Welcome to
The Village Chabad
Who We Are
The Village Chabad is a center for Jewish life where everyone is welcome, regardless of background, knowledge, or Jewish affiliation.
Here at Chabad, we practice Judaism with love, care, and passion, providing people of all ages with a warm, genuine, and personalized Jewish experience.
We are your Jewish community!
Our Vision
Our goal is to foster a personal and meaningful connection with every individual in the Portola Valley and Woodside communities, allowing us to cater to your unique needs. At Chabad, every community member feels a sense of belonging.
What We Do
We provide various services to the local Jewish community, with a focus on educational programs ranging from Preschool through Hebrew School to advanced Jewish learning classes for adults. We also host programs for children, women, professionals and families, as well as Shabbat and Holiday meals, events, synagogue services.
Ultimately, we are here to help Portola Valley & Woodside residents with anything you might need, be it physical or spiritual. We’d love to hear what your definition of a Jewish community is and work with you to bring that vision to life.
About Chabad
Chabad-Lubavitch is a philosophy, a movement, and an organization. The philosophy is based on the continuous refinement and growth of one's intellectual understanding of the world, the movement promotes acceptance and love for every Jew, and the organization is composed of thousands of institutions and even more individuals around the world dedicated to helping fellow Jews and doing acts of goodness and kindness.
Chabad-Lubavitch is guided by the teachings of its seven leaders (“Rebbes”), beginning with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812). The last of Chabad’s Rebbes, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, is known simply as “the Rebbe.”
Motivated by his philosophy of love for every Jew and spurred by a revolutionary vision of a connected Jewish world, the Rebbe set into motion an array of programs, services and institutions, among them a network of emissaries sent to establish Jewish centers all across the world.
Their sole mission? To support any Jew in need.
Today, this network has developed into a system of over 5,000 full-time emissary families that apply 250-year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 3,500+ Chabad centers and 1,500+ institutions in more than 100 countries (and in all 50 states) dedicated solely to the welfare of Jewish people worldwide.
Chabad’s Jewish centers provide services to everyone from college students to families to professionals and the elderly, finding practical ways to educate, connect, and inspire with Jews of all ages, backgrounds, interests and affiliations.
The Village Chabad is honored to join these ranks and continue to bring the Rebbe’s vision for connected world Jewry to life.
Our Team
Rabbi Mayer Brook
Rabbi and Co-Director
Rabbi Mayer Brook is from Brooklyn, New York, and brings his vast experience in the fields of outreach and program direction to the Portola Valley & Woodside community. Before launching The Village Chabad, Rabbi Mayer organized Jewish outreach programs and holiday events in multiple countries across five continents. His love for learning and teaching are evident in his classes, which are captivating and incorporate both ancient and modern Jewish thought.
Mayer received his Rabbinical ordination from Sydney Beth Din in Australia, and is passionate about Judaism, outreach, education and family.
Dassi Brook
Rebbetzin and Co-director
Dassi Brook is a Montreal native and artist who brings her creativity into her work as co-director of The Village Chabad. With years of experience working with children, Dassi’s warmth and passion make her Mommy & Me and preschool lessons an experience that her students can’t get enough of. Her women's classes and programs are taught with a sensitivity, depth, and a healthy dose of fun.
Dassi enjoys teaching, practicing her art, spending time with her children and cooking traditional Jewish foods with a twist!