In a historic first for South Dakota, the Chabad Jewish Community Center in Sioux Falls broke ground, with U.S. Sen. John Thune, Gov. Larry Rhoden, and other officials joining Rabbi Mendel and Mussie Alperowitz to mark the start of the state’s first-ever Jewish center and mikvah.
In a ceremony that made history for the state of South Dakota, the Chabad Jewish Community Center broke ground on Aug. 12, marking the construction of the first center of its kind in the Mount Rushmore State. The groundbreaking drew prominent political figures and community leaders to celebrate this milestone for South Dakota’s small yet proud Jewish community.
U.S. Sen. John Thune, Gov. Larry Rhoden, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken joined Rabbi Mendel and Mussie Alperowitz and community members as ceremonial dirt was turned at the future site of what will become a beacon for Jewish life across the state’s vast prairies…