Rabbi Yisrael & Chanchy Kugel recently moved to the West Side to direct the West Side Center for Jewish Life, an affiliate of Chabad of the West Side. The West Side CJL is dedicated to providing informative and creative Jewish experiences for the curious Jew. Many people have a great interest in their faith but as of yet have not been able to explore its beauty. Their goal is to make Judaism accessible to everyone.

Rabbi Yisrael grew up on the West Side and is the son of Rabbi Shlomo & Rivka Kugel - Founders of Chabad of the West Side. Yisrael studied in schools abroad; he studied in Paris, Israel and Toronto. He has organized Jewish programming all over the world including Yom Kippur Services and Sukkoth in Lagos, Nigeria and Passover Seders in Kobe, Japan as well as in Baku, Azerbaijan. Yisrael directed Jewish summer camps in Running Springs, California and in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Exposure to Judaism in such remote places “allowed me to see firsthand the power of the soul,” says Yisrael. He received his rabbinic ordination in 2007. Yisrael has a common sense approach to complex Jewish matters and has a way of teaching deep Kabalistic concepts in a manner that is user friendly, personal and inspirational.

Chanchy hails from Vancouver BC and is the daughter of Rabbi Lipa & Dena Dubrawsky - Educational directors of Lubavitch BC. Chanchy is an accomplished educator. She has taught at the Vancouver Hebrew Academy and at Beth Rivka School in Brooklyn. She has directed children’s programs and summer camps throughout the United States and Canada. Chanchy is a great mom, a gourmet cook and has a dynamic and warm personality.

Yisrael & Chanchy are the parents of two beautiful little girls named Musia and Sara.

Please join us as we explore our rich heritage.