Last week marked the end of the KU Chabad’s 32nd semester at the KU campus.
Directed by Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel and his wife Nechama, the organization is frequented by a new group of students every year. They join the KU Chabad “Jewhawk” community.
Serving as a “home away from home” is KU Chabad’s ultimate goal, so many of the programs during the past school year were centered around a “homey feeling.” One such program is the weekly Shabbat dinners consisting of homemade Shabbat foods ranging from gefilte fish to matzah ball soup, chicken and kugel. This semester's Shabbat program included monthly themed dinners and Shabbat at various Greek houses.
KU Chabad also holds mental health programs that provide support to struggling students.
“At Chabad, we say that labels are for shirts, not for people,” Rabbi Tiechtel said. “It is our goal that every single Jewish student should always feel that they are truly part of their family — they belong. That is why at Chabad there are no office hours. We are always here, 24/7, to be a shoulder to lean on and a safe place to call home”.
“Both Rabbi Zalman and Nechama have created such a fun, loving and warm environment that everyone feels lucky to have as a part of their life and college experience,” said KU student Zach Brown of Fairway, Kansas. “There is so much going on during my first year at college, but whenever I come to Chabad I feel safe and secure, as we all feel like one family supporting each other.”
Holidays were also a focus of KU Chabad’s programming this past semester. There was a Gala Purim celebration, large public Passover Seders and “seders-to-go,” and a pre-Lag BaOmer party before summer break.
KU students met regularly to plan and implement many of KU Chabad’s programs. Ethan Geller, a member of KU Chabad’s student leadership team, said, “Our goal this year was to increase not only the amount of people we reach, but to make each interaction even more meaningful. We focused on touching each person a thousand times, versus just a thousand people just one time.”
KU Chabad also offered a wide variety of Jewish learning opportunities. Programs included a weekly “Lunch ‘N Learn,” the Sinai Scholars program, the Jewish U platform, and many one-on-one sessions with the Chabad staff. About 100 students completed the Sinai Scholars Society and Jewish U programs, in-depth weekly programs of learning and discussion on the core values and ethics of Judaism.
KU Chabad is entirely funded by supporters and donors from the local community, parents and alumni. The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City is also a core partner in many of Chabad’s programs at KU.
“I’m so happy I got involved with Chabad,” said graduating senior Rachel Aks of Overland Park, Kansas. “It has truly become my home away from home.”
