The holiday season is usually marked by families coming together to enjoy special meals, prayer and time-honored traditions. But this year things were different with the global pandemic restricting many in-person events. For Jewish college students who cannot be at home with their families, this holiday season can be even more challenging and lonely. With the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and many other benefactors, Chabad at KU aimed to provide a home-away-from-home holiday experience where Jewish students celebrated these days of awe in a safe but joyful manner.
What an incredible High Holidays it has been for the KU student community. Throughout these holy days, Chabad had a goal of ensuring that every Jewish student knew that there was a way for them to celebrate the holiday wherever they may be. To successfully achieve this goal, many outreach activities took place all over town, engaging the under-engaged through shofar workshops, holiday outreach tables across campus and the on-the-go celebrations.
The Jewish New Year kicked off with a bang as Chabad hosted a Rosh Hashanah brisket dinner in multiple shifts, ensuring that each dinner had limited participants enabling a safe social distancing setting. During the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, many students joined Chabad’s uplifting and engaging services that were held in an open-air tent right off campus, making it convenient for students to drop in whenever their schedules allowed.
“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 this year more than ever the students appreciated the love and care shown by Chabad as it provided a strong support during these challenging times as they weather this pandemic while being so many miles away from home.”
In keeping with Chabad’s motto of “Judaism on the spot for people on the go,” and in consideration of this year’s many limitations due to the pandemic, in addition to the dinner and services at Chabad another eight events were held all over campus. Brief outdoor “Rosh Hashanah on-the-go” services took place at the KU dormitories, Greek houses and apartment complexes across town. During the 48 hours of the holiday, over 300 students got to hear the shofar blasts enabling them to celebrate the holiday from wherever were.
As many KU students are also currently quarantined due to exposure to Covid-19, Chabad prepared “Holiday To-Go” packages that were delivered to their door, so that they too could celebrate while being stuck at home. Each package included all the holiday treats and foods, plus selected prayers for them to recite while at home. These packages were also delivered to every Jewish household in Lawrence, ensuring that all could experience the joy and spirit of the High Holiday season.
Ethan Geller, a KU junior from Denver, shared, “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. Going to services both days was very moving, and the flexibility was amazing. Oh, and you can’t forget about the delicious meals provided. The brisket dinner tasted so yummy. I’m very grateful to our Chabad for making this happen. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it a sweet, new year!”
For many KU parents across the country it was so reassuring knowing 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 Heidi Roston from Golden Valley, Minnesota. “Our daughter attended High Holy Day services at Chabad and said they were inviting and engaging. Thank you for opening your doors to all Jewish students on campus. Immediately, we felt comfort knowing that our daughter found her Jewish home away from home at Chabad.”
Chabad at KU extends much appreciation to the Jewish Federation of Kansas City and the many local KU parents, alumni and friends who partnered with Chabad to make the holidays happen at KU this year. For more information regarding upcoming events, visit www.JewishKU.com or contact Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel at 785-832-TORA (8672).