of kindness, generosity, integrity, hospitality, learning, compassion, family, charity, encouragement, and goodness, human beings become partners in bringing more healing and light into the world.
The literal meaning of the word mitzvah is “commandment.” At its essence, a mitzvah is a Divine calling to live with purpose, goodness, direction, and light. Through mitzvahs, everyday life itself becomes elevated and connected to something higher.
And perhaps most beautifully of all, one of the deeper spiritual meanings associated with mitzvah as articulated in Kabbalah is related to the word “Tzavsah” which means “connection”:
Connection to one another.
Connection to purpose.
Connection to our souls.
And connection to Almighty G‑d through lives filled with meaning, compassion, gratitude, joy, and goodness.
A mitzvah brings light into the world through friendship, hospitality, charity, wisdom, encouragement, honesty, learning, compassion, and the countless ways human beings uplift one another every single day.
This spirit stands at the heart of everything we strive to create.
Learn more: https://www.jewishokanagan.com/library/article_cdo/aid/1438516/jewish/Mitzvah.htm
Chabad Okanagan Today
Chabad Okanagan serves individuals and families throughout Kelowna and the greater Okanagan Valley, including Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Kamloops and Nelson, and many more surrounding communities.
For the Jewish community, we offer:
Shabbat and holiday programs
Torah classes and educational courses
Children’s and youth programming
Teen mentorship and learning
Jewish lifecycle services
One-on-one learning and guidance
Hospital and home visitations
Seniors support and outreach
Counselling and spiritual support
Community celebrations and gatherings
Access to our growing Jewish Living Library
Opportunities for mitzvahs, volunteering, and meaningful connection and 24/7 on call rabbinical support.
For the broader community, we also host and participate in:
Public holiday celebrations
Cultural and educational events
Inspirational speakers and community evenings
Counselling conversations and support
Humanitarian and community care initiatives
Programs centred on meaning, kindness, healing, and family values
Opportunities for healing and growth, for friendship and learning, for dialogue and connection
Whether someone is deeply observant, culturally connected, searching, skeptical, inspired, reconnecting, curious, or simply looking for community, they are welcome here.
Call Rabbi at 250.575.5384 if he can be of help with anything!
The Chabad Living Library
One of the unique features of Chabad Okanagan is our growing Chabad Living Library, a welcoming educational space filled with books exploring Torah, Jewish history, spirituality, philosophy, ethics, Chassidus, personal growth, Israel, prayer, and the deeper meaning of Jewish life.
The library was created to make Jewish wisdom accessible, alive, and approachable for people of all backgrounds and levels of knowledge.
We encourage visitors to browse, ask questions, explore, learn, and discover the depth, beauty, and relevance of Jewish thought at their own pace.
Join Us
People of all backgrounds are welcome to come exactly as they are, to explore, connect, celebrate, ask questions, grow, learn, and experience the warmth of a tradition that believes deeply in the beauty of humanity and the extraordinary power of ordinary people to bring goodness and light into the world.
Every soul matters.
Every act of goodness matters.
And every person has the ability to help illuminate the world around them.
Welcome to Chabad Okanagan.
Recommended books:
These books are also available in the Chabad Living Library.