Rabbi Shimon Margolin’s new Jewish Heritage Center is only 1,200 square feet. But he’s not preoccupied with size.
The rabbi is using the tiny space in the Richmond district to hold services, host day camps, teach classes and, before too long, establish a speed-dating service for the Russian Jewish community.
Margolin had been looking for the right location — with the right price — for years before coming across the storefront at 1801 Balboa Ave. in the heart of the Russian Richmond. He locked up the site for $1,300 a month for two years with an option for a third.
Following a Torah dedication earlier this month, Margolin has already led several services. He will still rent out larger spaces for his High Holy Days services and is currently running a Passover day camp for children.
“Our mandate is more to those who are unaffiliated. That’s why we call it a Jewish Heritage Center,” said the 32-year-old Ukranian-born rabbi.
“We want to be the point where Russian Jews connect to Judaism.”
Until now Margolin had no home base for his programming.
A huge portion of his work will be adult education. He’s even made it
a family affair, bringing in his 28-year-old brother, Binyomin, who is also a rabbi.
“Nobody in this city does adult education for the middle-aged immigrant. There are a lot of senior centers and day schools, but this is for someone aged 35 to 55 or 65,” he said.
“As far as Russian-speaking Jewish education, there’s nothing for them.”
The center’s board president, Galina Yusupov, is a realtor, and, thusly, entitled to crow about the center’s location, location, location. But don’t get too used to it, she says.
“The location is, I believe, temporary. We hope at least. We hope to fund-raise and build a temple,” she said.
“But the location is good. A lot of Russian Jews live in the Richmond. And the Orthodox people cannot drive the car on Friday.”
Margolin says he currently sports 120 member families, and is pushing to swell that number to 200.
“They are joining for High Holy Days,” said Yusupov. “They are joining for the Shabbat, the summer camp, the winter camp, the kids’ playroom. They are learning about Judaism.”
For more information, call Rabbi Shimon Margolin at (415) 221-5280.