Memorable Moments You created!

Sunday Brew! Every Sunday, you energize students’ week with espresso and brunch in a warm, inviting Jewish communal space.

Every week, you are on campus tabling to share Jewish culture and thoughts with students. This picture is students making pickles!

Through your efforts, students can now safely light a Menorah every night of Chanukah in the Dining Hall. This is Jewish Pride at its

For the first time ever, the Campus had a public menorah lighting with President Bradley. The students’ felt supported and their identity validated. Thank you for making this happen!

By: Julia Segal

I became involved with Chabad in the midst of the pandemic, through outdoor holiday celebrations and Sinai Scholars lessons. As many people experienced, the pandemic brought a slew of challenges, including a lack of opportunities for connecting with other students. These events created the opportunity to do so safely, which I was, and still am, incredibly grateful for your help.

The fact that the warmth of the Sanoff family could be felt even through these outdoor and virtual gatherings is a testament to the welcoming environment that the Chabad house and have created.

Considering the past few semesters that I have been involved with Chabad, I would say that my favorite Chabad memories have been getting to prepare meals and bake for holiday celebrations. These experiences are always such a great way for people to come together and help out, and I think that making food really brings people together unlike anything else.

I also have loved getting to start off my Sundays at Chabad with Sunday Brew, which is a newly instated program, because it is the perfect end to my weekend and start to my next week. It provides a low pressure environment where people feel like they can just come and enjoy themselves with some coffee and delicious food before getting ready for the week, and I feel like that has been so essential to maintaining balance while at school.

I think that if it weren’t for the Chabad house I would not have a lot of the same desire to stay involved in religious life while at school. Especially in the midst of the pandemic, it has been difficult to find safe and comfortable ways to stay involved in many spaces, including religious ones, but you have provided this space and have encouraged me to maintain a sense of spirituality and religious involvement in a way that is comfortable and enjoyable for me.

I would say the single best thing that I have gained from being involved in Chabad has been the opportunity to engage in a religious space where I feel that I can truly take what I want from the experience, without having to feel pressure or like I am engaging in the “wrong way”.

Overall, I became involved with Chabad because of the warmth and welcoming atmosphere that it creates, and I plan to continue with my involvement for the rest of my time here at Vassar because I want to give back to the community and to continue to make the meaningful connections that you foster.