A Home for Every Jew Across Two Counties
For more than three decades, Chabad Lubavitch of Sarasota and Manatee Counties has been a steady presence on the Gulf Coast of Florida. From its center at 7700 Beneva Road in Sarasota, Chabad serves not only a single neighborhood but a two-county region through four branches: Sarasota, Bradenton East, Bradenton West, and Venice. Its guiding conviction is simple: every Jew matters, and every good deed makes a difference.
Since 1990, the organization has opened its doors to Jews of all backgrounds, affiliations, and levels of observance. Locals, seasonal residents, and vacationers are equally welcome, and the community's growth has kept pace with the broader Jewish expansion along the Suncoast. A well-stocked calendar of holiday celebrations, weekly prayer services, and ongoing study groups makes Chabad a year-round hub for Jewish life in the region.
Shabbat at the Chabad Center
Friday evenings begin at 7:00 pm with services, followed by an Oneg Shabbat. Shabbat morning services start at 10:00 am and are likewise followed by a community Oneg. Children are welcomed and encouraged to take part, and the atmosphere is intentionally heimish, warm, familiar, and joyful. Prayers are sincere and enhanced by Chabad song, and every guest, regardless of Hebrew knowledge or prior affiliation, is invited to feel at home.
Members of the community may sponsor a Friday night or Shabbat luncheon Oneg for $150, marking a milestone or honoring a loved one while sharing the joy of Shabbat. Membership in the broader Chabad community grants access to services, classes, events, and family programming throughout the year.
A Week of Torah Study with Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz
Weekday mornings open with Shacharit at 8:00 am, Sunday through Friday. Layered on top of that rhythm is a robust schedule of weekly classes taught by Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, all offered free of charge.
- Monday morning, 9:30 to 10:15 am - a Talmud class that welcomes newcomers.
- Monday evening, 7:00 to 8:00 pm - Tanya, the foundational text of Chabad Kabbalah philosophy.
- Thursday morning, 9:30 to 10:15 am - an in-depth look at the weekly Torah portion.
- Shabbat morning, 9:30 to 10:00 am - a Torah portion class held before the main service.
Rabbi Steinmetz records short D'var Torah lessons on the Chabad of Sarasota YouTube channel, where a deep archive stretches back through the 5780 and 5781 Torah reading cycles. The same channel includes recordings of Tanya classes.
Chabad Kaplan Preschool: A Jewish Foundation Since 1997
Six years after the organization opened its doors, parents in its Mommy and Me programs asked for something more. In 1997, Chabad launched what is now known as the Kaplan Preschool, a state-licensed program serving children ages 2.5 through five. The preschool has held its Florida Department of Children and Families license since its founding year and is inspected by the agency twice annually, in addition to an annual fire department review. It has earned a 4 out of 5 star rating through the voluntary Look for the Stars quality improvement program.
Director Sara Steinmetz started the school after running Mommy and Me groups from 1991 to 2001. A graduate of Beth Rivkah Teachers College in Israel and a Florida Child Care Professional, she also serves as the school's Judaica Specialist, sharing daily time with each class to cultivate a love for Jewish holidays and tradition. She is joined on staff by:
- Morah Jane Hoffman, music teacher since 2008, who is also Principal Flutist with the Sarasota POPS and adjunct faculty at State College of Florida.
- Morah Jennifer Damasco, a 19-year preschool veteran with an FCCPC credential.
- Morah Rebecca Hughes, who holds an FCCPC, a Director Credential, an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood, and specializes in early intervention.
The curriculum weaves Judaic themes and holidays with art, movement, early literacy, math, blocks, and dramatic play, supported by hands-on learning centers. A Circle of Hearts donor program, with annual giving tiers ranging from $500 to $10,000, underwrites new equipment, professional development, and extracurricular programming.
JKidz Hebrew Club and Ima & Me
Older children attend JKidz Hebrew Club, an after-school program for students enrolled in public or private secular schools. Classes meet Wednesday afternoons from 5:00 to 6:30 pm and focus on three goals: connection to Jewish heritage, confidence through Hebrew reading, and community through friendship. Tuition is $800 annually for Chabad members and $950 for non-members. Families preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah are asked to schedule a meeting with Rabbi Steinmetz nine months ahead of the celebration.
For the youngest families, Ima & Me provides a weekly meeting place for mothers and toddlers. Registration is taken online.
CTeen and Camp Gan Israel
CTeen Sarasota is the local chapter of a teen network inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe's belief in the power of Jewish youth. The group gathers bi-monthly for trips and relaxed programming in its CTeen lounge, and weekly as part of the Weinstein Afterschool Jewish Enrichment Program, where teens volunteer, learn, and participate in activities. Monthly Friday Night Live events have become a signature draw. Annual CTeen membership is $100.
When summer arrives, Camp Gan Israel takes over. Open to children ages 5 through 11, the day camp runs in two-week sessions in late June and early July, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with scholarships available. As part of the largest and fastest-growing network of Jewish day camps in the world, it leans heavily on hands-on activities, field trips, and a staff chosen for personal warmth as much as for skill.
Women's Circle and Rosh Chodesh Society
Chabad Women's Circle gathers Jewish women of every background for educational, social, and hands-on programming: challah bakes, Shabbat welcomes, park walks, and festive gatherings. Annual membership is $150, or $200 for the Rebbetzin's Circle, and individual classes are $20 with reduced or free access for members. The Rosh Chodesh Society is a global community of Jewish women that meets each month around a new annual theme; the current course runs in the fall on a six-session schedule with separate moms' sessions.
Mikvah, Cemetery, and the Chabad Giftshop
Beyond programming, Chabad of Sarasota operates three facilities that anchor Jewish life for the wider community. The women's Mikvah, recently dedicated, is a sacred space of reflection and renewal. Appointments are scheduled through Sara Steinmetz at sara@chabadofsarasota.com, ideally three to four days in advance, with a requested donation of $36 for Mikvah members and $54 for non-members, and an annual membership of $180. Last-minute needs can be directed to a dedicated line.
Chabad Gardens is the only Jewish cemetery in the Sarasota-Manatee area that conforms in every detail with Jewish law and custom. Located within Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, at Honore and Fruitville Road, it features upright markers, ample walking paths between graves, and the services of a Chevra Kadisha for taharah preparation. Burial plots are open to any Jew regardless of background or affiliation, and pre-need arrangements are encouraged.
The Chabad Giftshop, open weekdays at the Chabad Center, stocks Judaica, jewelry, and gifts for holidays, weddings, and lifecycle moments.
High Holidays and the Year Ahead
For the High Holidays, Chabad opens its doors to every Jew. Reservations are required; there is no charge for members, with a suggested donation of $100 per adult and $50 per child ages 5 to 12 for non-members, and a standing promise that no one will be turned away for financial reasons. Services feature a children's program of prayers, songs, stories, games, and snacks.
Other recurring rhythms include the Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), offering courses such as How Happiness Thinks and Kabbalah of the Hidden Architecture of You, holiday celebrations including Soup in the Sukkah, Sushi in the Sukkah, and a Simchat Torah gathering, plus safeTALK suicide-alertness workshops for the broader community. Giving is supported online, and a current newsletter keeps members and friends connected to what is coming next.
Visiting Sarasota and Chabad
Chabad welcomes visitors with practical guidance for those traveling to the area. Publix, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Costco are noted for their kosher selections, with The Kosher Kaddy delivering fresh Aaron's kosher meat and poultry and Tami Yummy preparing fresh daily meals, Shabbat dinners, holiday dinners, and catering. Nearby accommodations include three Airbnb properties within walking distance of the center, the Spark by Hilton Sarasota Siesta Key Gateway about 2.6 miles away, Timberwoods Vacation Villas two blocks away, and a fourth rental less than half a mile from the building. The Sara Steinmetz Preschool and Chabad Kaplan Preschool, JKidz Hebrew Club, and CTeen programs all register online, and most community programs accept RSVPs online.
At the heart of it all is Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, the steady, smiling face of Torah study and Shabbat prayer, and Sara Steinmetz, whose work has shaped Jewish education in the community for more than three decades. Together with their staff and volunteers, they continue the simple Chabad promise: open arms, open doors, and an open heart for every Jew who walks through.