Chabad of Fredericksburg

Rabbi Shaya and Mushky Gourarie arrived in Fredericksburg in April of 2024 to establish Chabad, serving both the students at University of Mary Washington and the local Jewish community. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and hailing from a family of Jewish educators, Rabbi Gourarie graduated from Detroit’s Chabad Yeshivah, moving on to the Rabbinical College of America and further advanced study at the Chabad Lubavitch international headquarters in New York. Mushky grew up within Michigan’s Russian-Jewish community and completed her studies in Israel. Among other roles, she has worked for Chabad in Anchorage, Alaska. “We are excited and energized to make Fredericksburg our home, bringing the joy of Judaism to families and individuals in the city and nearby counties” Rabbi Gourarie said. “We are honored to be directing the Maxine and Carl D. Silver Chabad Jewish Center — the address for everything Jewish.

​ Chabad of Fredericksburg was founded in 2024 on the principle that, while Jews embrace many levels of observance in their personal lives, there should be a place for all Jews — no labels, no affiliations — to develop a sense of community, to enhance the experience of being Jewish, to learn and to have fun. Chabad is just that place. By focusing on the individual's relationship to Judaism, Chabad appeals to all segments of the Jewish community. By offering a wide range of activities for students, adults, children and the whole family, Chabad follows many paths to enrich Jewish life in our community. And by bringing many different ideas together, Chabad can help you find The Jewish Community in your heart.

Chabad of Fredericksburg is more than just a synagogue, open to all Jewish people regardless of background, affiliation or level of observance. If you are looking for a community to connect, express your soul and learn, Chabad of Fredericksburg is for you.

The Maxine and Carl D. Silver Chabad House opened in 2020 as a permanent home for Jewish student life at the University of Mary Washington. The 9,800-square-foot, two-story center was made possible through the generosity of the Silver Foundation, and is named in honor of Larry Silver's parents, Maxine and Carl D. Silver. Designed to complement UMW's Jeffersonian architecture, the building gives our students a place to gather, learn, celebrate Shabbat and holidays, and simply feel at home. We are deeply grateful to the Silver family for their vision and commitment to Jewish student life on our campus.

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