News & coverage

A fire, a rebuild, and a community that showed up. Here is what was written about us, and where the new building stands.

Building the new home

Our building at 5580 Almaden Expressway is becoming a full Center for Jewish Life. These are the milestones so far. For where the campaign is right now, and how to give, see the building campaign page.

1. June 2022

   The property at 5580 Almaden Expressway was purchased, and a planning committee began designing the new building.

2. December 2023

   The tenants left, the first round of renovations finished, and Chabad opened its doors in the new building.

3. May 2024

   Design plans for the first and second floors were finalized.

4. August 2024

   The building campaign launched.

5. September 2024

   Construction began — site preparation and the first phase of work.

Chabad in the news

Every link below goes to the original story on the news outlet's own site. Some of this coverage is hard reading — the December 2021 arson that destroyed our previous building — and some of it is the answer to it.

• San Jose synagogue, community stands with Israel through evening of unity and prayerABC7 News
• Fire destroys new Chabad synagogue in San Jose, spares TorahsJ. The Jewish News of Northern California
• Fire Guts Chabad of Almaden Valley, Calif.Chabad.org
• Jewish house of worship in San Jose goes up in flames, Torahs sparedKTVU
• San Jose synagogue destroyed after flames burn for hoursKRON4
• Community Looking for Answers After Fire Destroys Synagogue in South San JoseNBC Bay Area
• Arson Fire Burns San Jose Synagogue; Police Say It Doesn't Look Like Hate CrimeCBS News Bay Area
• ‘Someone Lit’ Fire that Severely Damaged South San Jose Synagogue, Says RabbiSan José Inside
• Fire Tears Through Jewish Community Center in California as Police InvestigateInside Edition
• 'Won't stop us': Rabbi plans to rebuild after fire devastates San Jose synagogueABC7 News
• After fire, California Chabad raises over $50,000 to rebuild in less than 24 hoursJNS
• Azerbaijan consulate donates funds for California Chabad destroyed by fireThe Times of Israel
• Why a Muslim Diplomat from Azerbaijan Is Helping Rebuild a California SynagogueChabad.org
• San Jose synagogue finds new home after fireKRON4
• ‘It woke up something in the community’: After destructive fire, San Jose Jewish community close to new site purchaseThe Mercury News
• Hanukkah celebration draws huge crowd at San Jose’s Santana RowThe Mercury News
• New Chabad center brings outreach to San Jose neighborhoodJ. The Jewish News of Northern California