Community Menorah Lighting at the Hays County Historic Courthouse in the center of San Marcos. Courtesy: Rabbi Ari Weingarten 

By Allison Teegardin 

In 2016, The Rohr Chabad of San Marcos opened its doors with a goal of serving the Texas Hill Country Jewish population. The Chabad of San Marcos continues to expand its reach and programming to help serve the growing Jewish population between San Antonio and Austin.   

Rabbi Ari Weingarten and his wife Mrs. Chaya Weingarten, a Texas native, moved to the area from Brooklyn, New York in the summer of 2013 with the vision of creating an oasis of Jewish life along the Texas Corridor making community, Jewish resources, life cycle events, Torah study and Jewish life accessible to all Jews of any age, stage or background.   

With the help of the Bar Yadin family in San Antonio and the George and Pamela Rohr family in New York, Rabbi Weingarten purchased three acres in San Marcos which is now home to the Chabad of San Marcos and all its programming.  

Even before Chabad of San Marcos was officially established, Rabbi Weingarten was already actively working with Jewish students at Texas State University in San Marcos. He recalls setting up a new Jewish student group at the request of some students in 2015. They set up a table at the campus student center and immediately attracted 25 students. Since then, the group has grown to 100 students who are able to gather in a dedicated student lounge on campus as well as meet up for events such as weekly Shabbat dinners.   

 “Most of the students thought they were the only Jewish person on campus until they joined Jewish Bobcats and met many others,” said Rabbi Weingarten.   

In addition to weekly Shabbat dinners, Rabbi Weingarten, along with a student board, provides Jewish students at Texas State University programs aimed at helping them keep their Jewish traditions and practices active while away at college. Programs include Coffee with the Rabbi, a Kosher Cooking Club, Taco Tuesdays which includes an hour of learning, Fireside Havdalah and Karaoke Night, and much more each semester.   

What’s more, Rabbi Weingarten says many of the students stay connected after graduation. In one family, a sibling of a Jewish Bobcat chose to attend Texas State University in part because of the positive experience their sibling had with the Jewish student group.  

Beyond the college campus, residents are also finding more ways to connect with their Jewish neighbors. “In their heart of hearts, every Jew wants to be connected,” Rabbi Weingarten said. However, some find it challenging to get together and into the big cities like Austin and San Antonio due to traffic. Rabbi Weingarten says their location helps fill that gap, noting that some even come from Gonzalez, Texas, about 45 miles from San Marcos.   

This past Hanukkah, Rabbi Weingarten said approximately 250 people from surrounding areas came to attend menorah lightings in San Marcos, Wimberly and New Braunfels. Other well-attended events have included a community seder, weekly online torah study and a monthly Jewish Women’s Circle.   

When asked about their vision for Jewish life in and around San Marcos, Rabbi Weingarten said, “As our Jewish community continues to grow, we plan to strengthen our services and expand our reach across the local area, including Texas State University, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Wimberley, and along the Texas Corridor. At Chabad, we value each individual—every person is an entire world. We strive to meet everyone where they are, fostering meaningful connections to Judaism and encouraging personal growth. Together, we build a strong, vibrant, and united Jewish community where all are welcomed and embraced.”