FGCU Jewish life

By Rabbi Mendel Gordon

We thought the semester starting on Friday was going to be interesting because the first day would lead straight into Shabbat and we were unsure if students would find out where Shabbat happens fast enough.

But as the sun was setting, the door at Chabad didn’t stop opening as more and more Jewish students came in.

We set up for 20 and almost 40 came. Somehow there is always room for another Jew, like the old Jewish saying, as long as there is room in the heart, there is always space.

Bryce, Jeg, Bailey and Nosson ready for Shabbat dinner (picture taken before Shabbat)

From there, things kept pumping for Jewish life at FGCU Chabad. We had a welcome barbecue and a mini golf trip. Our FGCU Jewish family keeps on growing.

For Labor Day weekend, Matt Boggan and Preston Cohen, two of our student leaders, went off for a special trip to spend Shabbat in Yeshiva at the Rabbinical College of America in New Jersey, getting a full immersive Jewish experience that was followed by a two-day student leadership conference, run by Chabad, on campus international. Boggan and Cohen joined other student leaders from campuses all over America to collaborate and brainstorm on how to increase Jewish life on campus.

We are looking forward to the big spike for FGCU Jewish life from the energy of this conference.

We have just received new FGCU Kippahs and are offering them to any donors of our High Holiday campaign. If you would like one, please help make the upcoming High Holidays happen for the students by going online at Chabadfgcu.com/donate.

Benjy from Jupiter proud of his new mezuza

The Sukkah at FGCU, in front of Reed Hall (near parking lot 5), will be open to the public for the upcoming Sukkot holiday Oct. 9 through 17, with a lulav always inside for anyone who would like to make the lulav blessing. In addition, there is also a public Sukkah by the freshman dorms outside Sovi dining.

Chabad at FGCU services all Jewish students at FGCU and other nearby colleges.

For more information or to refer a student, please reach out to me at Rabbi@ chabadfgcu.com or 347-452-0489.