New Shluchim to Lachine, Montreal
Rabbi Fully and Goldi Wilmowsky, together with their baby Fayga, have moved to Lachine, Montreal, Quebec to establish a new Chabad Center, bringing Jewish life, connection, and community to the neighborhood.
by COLlive Editor · COLliveRabbi Fully and Goldi Wilmowsky, together with their baby Fayga, have moved to Lachine, Montreal, Quebec to establish a new Chabad Center, bringing Jewish life, connection, and community to the neighborhood.
Although Jewish families have called Lachine home for generations, there has not been an organized Jewish community, regular communal programming, or an active place of Jewish worship for many decades. The last synagogue in Lachine closed its doors in 1944.
Over the years, Jewish residents have largely lived disconnected from one another. Many didn’t even know that other Jewish families lived in the neighbourhood. Some genuinely thought they were the only Jews in Lachine, unaware that other families sharing their heritage and traditions were living just streets away.
We came to Lachine to change that.
Since arriving, we have already begun laying the foundations of a growing community. We welcomed community members for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, hosted Sukkos celebrations, and established weekly Shabbos services followed by Kiddush. We also hold a weekly Parsha class, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and meaningful Jewish experiences.
Much of our growth so far has come from simply knocking on doors, meeting Jewish residents, and connecting through word of mouth. Every conversation introduces us to another Jewish family, another story, and another opportunity to bring people together. One of the most exciting parts of this journey has been discovering just how many Jews call Lachine home, and helping people realize that they are not alone. We are excited to continue reaching even more families.
But this is only the beginning.
Our vision is to build a warm, welcoming, and vibrant Jewish community where every Jew feels that they belong. A place where people can come together for prayer, celebrate the Jewish holidays, learn Torah, build friendships, and create meaningful connections. We hope to continue expanding our Shabbos and holiday programming, introduce new events and activities, and make Jewish life accessible and enjoyable for every member of the community.
For the first time in generations, Jewish life in Lachine is coming together again.
We are building something that will hopefully serve generations to come. With your support, we can turn this beginning into a thriving, lasting community.
Together, we will build. Every Jew. One at a time.
Never Miss a Headline!
Sign up for the COLlive Daily News Roundup and never miss a story
Opt In
- I would like to receive the collive newsletter