Chabad Jewish Center of Amelia Island opens

A new chapter for Jewish life in Nassau County began Wednesday afternoon with the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Chabad Jewish Center of Amelia Island & Nassau County.

Community members and local leaders including County Commissioner Hupp Huppman and Sheriff Bill Leeper gathered at the center’s new location — 5472 First Coast Highway, Unit 11 — to welcome Rabbi Levi and Mindy Katz and celebrate the milestone with the placement of a mezuzah from Jerusalem on the front door.

Chabad of Amelia Island was established in 2024 by the Katzes to serve as a hub for Jewish worship, education, and community life. The center welcomes all — regardless of religious affiliation or prior knowledge — and aims to create what Rabbi Katz calls “a warm and non-judgmental environment to explore and experience Judaism’s timeless spiritual inspirations.”

“This is truly a historic moment for our community. In all of Amelia Island’s long history, there’s never been a dedicated Jewish space. We’re so grateful and excited to finally open the doors to our county’s first synagogue. The Chabad Jewish Center is so much more than a synagogue, it’s a home for Jewish life. It’s where we can come together for learning, prayer, holiday celebrations, joyful occasions, social events, or even just to stop by for a coffee and a shmooze,” Rabbi Katz said. “Our goal is to create a warm, welcoming space where every Jew, no matter their background or level of observance, feels they belong. This center is here for everyone. We hope this will be a place that inspires Jewish pride and connection for many years to come.”

Katz said the center is offering religious services, social events, and cultural programs designed to foster connection and celebration. Chabad of Amelia Island is financially independent and supported entirely through donations, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Rabbi Katz grew up in Miami, where his parents served Jewish men and women in the military and prison system through the Aleph Institute. He studied in Israel, Baltimore, and Brooklyn before receiving rabbinical ordination in Manhattan. Mindy Katz, originally from Key West, grew up in a family that directed a Chabad center. She brings her passion for education, event planning, and hospitality to the role.

The mezuzah placed on the center’s entrance, a traditional scroll inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah, was brought from Jerusalem and symbolizes protection and blessing for all who enter.

For more information about upcoming programs, visit Chabad of Amelia Island.

(Nassau Chamber of Commerce)