.png)
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
The following are letters sent by various public figures to the Longwood Foundation voicing their support for this monumental project.
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
Office of the President
Dennis Assanis, President
"On behalf of the entire University of Delaware, I wish to express our strong support...to help rebuild the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, which was destroyed by arson in August. The Chabad Center has long provided a place of respite and renewal for UD’s Jewish students, and it has been truly devastating to our community to lose this important resource...The loss of the Chabad Center was traumatic to thousands of Blue Hens here and around the world, no matter their religious beliefs, who reached out to support the effort to rebuild the “Little Blue House.” This was truly a community center in the purest sense of the word."
UNITED STATES SENATE
The Delaware Senate
Christopher A. Coons, U.S. Senator
"The Chabad Center at the University of Delaware has provided essential services and programs in the community of Newark for close to 35 years. Unfortunately, Delawareans witnessed the heartbreaking attack on the Chabad Center when it was set ablaze and destroyed by an arsonist. This vile act against an institution that had served hundreds of our youth and young adults, since 1987, was painful for every member of our community to experience. With support and commitment, the Chabad Center, Rabbi Vogel and the University of Delaware would be a step closer to restoring critical services and programs that the community has heavily depended on for decades."
NEW CASTLE COUNTY
County Executive Office
Matthew Meyer, County Executive
"Hate has no home in our community. Hate has no home where our future generation is nurtured and educated. Fortunately, Chabad UD is rising to the challenge, transforming misfortune into renewal, growth and hope. Rabbi Vogel hopes to have the Chabad Center in the heart of the university’s campus. Based on my conversations with him, building this new center will enable Chabad Center to welcome, teach and inspire the UD community for decades to come. I encourage you to support the Chabad Center’s request. I believe the Center will have a significant impact on the Jewish community at UD, in Newark and beyond."
CITY OF NEWARK
Mayor and Council
George J. (Jerry) Clifton, Mayor
"I, along with the Newark community was devastated and heartbroken to learn the fire at the Center on August 25, 2020 was intentionally set. The fire was catastrophic, and Chabad Center will have to be demolished and rebuilt. The City of Newark, a welcoming and diverse college town, prides itself on banding together in times of need..... The Chabad at the University of Delaware offers a "Home Away from Home" at college for many students and is invaluable and essential to the wellbeing of the UD community...."