The High Holiday season is usually marked by families coming together to enjoy special meals, prayer and time-honored traditions. But for Jewish college students who cannot be at home with their families, the High Holiday season can be challenging and lonely.
KU Chabad aimed to provide a home-away-from-home holiday experience where Jewish students can celebrate together in a warm and welcoming environment.
Throughout the holy days, Chabad had a goal of ensuring that every Jewish student knew that there was a seat available and waiting for them. To achieve this goal, many outreach activities took place all over Lawrence, engaging students through Shofar workshops, holiday outreach tables across campus and on-the-go celebrations.
The Jewish New Year began as 120 KU students joined Chabad for an outdoor service and brisket dinner at the Chabad House. During the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, many students joined Chabad’s services that were held on campus, making it convenient for students to drop in whenever their schedules allowed.
In addition to the services, Chabad also hosted holiday meals for the students, including pre-fast and post-fast meals for Yom Kippur.
"It was incredibly inspiring to see so many new faces join us during the holiday season. So many college kids from all walks of life, celebrating together the joys of our heritage,” said Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, Director of KU Chabad. "It is so evident that the Jewish students appreciate the open and welcoming atmosphere of Chabad as it provides a vibrant and warm Jewish home away from home for all Jewish students while so many miles away from home.”
Ethan Geller, a KU senior from Denver, Colorado, shared that “being away from home for the holidays is always hard, but Chabad makes you feel like family so it doesn’t seem like you’re as far away from home as you may be. Between the stresses related to Covid and college life, it's so nice having Chabad to provide me the community to celebrate these special days together.”
In keeping with Chabad’s motto of “Judaism on the spot for people on the go,” Chabad also brought in two young rabbis who assisted in bringing the joy of the holiday to students across the campus. During Rosh Hashanah, Chabad hosted 14 events at various locations, including dorms, greek houses and a new year party on the roof of the Oread Hotel for upperclassmen.
In celebration of Sukkot, Chabad erected its special Sukkah, which is built each year in the heart of campus in front of the Kansas Union on Jayhawk Boulevard. Students could stop by to shake the lulav, grab a bite and celebrate the joyous holiday. In addition, a "Sukkah on a Truck" also traveled around to fraternities, sororities and dormitories across town.
For many KU parents across the country, it was reassuring to know that their children had a place to be for the holidays.
“My husband and I are so grateful for Chabad and for the community Zalman and Nechama have built at KU,” said KU parent Sondra Galler from Golden Valley, Minnesota. “Our son attended High Holy Day services at Chabad and said they were inviting and engaging… Immediately, we felt comfort knowing that our son found his Jewish home away from home at Chabad.”
The holiday celebrations at KU are supported by the generosity of many KU Chabad parents, alumni and friends, and by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. For more information regarding upcoming events visit www.JewishKU.com or contact Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel at 785-832-TORA.