KU Hillel is excited to bring Rock Chalk Shabayit to living rooms across the country on Friday, Nov. 6. Their famous Rock Chalk Shabbat has adapted to its online format this year, hence the new name, combining Shabbat and “bayit,” which is Hebrew for home. Hundreds of alumni, parents, students and friends of KU Hillel plan on tuning in and opening their Shabboxes together to celebrate Jewish life at the University of Kansas.
We asked KU Hillel students what makes both KU Hillel and Rock Chalk Shabayit so special to them:
“It’s a time where I can introduce my parents to the tradition of Rock Chalk Shabbat,” said Rachel Wolf, KU junior.
For Marni Frischer, KU sophomore, KU Hillel immediately became her place. “KU Hillel provided me with the community feeling I was searching for,” Frischer said.
Her fellow Jayhawks agree.
“Growing up in a non-Jewish area, I had never really had a Jewish identity before,” said Paul Samberg, KU sophomore. “Coming to KU and having the immediate connectivity among other Jewish students was definitely nice to have. Once I came to KU Hillel and saw what it was about, I really fell in love with the atmosphere.”
It’s these stories of how KU Hillel impacted students that makes Rock Chalk Shabayit such a powerful experience. Whether it is your first RCS or your 19th, this is one not to miss. You even can join in your pajamas!
Shabbat boxes (starting with a donation of $72) helped raise funds for KU Hillel’s community, especially important during the pandemic. KU Hillel has had to overcome challenges, including increased costs of providing Shabbat dinner to students safely as well as continuing to provide mental health support to the students.
You still can donate to support KU Hillel students at kuhillel.org/rcs. Rock Chalk Shabayit supports KU Hillel’s safe programming and mental health services, from Shabbat dinners to free therapy with a licensed therapist (in partnership with Jewish Family Services).
“KU Hillel has solidified how much being a part of a Jewish community means to me,” said Jade Groobman, KU senior.
KU Hillel continues to provide a Jewish home away from home for all students at the University of Kansas. See you virtually on Nov. 6.
