Chabad of the Lower East Side
Building a warm, welcoming Jewish community in the heart of Manhattan since 2005.
Founded by Rabbi Yisrael and Chani Stone, Chabad of the Lower East Side is a hub for Jewish education, spiritual growth, and community connection. We serve Jews of all backgrounds: students, families, professionals, and lifelong learners. With authentic Chabad warmth and the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, we create meaningful connections.
Meet the Team
Born and raised in Flatbush, Rabbi Stone was educated in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva and spent his formative years near 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, where he witnessed the Lubavitcher Rebbe's teachings firsthand. That sacred environment shaped his calling: to reach out to every Jew and invite them into Jewish life.
During rabbinical school, Rabbi Stone volunteered globally with the Rebbe's Mitzvah Corps, touching lives across continents. In 2001, he married Chani, and in 2005, the couple settled on the Lower East Side as permanent emissaries, committed to building a vibrant Jewish community in Manhattan.
Rabbi Stone is known throughout the Jewish world for his uncanny ability to spot a Jew on the street and invite them to perform a mitzvah, whether putting on Tefillin, lighting Shabbat candles, or simply learning together. For him, this is not theory; it's the daily reality that drives his work. As those who know him will attest, he is a man of action, guided by the Rebbe's teaching that each mitzvah brings us closer to Moshiach and a redeemed world.
Torah education for children and adults alike is Rabbi Stone's life work. He doesn't just think about it; he does something about it, every single day.
Reach Rabbi Yisrael at [email protected]
Originally from Tel Aviv, Chani grew up as the daughter of Chabad shluchim in north Tel Aviv, so welcoming every Jew is the life she was raised in.
She has built Chabad LES alongside Rabbi Stone since the very beginning. Together with their six children, she has made 37 Essex Street a home where every guest is family and every Shabbat table has room for one more.
Reach Chani at [email protected]
Programs & Services
Shabbat Services
Friday night and Saturday morning, for every experience level.
Hebrew School & Kids
Hebrew, Jewish education, and holiday celebrations.
Adult Education & JLI
JLI courses, Torah classes, and study groups.
Young Professionals
Soul Gym, Soul Social, and happy hours.
Women's Programs
Challah bakes, sisterhood gatherings, and learning.
Senior & Community Support
Home visits, check-ins, and our Tefillin and Mezuzah bank.
Holiday Events
Chanukah lightings, Purim parties, Passover Matzah, and more.
Alive, Thriving, Rooted in Torah
For generations, these streets have been home to Jewish life. But the Lower East Side isn't a Jewish tale of the past. It's alive right now, full of Jews connected to their heritage and to each other, and we're honored to serve it.
We're part of Chabad-Lubavitch, inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe's love for every Jew. Today more than 6,000 emissary families run over 3,500 institutions worldwide, built on one belief: every person has a unique role to play.
Since 2005, Rabbi Yisrael and Chani, along with their six children, have been dedicated to building a warm, welcoming Jewish community on the Lower East Side, one where every person can discover their heritage, deepen their connection, and celebrate Jewish life.
Thanks to the generosity of our community and supporters, that vision continues to flourish every day. Together, we are creating a vibrant Jewish future and a place where everyone belongs.
Come see what makes our community so special. We'd love to meet you.
Get in Touch