North Fulton Chabad Grows Sports by Leaps & Bounds

Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz is plowing on with great strides to build a new sports field complex on six acres attached to the main North Fulton Chabad campus. These additional six acres were purchased in two parts: three acres were acquired in 2012 with a donation from Mike Leven which covered the land. The additional three acres were purchased in 2021 and were donated by the Bunzl/Wilner family.

The parcels are raw land, and now Minkowicz is on track to build a sports field complex to serve the hundreds of children who attend their summer camp. The rabbi explained, “We have already spent several hundred thousand dollars in the design, engineering, zoning, and construction permitting phase of the project. The funds needed for the actual build out is another $1.8 million. We are fortunate to have gotten a matching gift of $900,000, so when we raise $900,000 and get the match, it will give us the $1,800,000 we need.”

The new donor chose to remain anonymous. When queried about the anonymity, Rabbi Minkowicz said, “I don’t read minds; so, I don’t know the reason, but over the years we have encountered this many times. There are two schools of thought in Jewish philanthropy, and which originate in traditional Jewish sources and texts. One says it’s better to publicize donors of gifts as this may encourage others to try to emulate them and give as well, and the other thought is that modesty and privacy is virtuous. Both are beautiful and wise.”

The six acres will be converted in this first phase of construction with the new funds set to build out the full sports field complex, including baseball field, soccer field, basketball court, pickleball court, kids’ car track, water slide, nature trail, and extra parking spaces.

Rabbi Minkowicz added, “The main beneficiaries will be the campers in our summer day camp; however, having such a facility in the North Fulton area is a blessing. Overall, Chabad does not have membership – our members are any Jew who wants to enrich their Jewish experience by what we offer.”

In the summer session of 2025, approximately 250 children plus 50 teens attend the camp. Campers range from age 2-12, and the girls continue even longer because they can become counselors-in-training, junior counselors and counselors.

The camp is inclusive in that they take all Jewish children, including those with special needs who might need extra attention and care.

The goal is to have the complex used as a vehicle for bringing Jewish children and teens together throughout the year.

Construction now in progress features JK Lockwood as the general contractor which is the same concern that built the main building in 2019 and the Mikvah and Aquatic Center in 2008.

To conclude, Rabbi Minkowicz said, “This is an incredible opportunity to dramatically enhance the camp experience and provide our children with the play areas they critically need and deserve. We are deeply grateful to our donor for this act of generosity and belief in our mission.”

Camp Director Ruthy Hertz said, “We couldn’t be more excited to break ground on our brand new sports field complex. This incredible addition will provide our campers with even more opportunities to play, grow, and connect through the power of sports and teamwork. It’s an investment in fun, friendship, and the unforgettable experiences that make summer at camp so special.

Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz was born and raised in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. He related, “First time on an airplane I was 18, and spent the next many years traveling to make up for lost time.”

In 1998, he finally settled down in Alpharetta where he founded Chabad of North Fulton to serve the growing Jewish population in the northern suburbs.