Going all out with Jewish pride

By Rabbi Mendel Gordon

Wow, wow, wow are my thoughts as I look back at the past few weeks at Chabad.

We kicked off November with an incredible Shabbaton in NYC. Fourteen FGCU students joined 1,300 other Jewish students from all over the world for a weekend to connect, to learn and to grow.

We were hosted by the Crown Heights community, and students had an opportunity to join, the first time ever for many, a big vibrant Jewish community. With every store closed on Shabbat, every restaurant around kosher and a Shabbat vibe in the air.

We met students from countless other schools joining together for this special occasion.

Students were excited to learn about and visit the Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the power behind Chabad. They were inspired to hear of his total devotion to every Jew on the planet. It was something special to visit the Ohel, the Rebbe’s resting place, where Jews come from all over the world to pray in that special space.

Coming back to Fort Myers on a high, we continued with Jewish classes and Shabbats. Our most popular class of the month has been Judaism and the other worldly — learning about the whole spiritual side of things from souls to angels and dreams and everything in between.

Going all out when we gather and inspire each other, this year being a Hakel year, we took our Jewish pride to the streets with menorahs on our cars for a parade around campus and the Gulf Coast Town Center, with over 50 students joining.

We are looking forward to an incredible spring semester with a Mega Shabbat on campus, a Jewish Heritage Day and lots more Jewish fun and pride. Stay tuned.

Chabad at FGCU services Jewish students at FGCU and nearby schools. For more information, reach out to Rabbi Mendel at 347-452-0489 or Rabbi@chabadfgcu.com.