Staff of KU Chabad, now celebrating its 20th school year, greeted students at its first Shabbat dinner of the year.
The greetings continued on campus with the relaunch of Chabad’s “Jewhawk Tent,” stationed on Jayhawk Boulevard. Students gathered for holiday treats, giveaways and conversations.
The school year kickoff spanned multiple events, including a welcome-back barbecue, Falafel Fest, freshman Challah Bake and more. Events featured new Jewhawk (KU Chabad’s term for Jewish KU students) goods, and a shofar blast competition ahead of the High Holidays was led by co-director Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel.
“Going to Shabbat and other events at Chabad goes beyond just a spiritual and practicing religious journey for me,” said KU sophomore Ryan Diamond. “Being able to meet Jews from across the country, whether it is California or Minnesota, has been such a blessing in my life, helping me find more and more meaning in being Jewish because we are all connected through our religion.”
KU senior Tyler Brumndon said, “I’ve been so impressed with how many freshmen are getting involved and showing how proud and happy they are to be a part of the community.”
KU Chabad’s goal of being a home-away-from-home for Jewish students was affirmed by freshman Eric Yehoshua from Los Angeles, California, who said, "As a freshman, I was nervous about starting over in a new place, but from my very first Shabbat dinner, Chabad felt like home. It’s the best welcome I could have asked for.”
Later this semester, KU Chabad will officially enter its brand-new, 10,000 square-foot Chabad Center for Jewish Life. It will be the first purpose-built Jewish student center in Kansas history, designed to serve as both a spiritual home and cultural anchor for Jewish life at KU and beyond.
All of KU Chabad’s programs and events are made possible through support of partners, friends and Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.