SHARING JEWISH WARMTH

- BY DALIA SANOFF

Fall 2020, whoa, what a whirlwind. It has definitely been a different roller coaster than other years.

When I met a few first years for the first time in person, they came to pick up Rosh Hashana To-Go packages. Brisket always brings people out of the woodwork. What I didn’t expect is that they would stay to chat, standing next to the trunk of my car full of packages for 45 minutes. They were lonely, curious, confused and also so grateful to be on this wonderful campus. Somehow- it wasn’t as bad as they had imagined coming to campus mid-pandemic.

They wanted to hear what the Chabad house was like, what things were like on campus “before”. When I came home that evening to Shabbat dinner with my family (what a concept, no guests???) we spoke about the new students I met. We also spoke about embracing our new reality rather than lamenting over something we do not currently have.

Our children learned to come with me to the To-Go drop offs and see the students, they learned how to wear masks properly. The students? Well, chatting outside our van became the norm, the social-to-go hour, where we can check in. When each week we would introduce the new faces who joined the standing circle of people holding our bags- it became a community somehow. Despite of it all, maybe because of it.

Shabbat to go was far from the only way we engaged, but somehow, the in-person, weekly, warm fuzzy feeling of home made its way to be the highlight of our semester and many of theirs as well. Let me tell you about Eli, Tommy, and Abigail. A first year who was keen to become part of the vibrant Jewish life on campus, a senior who started celebrating Shabbat also at home with his sister because of these packages, and Abigail; another senior who never took part in Jewish life on campus, ever, yet this felt doable and accessible in a way that it had never before.

Thank you for your support in making a new normal, one that is special, that students look forward to coming back to.

Chabad on Fulton is our daughter’s Jewish home away from home.

Rabbi Daniel and Dalia provide a spiritual, educational and warm environment for students to explore their Jewish identity in their own way. We love that Shabbat dinners and holidays are part of our daughter’s experience on campus. Especially in this difficult time of Covid, the Friday night drop off meals and the weekly

-BY NAOMI AND BARRY PERLMAN P ‘23

connection with Chabad has provided a sense of community.

We were fortunate last year to spend two Shabbat dinners with the Sanoffs and the students. The ruach and sense of camaraderie amongst the diverse group was heartwarming.

The delicious food, warm atmosphere and engaging conversation on all levels allows for each student to define Judaism at their own level and on their own terms.

We are grateful that Chabad has been there for our daughter for these last two years and we look forward to all of the positive things that Chabad will continue to do for her and the larger Vassar community.