The Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara has broken ground on a $4 million renovation of its Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center in downtown Santa Barbara.

Slated to reopen in October, the project re-imagines its entire campus to better serve its mission to build community and understanding.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the new building will feature the Marion and Aaron Gural Arts & Culture Center, Center for Jewish Education, a new lobby, and Santa Barbara’s only Jewish deli.

Designed by Hochhauser Blatter Architects, Inc. and built by the Towbes Group, the new building will be more energy efficient and have state-of-the-art security.

The Jewish Federation plays a key role in providing Holocaust education to the Santa Barbara region, especially for middle and high school students.

The new Center for Jewish Education will expand the current Portraits of Survival: Life Journeys through the Holocaust and Beyond exhibit to include video storytelling and new interactive technology, as well as a library, archive and classroom.

The Marion and Aaron Gural Arts & Culture Center will be a space for art exhibits, holiday celebrations, lecture series, community gatherings, and Mah Jongg games.

“After years of planning, we are elated to share our beautifully transformed space,” said executive director Cyndi Silverman.

With a focus on arts, culture, and education, the grand reopening of the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center will allow us to welcome the entire Santa Barbara community, starting with Santa Barbara’s only Jewish deli,” she said.

For more on the project, visit jewishsantabarbara.org/campaign.