Hi, welcome to Chabad Maple Grove. Let me share with you a little bit about ourselves.

It’s been brought to my attention that there are many misconceptions about Chabad so I’d like to clear those up.

 Yes, I have a beard.

 No, my wife does not.

 I wear lots of black.

 Our services, classes and events are fun and meaningful.

 You’ll be going home with a lot of food for thought.

It may lead to a lively conversation. Or even a spirited debate. Imagine that.

You won’t have any trouble following along. You don’t need to belong to our synagogue to get a good seat. Sure, we’d love to have you as a member, but membership is never required to attend any of our programs or services. Ever.

Children are welcome. The more the better. We have a few of our own. You’ll have to come to find out how many.

Ninety-five percent of the people you’ll meet at Chabad aren’t Orthodox. There are Jews of every persuasion–Reform, Conservative, Modern Orthodox, Reconstructionist, even Jewish Renewal. In fact, if you’re a member of another synagogue and join us, you’re likely to run into other members while you’re here. Don’t worry. What happens at Chabad, stays at Chabad.

We’re a friendly congregation. If you’re new to our services, be prepared. Someone will make you feel welcome.

There are people who join us to pray. There are people who join us to kibitz. And to make new friends. If you’re here simply for some alone time, we’re good with that.

Now that you know a little bit about us, you may find yourself asking, “What do you actually believe?”

Good question. We ask it of ourselves often. We don’t have all the answers, but we do have some. So here’s a start.

We believe the world is a good place and that light dispels darkness. We believe that Judaism should bring people together, not keep them apart. Our differences are opportunities for learning and growth. We believe that helping to bring out the best in others leads to bringing out the best in ourselves. We believe in acts of kindness and maintaining a healthy sense of humor. Laughter is a good thing. So is smiling. You’ll see a lot of smiles here at Chabad. So smile freely. We’re big on the whole joy thing.

So, if you’d like to experience a different Jewish experience, please contact us at (612) 520-1263 or email [email protected]

Click here to learn more about the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.