The pencils are sharpened, the whiteboards freshly polished and you can sense the crispness in the air as a new semester begins at the University of Kansas. This year the feeling is very unique as this time everything is totally different.
Thousands of students are now returning to Lawrence after their spring semester was abruptly cut short mid-March. For the past five months, the students sat at home attempting to adjust their lives to the new normal. As they return to their beloved campus nothing is the same anymore.
From the various many new pre-semester health requirements to the many guidelines and protocols in place, it is obvious that this semester things will be conducted quite differently than a typical semester at KU. But one thing won’t change, and that is KU Chabad’s commitment to providing their trademark positive Jewish experiences on campus. If anything Chabad recognizes now more than ever how vital their support and programs are to the wellbeing of the students.
A recent study released from the CDC has shared that 40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health issues during the recent months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest being among young people. More than one in four respondents between the ages of 18 and 25 reported suicidal thoughts and 75% reported experiencing one or more adverse mental health issues.
It is with this in mind that the staff and leadership of KU Chabad has determined that they must be open and available at the forefront during the upcoming semester. The need for a warm, welcoming and embracing home away from home is crucial. At the same time, Chabad also recognizes the need to be fully committed to ensuring the health and safety of all, which is a top priority. Therefore a brand-new program has been developed for the fall to adapt to the current COVID-19 reality. We call this robust and relevant mission Chabad Cares. Its goal is to remain emotionally close, even if we must keep socially distant.
As part of Chabad Cares, hundreds of students returning to campus have received a special Welcome Basket, including a custom made Jewhawk face mask, hand sanitizer, Chabad swag, delicious treats and much more. In addition, Chabad will continue its signature emotional support services including soup deliveries, pastoral care, professional referrals and subsidies, and our popular mental health workshops.
Thanks to the generosity of incredible partners, Chabad has purchased a huge open tent that will now be the operating space for meetings and events. This tent is put up in the back behind the building and is set up with all that is needed to host our dear students. There are also strict precautions in place including a health check for anyone who enters, hand sanitizer, masks and gloves will be placed at all entrances, and mask-wearing is strictly required.
All events this semester will be both in-person and virtual. For the in-person events they will be capped at 35 attendees, with multiple shifts for Shabbat dinners and High Holidays. In addition, all attendees will be required to wear masks and social distance. There will also be virtual classes and events with a special Shabbat-to-Go program where students can pick up a ready Shabbat kit each Friday to enjoy at home. As a means to ensure that the crowd size is being controlled and in efforts to trace all participants, Chabad also created a unique text-based RSVP system where students need to just send in one word and their spot is reserved.
These plans have been formulated as a result of close communication with the university administration, local health agencies, and with the guidance of a special KU Chabad Re-Opening task Force composed of medical professionals and KU parents.
“We are so happy that Chabad will continue to be there for our dear children during these difficult times,” said Ellen Greenberg, a KU parent from Chicago and a member of the Reopening Task Force. “We have seen firsthand the impact that Chabad has had on the college experience of our daughter and are so happy that her home away from home will be there for her this semester.”
The world may be different, but the goal of KU Chabad remains the same: To create a thriving Jewish life and community on campus — safely and responsibly. Remember that we are here for you and your child anytime, on-call 24/7. Although we may need to be socially distant, we are always emotionally close. As students continue filling up the pages in their books, they know that Chabad is always there for them to call home. As KU junior Dawson Miller said, “Chabad has made my college experience go from good to great. I truly feel like Chabad is my family at KU.”
You can learn more about KU Chabad and its many programs at www.jewishku.com.