Fresh Meadows, Queens — Ganeinu Academy, a Jewish educational institution in Fresh Meadows, is constructing a state-of-the-art facility that will significantly expand its capacity to serve the growing community. The new 26,300-square-foot building, which broke ground in September 2024, is expected to be completed by spring 2026.
The three-story facility will house programs from preschool through 8th grade, marking a significant expansion for the school that began as a preschool in 2014. “Ganeinu Academy started in 2014 as a preschool. In 2019, it transformed itself to also become an elementary school based on community demand,” explained Rabbi Shmuel Kogan, Director of Ganeinu Academy.
The new building will feature modern educational amenities including a science lab, makerspace, library, multimedia room, full-size cafeteria, gross motor skills room, and a full-size gymnasium. The facility will also include 18,800 square feet of exterior play space, providing ample room for outdoor learning and recreation.
Ganeinu, which means “our garden” in Hebrew, is a general education school with a hands-on approach that provides a nurturing and inclusive environment for children to learn and develop. The school believes in cultivating and nourishing each child’s unique potential, much like a garden requires care and attention to thrive. Ganeinu encourages experiential learning, creative thinking, and collaboration, fostering a love of learning and a sense of community among students.
The construction project has attracted attention from Jewish community leaders across the country. Recently, Anatoliy Iskhakov, President of the Bukharian Jewish community of Atlanta, visited the construction site during a trip to New York City. Iskhakov, who has served as president since 1998, met with Rabbis Kogan, Zavulunov and Wolowik, who showed him the new building.
“It’s a good idea to build new Jewish schools,” Iskhakov said during his visit. He noted that Atlanta’s Bukharian community of 200 families is working on their own community center project.
The academy has welcomed numerous other notable visitors to tour the construction site, including the Chief Rabbi of Israel, among other high-ranking ministers and Knesset members, demonstrating the broader Jewish community’s interest in the project.
As a Jewish educational institution, Ganeinu emphasizes Jewish values and traditions while fostering a strong sense of identity and community among students. The new facility will allow the school to continue its mission of providing educational programs and opportunities designed to meet individual needs and provide skills and support for student success.
Located on Utopia Parkway at the same site as the current facility, the new building represents a significant investment in Jewish education in Queens and will serve as a cornerstone for the community’s educational future.
Contact Ganeinu Academy at (718) 480-0100 or office@ganeinuacademy.org.
Erin Levi