Our Mission
Chabad Jewish Center of Olympia was founded in 2007 on the principle that, while Jews embrace many levels of observance in their personal lives, there should be a place for all Jews - no labels, no affiliations - to develop a sense of community, to enhance the experience of being Jewish, to learn and to have fun.
Inspired by the passionate vision of the Rebbe, Chabad is just that place. By focusing on the individual's relationship to Judaism, Chabad appeals to all segments of the Jewish community. By offering a wide range of activities for adults, children and the whole family, Chabad follows many paths to enrich Jewish life in our community. And by bringing many different ideas together, Chabad can help you find the Jewish community in your heart.
Our Directors
Rabbi Yosef and Rivky Schtroks moved to Olympia just before Chanukah of 2016 to lead the Chabad Jewish Center of Olympia. Along with their five children, they are dedicated to sharing the joy of Judaism, and creating a warm Jewish community where every Jew feels at home.
Rabbi Yosef Schtroks
Rabbi Yosef is a PNW native, having been born and raised in the beautiful lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. He attended an array of Jewish institutions of higher learning, including Rabbinical schools in Chicago, Detroit, and was ordained as a Rabbi by the Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and other leading Rabbis at Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ.
From a young age, Rabbi Yosef was immersed in the joy Jewish outreach, growing up in British Columbia where his parents directed a Chabad Jewish Center.
As a young adult, he was actively involved in outreach and education—participating in weekly Friday community visits to homes and businesses, spending a year teaching in Brazil, directing summer camps in Michigan and Brazil, and volunteering as a prison chaplain in facilities across seven East Coast states. He also served as publisher of Derher magazine.
These diverse experiences helped shape his approach to leadership and bring out a deep passion for teaching, community building, and welcoming every Jew with warmth and joy.
Mrs. Rivky Schtroks
Rivky Schtroks was born and raised in Oak Park, Michigan, in a home filled with community service and Jewish pride. Her parents and family were deeply involved in the work of the Lubavitch Foundation, creating an environment that naturally nurtured her passion for helping others. She studied in schools of higher learning in Michigan and Illinois, later graduating from the Beth Chana Teachers College in Tzfat, Israel.
As a young adult, Rivky took on leadership, educational, and organizational roles across the globe. Her work brought her to communities as varied as Malmö, Sweden; Shanghai, China; Victoria, Canada; and Oklahoma City, where she helped strengthen Jewish life through programs for children, teens, and families. Rivky has always had a special love for working with children—nurturing their growth, helping them blossom, and encouraging each child to shine in their own unique way.
After completing a year-long internship at Chabad of Stamford, Rivky joined their prestigious Gan Yeladim as a lead preschool educator, and later served as an educator at Beth Rivka Schools in Brooklyn. With her extensive experience, warm personality, and passion for helping every child and family flourish, Rivky brings deep dedication to her role as co-director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Olympia, where she is committed to fostering a welcoming and vibrant Jewish community for all.
Chabad of Olympia is designated as a 501 (c) 3 non for profit organization by the IRS.
Legal Name: Chabad Jewish Discovery Center.
Tax ID 27-434-7680