Spring 18 Print Newsletter

‫ב”ה‬

u o Y g n i t c e n Con ct a p m I r to You

CHABAD ON FULTON Jewish Student Center Serving Vassar Spring ‘18 Newsletter

Judaism has always been a huge part of my upbringing and something that I valued. I went to a Jewish day school from kindergarten through twelfth Despite most of grade. I knew that I wanted to continue my college friends’ to explore Judaism at disengagement with Vassar, despite most religion. Chabad of my college friends’ helped me transition disengagement with religion. Chabad helped me transition from high school to college and strengthened my connection to Judaism.

Continuing my Jewish education through Chabad solidified my Jewish values. Starting my freshman year, I was part of a weekly women’s Torah learning Thanks to you, which expanded I will be leaving group my Jewish knowledge.

Vassar with a Chabad has helped me stronger sense of grow and aspired me to Jewish values live a Jewish life. I have loved learning with Dalia on how to raise a Jewish family. Thanks to you, I will be leaving Vassar with a stronger sense of Jewish values and look forward to continuing to learn and grow.

Emma G. ’18 and is a Jewish Studies and Psychology double major and Education correlate

Feature Exhibit:

The Lives You’ve

e Touched and changed

I hated being Jewish when I was younger to the point that, I always wished I were Christian, mainly because of Christmas and Easter.

It wasn’t until the summer after high school that I’d accept being Jewish. I went on the program Next Step under NCSY. For three weeks, I lived in Israel as one of 30 Jews and, unsurprisingly, I was both the least religious and the most clueless one there. While going didn’t make me any more religious, it did open my eyes to I’m still not religious, how people found happiness and mind you, but peace within their religion. While I never said a single prayer when I how I think about was abroad, I did go to the morning those who practice prayers to help make the minyan - I any religion has found it worth it to give up around definitely changed 20 or 30 minutes of my morning for many others to have a good and fulfilling prayer.

And here I am now, an undergrad who frequently goes to the Chabad house off campus. I’m still not religious, mind you, but how I think about those who practice any religion has definitely changed. Ask the rabbi, and he’ll say that one of the most frequent questions I’ve asked is: “Why do y’all have to …?”. He’s always responded the same way before actually answering: ‘Well, we don’t have to - we choose to.”

People find happiness from how they practice, and it’s really something I only got to understand after some time going to Chabad

Only over time did I realize that religion isn’t about the rules of life but about the choices you make to live. People find happiness from how they practice, and it’s really something I only got to understand after some time going to Chabad. I can confidently say that it’s very unlikely that I’ll start becoming religious in the future, but, just as confidently, the idea doesn’t sound as bad as it used to.

Benny K. ‘21 is a Biology Major with a Russian correlate

without you, we won’t be Able to

create the love behind these memorable quotes

“When my friend first told Dalia I was Jewish, I thought Oh NO! now they know. Now- I am so happy she knows, I get to have real meaningful conversations about Judaism and G-D and we don’t have to agree.”

Linsdey ‘20

Water & Nourish

P witurim h c fun ost um es

Plow & Sow

Dalia teaching a Torah Class

“In our conversations I feel like I have the space to ask hard and uncomfortable questions and I believe that this is essential for me to grow and learn. I very much look forward to next time.” Eli ‘19

harvest the Nachas “Before I came to Vassar, I didn’t even know what a Mitzvah was.

Now I want to have a Jewish family!” Natalie ‘20 Saying Shema while wearing Tefillin outside of Rockefeller hall

Chabadonfulton.org | rabbi@chabadonfulton.org | 845-214-6734 | 94 Fulton Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 Chabad on Fulton is the assumed name of Chabad on Campus Dutchess, Inc. a 501(c)3 registered with the state of New York.

We are unaffiliated with Vassar College