Alon Abady's $100 Million Donation Transforms Los Angeles Office Tower into Chabad Campus for Jewish Life
A prominent Los Angeles real estate investor, Alon Abady, and his wife, Monique, have generously donated a $100 million office tower to Chabad of California to establish the Chabad Campus for Jewish Life. The 16-story, 300,000-square-foot complex located at 9911 W. Pico Blvd. in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood will be transformed into a significant Jewish center. This donation is considered one of the largest single gifts ever made to a Jewish organization and is expected to serve as a regional hub for Jewish religious life, social services, education, and as a global center for the Lubavitch movement's emissaries worldwide.
The new Chabad Campus for Jewish Life will feature a variety of facilities, including a synagogue, life-cycle venues, youth and senior programs, mental-health and social services, museums, and support for Jewish students on college campuses. It will also host large communal and international gatherings, making it an epicenter of Jewish life in Los Angeles and beyond. Rabbi Chaim Nochum Cunin, a leader of West Coast Chabad, expressed that the campus will significantly impact Jewish life in Los Angeles and worldwide.
Alon Abady, known for his real estate ventures in Los Angeles, acquired the property for $35 million in 2023 with plans for redevelopment. The current market value of the property is estimated at $103 million, as appraised by Partner Valuation Advisors in September. Abady's donation reflects his deep-rooted connection with Chabad, dating back to his family's arrival in Los Angeles in the 1970s, where they received assistance from Rabbi Baruch Shlomo Cunin, Chabad's West Coast director. This generous gift is a tribute to his family and a way to give back to the organization that supported them.
The Chabad Campus for Jewish Life will be among the largest Jewish institutions globally, offering a wide range of services and facilities. It will play a vital role in shaping Jewish life in Los Angeles and serve as a significant center for the Lubavitch movement's outreach efforts. This donation comes at a crucial time when many Jewish institutions are facing financial challenges, highlighting the importance of philanthropic support in sustaining and expanding Jewish communal spaces.
In conclusion, Alon Abady's donation of the $100 million office tower to Chabad of California to establish the Chabad Campus for Jewish Life represents a significant contribution to the Jewish community in Los Angeles and beyond. The transformation of the property into a vibrant Jewish center will have a lasting impact on Jewish religious life, social services, and education, serving as a beacon for the Lubavitch movement's global network of emissaries.