Today we’d like to introduce you to Chaim Loschak.
Hi Chaim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up right here in Santa Barbara, in a home that placed real value on community: on showing up for others and building something bigger than yourself.
My wife, Mushkie, grew up in a close-knit warm Jewish community in South Africa, and she brought that same sense of connection into our life together. Over the years I spent studying in various yeshivas and rabbinical schools, a passion that had been forming in me finally crystallized. I wanted to build community and not just study about it.
After we got married and settled in Brooklyn, we both felt the same pull, that our passion and our talents were meant to be used somewhere else, somewhere they were needed. So we came back to this area and started visiting with local Jewish families in Montecito. What we found were people hungry for community, for connection, and for a deeper relationship with their own heritage. They just didn’t yet have a place to bring that to life. That’s what became Chabad of Montecito.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There definitely have been struggles. As with all good things in life, they don’t come easy! One of the items that stuck out was the misconceptions & preconceived notions people had about who we were before they actually met us. Some assumed we were here to pressure them into something, or that we’d be judgmental if their level of observance didn’t match ours. And some even assumed we came from “another planet.” But the moment people actually spent time with us or at a function, that image didn’t survive contact with reality. What they found instead was warmth, authenticity, and genuine care, and it was very special to see.
The other struggle was more internal: real self-doubt about whether we could actually make a difference. Starting something from scratch, you constantly wonder if your efforts are actually reaching people, or if you’re just spinning your wheels. It took time, and it took showing up again and again, before we started seeing that the impact was real.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Community events, Shabbat and holiday services, cultural events, a mentorship program pairing UCSB students with local mentors, home visits, life cycle events, one on one learning. If it’s Jewish, we’re probably involved in it somehow.
But if you asked me what we specialize in, it isn’t any single program. It’s genuineness. Jews of every background are welcome, wherever they’re at in their journey, and everyone who walks through our door is met with care and love.
Publicly, our biggest moment of the year is our Menorah Lighting at the Corner Green, which brought together 300 people last year. We partner with local organizations to bring this event to the community.
But what I’m most proud of happens in the more typical moments. Three guys who met through Chabad now walk together every other week. Friday night dinners happen between people who first connected at our table. I think about visiting someone who’s alone, and the smile that spreads across his face just because someone showed up. That’s the real work. Connecting with people one person at a time.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s OBM talks, writings, and stories are the foundation for me. They teach me to look past the outer shell of a person and see the soul underneath, how beautiful each person really is. They’ve also taught me to appreciate the journey itself. There is value in the here and now (even during the journey!). Always.
On the practical side, I’ve learned a lot from the EOS model and some of the books around it, along with Vision Driven Leader, which helped shape how I run things. On my drives I listen to classes on a variety of Jewish topics as well as fundraising and coaching podcasts.
For staying organized, besides the obvious, Claude, Gmail, Google Calendar, and the rest of the Google suite, QBO, I use Monday.com, and I built myself an AI assistant using Claude to help keep things moving.
I also have a personal mentor, someone doing this same work who started about ten years before me. Having someone a few steps ahead who understands exactly what I’m dealing with has been invaluable.
How do I stay grounded? It’s my daily study sessions, prayer, and exercise, and especially the 20 minutes (which is usually much more…) on the couch with my wife every night with no distractions. That’s usually where I actually recharge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jewishmontecito.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewish.montecito/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chabad-Montecito-100084798284758/
