Machon Chana’s main campus is housed at its beautiful new facility located at 556 Crown Street (between Kingston and Albany) in the heart and warmth of the Crown Heights Jewish community of Brooklyn, NY. It is just a 25-minute subway ride from the cultural opportunities of Manhattan and within walking distance of the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the lovely Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
This 60,000 square foot building was purchased by Machon Chana in 2002, with the intention of transforming it into a state of the art Women’s Community Center. The first phase of renovations completed in 2006, rendered school facilities for Machon Chanas various programs. Presently it houses the two schools Machon and Michlelet Chana (Vocational Academy) with beautiful sunlit classrooms, Judaic library, studio, state of the art kitchen, dining hall. Additionally the campus provides a dormitory for Machon Chana students, apartments for Michlelet Chana students and three Synagogues (Bais Levi Yitzchak, Beinoni Shul and Sfardic Center) which doubles as Simcha Hall. The facility has become a center of women’s learning throughout the year for women of all ages and stages, as well as a venue for bar mitzvahs, l’chaims and farbrengens during the evenings and Sundays.
Library
The Rabbi Shmuel Wudowsky Reference Library aids and assists student learning and research programs. Since its establishment, the library has acquired hundreds of books plus several periodicals in Yiddish, Hebrew and English, and is continuously growing through the gifts of private individuals and foundations. Subjects range from the historical and philosophical writings of our sages and Rabbis to modern Jewish literature. In addition to a wide range of Anglo-Jewish texts and scriptural commentaries, the school library houses many volumes of Chabad Chassidic texts. Special self-teaching aids are available for mastering the Hebrew and Yiddish languages and Biblical texts and commentaries. Students also have access to the vast selection of Jewish books and tapes at the Levi Yitzchak Lending Library located at 305 Kingston Avenue, a short walk from the school. In addition, the Agudas Chassidei Chabad library, located at 770 Eastern Parkway, just a 5-minute walk from the school, contains many rare and valuable manuscripts available to students. The main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is also within walking distance.
Student Residences
Among the thousands of institutions founded under the Rebbe’s guidance there was one that the Rebbe called “home”- the Machon Chana residence hall. Named after Rebbitzen Chana, Machon Chana was chosen as the continuation of her legacy. The student dormitory, located in the heart of Crown Heights is a beautiful stately mansion (chosen by the Rebbe in 1974) to serve as a warm and lighted home away from home for the thousands of women who come to the community to live and learn, and build a spiritual and educational foundation for life. Renovated in 2004, the Dormitory was restored to its original beauty while accommodating the needs of modern dorm life. It has 14 sunlit bedrooms and the ability to accommodate 35 students. Two regal and spacious living rooms,a large dining hall and Succah graciously host Shabbaton, farbrengens and YomTov meals as well as day to day living.
Who is it for?
The Machon Chana dormitory is for full-time students between the ages of eighteen and twenty five.
Supervision
Under the supervision of a housemother and two madrichot , who provide mentorship, assistance in learning and a feeling of family to the dorm atmosphere, the girls are given the warmth and understanding needed during this challenging stage in life.
Meals & Amenities
Three home-cooked meals daily, and ample bath, shower, and laundry facilities complement the spiritual and social climate. Mealtimes, monthly Shabbatons, and Yom-Tov (holiday) celebrations, in addition to student birthday parties and farbrengens, provide an air of festivity. In-residence counselors (madrichot) offer assistance any hour of the day or night. Students develop friendships with families in the neighborhood and share in their celebrations. Meal plans are available for full and part time students not living in the dorm.
Other Non-School Housing Options: Apartments
Machon Chana has appropriated apartments in the school building for students who prefer sharing living accommodations with fellow students. Each of these two and three bedroom apartments have a kitchen the girls can cook in and a shared living room. There are also Shuls and a Lounge in building which are very convenient especially during the cold winter months. There is also easy access to library and classrooms which are downstairs.
Furnished basement apartments in homes and unfurnished apartments in other apartment buildings range in price from approximately $300 for a shared from to $900 for a private room.
