Thriving forward into a new year!

By Rabbi Mendel Gordon

Chabad has been super busy since the new school year started, starting off with a welcome BBQ and a mini golf trip.

It is amazing to see so many new faces and many old ones, too, some returning after being online last year.

Mezuzahs have been popping up on dorm rooms all over campus as students are making sure to give their room a proud Jewish stamp.

Students brainstorm to grow Jewish life on campus.

“My grandparents are Jewish,” Drake from Arcadia commented to a group of us sitting by the food court for lunch and learn. And before you knew it, Drake was welcomed into the FGCU Jewish family and had a “drive-through Bar Mitzvah,” putting on Tefillin for the first time.

A large Jewish leadership team has also been formed of fellow students to help grow Jewish activity on campus.

Community service is back in full swing as well, with our Jewish friends at American House enjoying the students’ visits.

Matt, Sasha and Brett during mini golf trip

Pre Rosh Hashanah, the main library lawn on campus turned into a workshop, where we made our own shofars, getting into the Rosh Hashanah spirit.

Over the month of October, we will be starting our Sinai Scholars course; two JewishU courses; Judaism decoded, giving an overview of the development of Torah from Mt. Sinai until today; and Jewish perspectives on modern polices, discussing the Torah’s view on some of today’s controversial topics.

Becca and Juli, proud of their Mezuzot

Keith tries out the shofar he just made.

Chabad at FGCU caters to all Jewish students in Southwest Florida, providing them a Jewish home away from home.

Join us to learn, celebrate or just meet Jewish students your age. For more information or to get involved, contact Rabbi Mendel Gordon at 347-452-0489 or chabadfgcu@gmail.com.

Visit our website at Chabadfgcu.com.