Annual Report 15-16

‫ב׳׳ה‬

Positive Jewish En gage m e n t for a Vibrant Future Annual report 2015-2016

Chabad on Fulton - Jewish Student Center

insights from our directors

from the rabbi's desk Chabad on Fulton was founded to contribute to the continuation of the Jewish people. At Vassar, we have a wonderful opportunity to fulfill our mission, by working with vibrant, bright young people who seek a deeper understanding of themselves as individuals, as contributors to the community, and as spiritual beings.

This gives us – our Chabad House and the Vassar family – unequalled access to the diversity of thought, talent and spirit that will, in truth, maintain our 5,000-yearold Jewish identity far into the future.

And we need to. Contemporary society is plagued by complications and challenges unforeseen until recently, with a largely unanticipated, undesirable resurgence of anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli sentiment. Meanwhile so many Jewish American young people have become disengaged from their own traditions, and unaware of the richness, joy and fulfillment of living a Jewish life.

The question I constantly ask myself is, what is truly an existential threat to the Jewish people? I believe the most significant risk is a potential generation of Jews who are under-educated and uninvolved in Jewish life.

To me, this is a real existential threat to our future. If college students don’t identify as Jewish and are not

involved in communal life in some meaningful way, why should they marry Jewish? Why should they raise their children Jewish? Why should they stand up against anti-Jewish bias? Why should they support and be involved in their local Jewish community?

I think part of the answer to ensuring the continuation of Judaism is in the lives of our students is in organizations like Chabad on Fulton. We offer creative and engaging programming -- programming that allows students to experience an intellectually stimulating and enjoyable Judaism with a lasting positive perception of being part of a Jewish community.

Many of the students we have had a relationship with us over the past three years, have told us that for the first time, they feel comfortable, even inspired by embracing their Jewish identity and learning more about what it means to them.

We have been able to accomplish so much in only three years! Yet there still is so much more we can achieve!

Please join us as we spread the word; the future is bright for Chabad on Fulton.

Rabbi Daniel Sanoff

from the rebbetzin's laptop On the Jewish calendar, this year is called the year of Hakhel, a year of gathering. In the times of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem every 8th year, the King would gather the entire Jewish nation, women, children, men and even infants to listen to the entire Torah being taught as a community. Today-- we celebrate Hakhel by making communal gatherings to celebrate Jewish pride, performance of Mitzvos and learning of Torah’s wisdom.

This year has been a challenging one for the Jewish community here at Vassar. All facets of students’ Jewish identity have been constantly challenged and scrutinized. This was not just about Israel; it is about being Jewish on campus, on this campus.

On one of the many nights after a long conversation with another student, in a dorm parlor-- I turned to G-D and felt I needed some guidance. If I feel overwhelmed by the uphill battle, what about these young adults, who are unsure of so much in their own

identity already? I then recalled that it is a year of Hakhel, of Jewish pride and Jewish unity-- this is what our focus should be!

After our Community Shabbat dinner, someone told me about a conversation at the retreat the following Sunday; three Jewish students, who hadn’t known the others were Jewish until that Friday night, sat down for brunch. One of the comments made: “It was the most proud I’ve ever felt to be Jewish on this campus.” their new friend answered. “It was a real feeling of community, wasn’t it? I didn’t know we had this at Vassar.”

This is what I believe we are here for – Jewish students need a space, a home, pride and confidence to be involved and engaged Jews who will lead our future rather than shy away from their past.

Have a healthy summer!

Rebbetzin Dalia Sanoff

I got involved in Chabad because I wanted to continue engaging with my Jewish identity away from home, and the atmosphere at Chabad was so warm and welcoming. I think every Jew needs a space to be unapologetically and unselfconsciously Jewish like the space Chabad provides at Vassar.

Emily Bender '17

I really like Chabad because it fosters an inclusive and positive community for all students. It is a unique space that is constantly changing and evolving based on how the community changes, and continually works to do its best to accommodate the needs of the community.

Zach Sherman '16

I really appreciate what Chabad done for the Vassar community. It is a nice to have a family near by. Rabbi Daniel is a great guy, I look forward every week to learning about Torah. It is stuff that isn’t available in class, it is personal and I really enjoy it.

Zerlina Panush '17

I enjoy Chabad for the community aspect. Meeting new faces at Shabbat dinner or special events is a way to build community both within Vassar and in greater Poughkeepsie as well.

Ian Synder '17

Helping to start Chabad as a Vassar organization and becoming involved with Chabad on campus has been the most defining period of my Jewish experience.

Nothing has been more influential in shaping how I view my identity and participate in my religion. After I graduate from Vassar, Rabbi Daniel and Dalia's Chabad house will be one of the aspects of college that I miss the most (although I will certainly be back to visit in the future)!

Sarah Quiat '18

Chabad is really important to Vassar because it is like having a home away from home. It is a really incredible community that is just so supportive all the time and I truly value it.

Emma Glickman '18

As soon as you enter the door of the Chabad house, you feel like you are at home. The biggest highlight for me is Shabbat. I always look forward to the great conversations and delicious food.

student testimonials

Sylvan Perlmutter '19

education programming ď‚„Providing opportunities for students to explore Judaism through learning Jewish texts and empowering them with insight to decide their own Jewish future.

ď‚„We had the honor of hosting Dr. Georgette Bennett this fall for a lecture on the Jewish response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

Engagement

Personal attention is given to every student to discuss what is on their mind and what interests them.

musical havdallah on the quad

Shabbat Shabbat services and meals provide a Jewish affinity space where students can challenge what Judaism means to them in an open non-judgmental atmosphere. This environment fosters camaraderie while experiencing Jewish culture and tradition. All while enjoying home cooked, kosher food in a warm home environment.

Social A majority of Jewish students identify as ‘culture Jews’ who are not overly excited about ‘religious’ practices. However, they are interested in Jewish life if they are engaged on their level. We facilitate programing that encourages these individuals to be involved in some activity and we have discovered that it leads to increased involvement in other areas as well.  rabbi teaches students how to roll sushi

Make your own Sushi Social

BBQs on campus

Taste of Judaism The current perception on campus that Jews are exclusively white Europeans is detrimental to the campus climate. This misconception allows Jewish students and Israel to be undermined and therefore we feel it is crucial to present to the larger campus community that Jews are a diverse ethnic group. Each program explores a different region or country through cuisine, scholarly articles and a picture gallery. This year we explored Syrian and Cuban Jewry.

Sylvan Perlmutter '19 shares his family’s Cuban history and their roots in the Cuban Jewish community

yom kippur break-fast

chanukah

pesach

Holidays We are students’ home away from home for all Jewish holidays and especially Passover.

For many the thought of being away from their family is troubling, therefore we craft our holiday experience toencourage student involvement. We present ancient customs and teachings in a way that is relevant to modern, progressive young adults.

2015-2016: GROWTH AND IMPACT IN NUMBERS

Vassar College Stats: Total Population: 2450 Jewish Population: 600

20

%

EVENT ATTENDANCE:

ove ra l l g ro wt h

14-15

640 76 attendees

unique attendees

15-16

767 184 attendees

Our events positively impacted

14-15

unique growt h

224 43

15-16

25

unique attendees

INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIONS:

-7

%

u ni qu e g r ow th

31% of the Jewish community and 9% of the greater Campus community!

%

ov er all gr owth*

142

%

208 54

*This decrease in the total amount of interactions is due to our strategy of encouraging students to attend community-building events. At the same time, we saw a sizable increase in personalized attention to more individuals.

interactions

interactions

unique individuals

unique individuals

We had personal, meaningful interactions with

9% of the Jewish population!

2015-2016: FUNDRAISING OUR 2015-2016 FUNDRAISING GOAL WAS $125,000 $130,000

TOTAL REVENUE:

$127,398 $127,398

$97,500

$99,560 $99,560

28

%

$65,000

g rowth

$32,500

$127,398

$0

14-15 14-15

15-16 15-16

Our operational budget is covered entirely by the generous donations of individuals as we receive no funding from Chabad Headquarters or any other institution. 100% of all donations go directly to Chabad on Fulton and no funds are given to central Chabad headquarters.

NUMBER OF DONORS:

NUMBER OF DONATIONS:

113

224

87 140

30

60

%

%

gr owth

14-15

15-16

growth

14-15

15-16

2015-2016 OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND ALLOCATION Holiday Education Culture Shabbat

 total program services: 62%

TOTAL EXPENSES 15-16

 development: 9%  management: 16%  facility: 13%

$130,000

TOTAL EXPENSES: $123,378

$123,378 $117,378

$97,500

$102,336 $102,336

21

%

$65,000

inc rease

$32,500

$0

14-15

15-16

14-15

15-16

Holiday

Education

Culture

 holiday: 30%  Education: 22%  culture: 18%  Shabbat: 17%  Social: 13%

TOTAL PROGRAM SERVICES 15-16

Shabbat

Social

THANK YOU to our 2015-2016 supporters, whose generosity and partnership are bringing us closer to our shared vision that one day, all Jewish students will have the opportunity to express their Jewish identity.

parents Edward and Shari Adler Sarah and Charles Augerbraun Moshe and Shari Ben-Benjamin Nathan and Diana Bursztyn Jacob and Rodica Cohen

Nancy Storch

Melissa Green

Michael Weiner

Bernice Synder

Gaila Gulack

Julia Zuckerman

Jeffrey and Susan Pressman

Marcia Harris

Tohl

Laurie Josephs

friends

David and Fern Weingast

Sarah Kay

Matisyahu Abarbanel

Joanne Kay

Yana Abayev

Denni David

alumnae/i

Roberta Kline

Dean Ben-Benjamin

Steven Edersheim

Edward and Shari Adler

Emily Korzenik

Alexander Brothman

Jon and Susan Gerson

Scott Aronin

Yan and Emily Koyfman

Florence Canter

Amy Glickman

Sarah and Charles Augerbraun

Alice Lanckton

Steve Cohen

Leonard Goldstein

Barbara Baer

Judith Leader

Gregg Feingold

Ruth Harter

Mark Banschick

Robert Leikind

Allen Fink

Amy Hartman

Georgette Bennett

Mark Liflander

Leah Fouhal

Louis Krilov

Elle Berger

Melinda Maidens

Alexandra Freedman

Miles and Roberta Kuttler

Jane Bergner

Martin Mendelsohn

Menachem Griff

Michelle Lerman

Jonathan Birnbach

Jordana Merran

Larry Guzick

Jak and Elizabath Ninyo

Andrew Blustein

Elizabeth Messeca

Madelyn Hoffman

Susan Okrent

Michael Brenner

Ellen Milberg

Lipa Kaufman

Melissa Pachon

Heather Ciociola

Ellen Moskowitz

Alan Levy

David Panush

Theodore Davis

Jonathan Nadler

Mindy Lokeinsky

Ruben Perlmutter

Julie Dubosky

Rebecca Oberman

Mark Manin

Robbie and Laura Pittelman

Andrew Eisen

Scott Parven

Andy Marcus

Ellen Pollack

Andrew Fano

Simon Rabinowitz

Daniel Moyal

Meg Quiat

Brian Farkas

James Raker

Phillip Namanworth

Lisa Rosenblum

Linda Fishman

Teme Ring

Uri Rapoport

Alan Rosenthal

William Fitzgerald

Nan Rossien

Claude Sherman

Mike and Connie Sherman

Elliot Gerson

Valerie Samuels

Malka Stern

Bianca Simchowitz

Samuel Goldberg

Vera Schwarcz

Nancy Temkin

Jesse Snyder

Joan Goldstein

Glenn Schwartz

Samuel Weiss

Larry Spiro

Jeffrey Goodman

Megan Tallmer Freda Warrington

The 2015-2016 Annual Report encompasses the 2015 fiscal year, which is from July 2015 – June 2016.

Chabad on Fulton - Jewish Student Center is a project of Congregation Chabad on Campus Dutchess, Inc. which is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit with the state of New York.

Chabad on Fulton – Student Center is not affiliated with Vassar College, Marist College or the Culinary Institute of America.

THE YEAR OF JEWISH CONTENT AND PRIDE Courses

Lectures

INTERSECTION OF JUDAISM AND ENVIRONMENTALISM This year we will be exploring the Torah in the contemporary college context and what practical life lessons we can gain from those teachings.

DR. BINYOMIN ABRAMS, PH.D Prof. of Chemistry at Boston University "Modern Perspectives on Science & Judaism: What the ‘G-d Particle’ Tells us About G-d“

JUDAISM 101: EXPLORATION This course will go over the basics and give a broad foundation of what Judaism is all about and what it means to be Jewish.

ONE ON ONE STUDY Individual attention for a personal learning experience.

This is a discussion of the nature of science and Torah and their different approaches to how we view the world. The talk focuses on how Torah and science inform upon each other, and highlights areas where the Torah is reflected modern scientific concepts.

JEWISH ALUMNAE/I LECTURE SERIES: ETHAN ZOHN After graduating Vassar, with the $1 million prize money that he secured in winning the 2002 Survivor: Africa, Ethan co-founded Grassroot Soccer (GRS), a nonprofit organization that uses the power of soccer to strengthen communities and empower young people to stop the spread of HIV. His true victory is successfully battling cancer twice. Ethan will share with students the Jewish values that empowered his life and vision.

WHAT’S IN A MEZUZAH ANYWAY?!?

A bonafide scribe will be leading a live exhibit about how to craft mezuzah scrolls.

holidays

culture

Social Events

Shabbat

Celebrations that are a perfect blend of tradition, meaning, relevance and warmth.

The Taste of Judaism Series will explore Morocco, Mexico and other destinations

Welcome Back BBQ

Make Friday Night Shabbat with stimulating conversations, delicious home cooked kosher food, camaraderie and enjoyment

Make Your Own Sushi Social

Chabad on Fulton - Jewish Student Center 94 Fulton Avenue | Poughkeepsie, NY 12603-2851 | 845-214-6734 rabbi@chabadonfulton.org | dalia@chabadonfulton.org | www.ChabadonFulton.org

What’s in store for next year?

2016-2017: