In an interview with Belaaz, Rabbi Mendy Uminer, rabbi of Chabad at Chestnut Hill, spoke about the Kraft family’s $5 million gift toward the community’s new home outside Boston. The building will be named the Kraft Family Chabad at Chestnut Hill.

He announced the gift on Wednesday with his wife, Grunie, who co-leads the community, and building chair David Frankel.

In a video message released with the announcement, Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and a longtime philanthropist, said Chestnut Hill is “where I raised my family,” and that having “a vibrant Chabad center right here in my hometown means a great deal to me and the Kraft family.”

“Spirituality and ruach are in such short supply in today’s world, and you all provide so much of it through your work, inspiration, warmth, and commitment to Jewish lives,” Kraft said. “We hope others will join us in this mission.”

The 23,000-square-foot building is under construction. Rabbi Uminer told Belaaz it will house a preschool, a social hall, a teen center and a mikvah. Rabbi Uminer said about 150 people attend on Shabbos and the summer camp serves about 350 children. For the Yamim Noraim (High Holidays), he said, the community has had to rent venues because it only had a small space, and having its own place that everyone can call home is very special.

The campaign website lists a $25 million total goal and pairs the Kraft gift with a challenge for the community to raise $5 million of its own.

Rabbi Uminer told Belaaz the Kraft family has been close to the community for many years, and that over the last six or seven years Kraft’s children and grandchildren have become more involved.

Rabbi Uminer officiated at the wedding of Kraft’s granddaughter and at the brisim of his first two great-grandsons, and led the baby naming of his first great-granddaughter at the shul. Kraft was at each of those events.

Rabbi Uminer described Kraft as “the proudest Jew” who “wears his Judaism on his sleeve.” He said the community honored Kraft at its dinner, and that Kraft called a week later to say the family wanted to be a bigger part of its work.

Rabbi Uminer told Belaaz what moved him most was the way the family gave, and the response the announcement has drawn from around the world. He said he hopes it inspires other leaders to give to Jewish causes.

Construction is ongoing, he said. The community is working to get the roof wrapped to protect the building through the winter. Kraft comes to see the building often, Rabbi Uminer told Belaaz, and visited again this week.

“We look forward to sharing many simchas in this incredible new building,” Kraft said in his announcement video.