PORTRAITS OF RESILIENCE

Chabad provided an array of Zoom classes and guest speakers, including Portraits of Resilience (created by the BICEP Chabad Collaborative), Israeli actor and screenwriter Lior Raz best known for Fauda, and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. and Penn alumnus, Ron Dermer.

Dr. Edith Eger

Finding Focus Amidst a World in Turmoil

Dr. Edith Eger, known as the Ballerina of Auschwitz, was forced to dance to survive by Joseph Mengele, but she was free in her mind. Born to Hungarian Jewish parents before the Holocaust, she still practices psychology at the age of 93. As a survivor, she specializes in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Her memoir, entitled The Choice: Embrace the Possible, published in 2017, became an international best-seller. She has appeared on CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show and is an inspiration all over the world. Eger shared with the students—who Zoomed in from across the country—her journey through the Holocaust and how she came to the realization that one does not need to remain damaged by the past—we all have the power to choose not to be victims. “While we cannot choose our circumstances, we can choose how we react to them,” she said. “As Jews, we know that life has its clouds, but we know how to ride the storm and find the blue sky that was always there, just hidden from view.” she reflected. “Our ancestors wandered in the desert for forty years but never gave up. We, too, should never give up hope.” Addressing the current pandemic lockdown, Dr.

Addressing the current pandemic lockdown, Dr. Eger told the students, “It’s not what happens—it’s what you do with it. It is okay to be alone—use the time to do the things you always wanted to but never had the time.” Her positive attitude and empowering message formed a refreshing paradigm shift for the students during this difficult time.

Nissim Black

Black & Jewish: A Raw Conversation

Nissim Black, a former rapper and current hip hop star, converted to Judaism and currently lives in Jerusalem. Black, quite the anomaly, talked about intersectionality from his unique vantage point. When asked about how to bring different cultures closer together, he discussed the importance of empathy and open dialogue to break down walls between ethnic groups. He said, “If someone is crying out, it’s because they are feeling pain. We need to acknowledge that.” He also talked about how much the black and

Jewish communities have in common. “Jews and

Blacks have both suffered at the hands of op-

pressors over the course of history,” he said. He also reminded his listeners that, “It’s important not to give in to victimhood—we can choose a different future than our past.” Discussing his passion for music, Black talked about his desire to spread light and positivity through this medium that he loves so much. His message was we can all be ambassadors in whichever field we find ourselves. Black’s journey from Islam to Christianity and finally to Judaism, from the inner-city gang life to raising a Jewish family, was enthralling. His tremendous breadth of study, which led him to find the truth of Judaism, moved and inspired students to deepen their own Jewish knowledge base.

Dina Hurwitz

Woman Warrior Rebbetzin

Feeling inspired and uplifted is not the way one would expect to walk away from a talk by a woman whose husband has been completely paralyzed by ALS. But that’s Dina Hurwitz, with raw emotion and self-deprecating humor, Dina shared the story of her struggle when her life took a completely unexpected route. With grace and warmth, Dina told of how her faith in G-d helps make her challenges become bearable. She discussed her choice to refrain from becoming bitter and consumed with anger. “Pain is inevitable,” she said, “but suffering is your choice.” And that is what she has done; in caring for her husband, raising her seven children, and giving herself the space to do the best she can under her current circumstances. Addressing the topic of resilience during difficult times, she likened it to a muscle. “The more you practice using it, the stronger it will become,” she said. “You need to be honest with yourself about the difficult time you’re going through and find tools that help you manage, such as leaning on good friends, helping other people...and a little humor is also helpful,” she shared. As Leah, a participant from California, wrote, “The Hurwitz's unshakable, top-of-the-charts trust and faith in G-d brings so much hope not only to them, but to the entire world. I would love to hear this again and again to fully digest her every word.”

Izzy Ezagui

Lessons in Resilience

Izzy Ezagui, a decorated squad commander in the Israel Defense Forces, is the only soldier in the world who lost an arm in combat and returned to the battlefield. Through sheer determination, he retrained himself to do everything from tying his shoelaces to unpinning a grenade, with only one arm. Propelled by his dream to defend the Jewish homeland and its people, he told every military official and politician who came to visit soldiers in the hospital that he wanted to return to combat, until one finally agreed. In 2011, former President Shimon Peres awarded him one of Israel's highest military honors. While he continues to serve in an elite reserves unit, Izzy delivers inspirational talks across the United States and internationally. When asked what advice he would share with people going through challenges such as his, Izzy told the students, “Humans are generally resilient and finding meaning will give you the drive to persevere.” He talked about how he struggles with mundane day-to-day annoyances, but it is a constant process that you have to keep working at.” “Cut yourself some slack if you’re not always in the right head space,” he said, “Because the sooner you realize that life has its ups and downs, the sooner you’ll be able to handle them.”

Rabbi Menachem & Chava Schmidt Executive Directors Rabbi Ephraim & Flora Levin Directors Rabbi Levi & Nechama Haskelevich Campus Rabbi, Directors of Programming w G c

4032-34 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 www.LubavitchHouse.com /Lubavitch House 215.746.6115

Not Going Back to Normal

Dear Friends,

While many are looking forward to life ‘getting back to normal,’ Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Chassidism taught that “every descent is for the sake of an ascent.” Every challenge that we endure must propel us to emerge stronger and better off than we were at the outset. When we find ourselves in the midst of difficult circumstances, G-d provides us with greater strengths to overcome those challenges. Those strengths stay with us. They help us emerge even stronger and capable of doing better than we did before. At Chabad, we look forward to emerging from the current circumstances much stronger—with the abilities to broaden and deepen our reach. Thank you to all the students, parents, alumni and friends who partner with us every day to support the Jewish students on campus, and to shine the beautiful light of Judaism now and always. Please enjoy a brief sampling of your impact at Penn over the past year. Wishing you and yours unending joy, light and success in your lives, Rabbi Levi and Nechama Haskelevich

Why We Support Chabad at Penn

Jennifer & Eli Gross, Locust Valley, NY

College is a huge adjustment and transition for many students. For some, it is their first time away from home, and their first step towards independence. It is also a time for exploration and identity formation.

Most millennials are exposed to social media and are often left feeling isolated, looking for a personal connection. The Chabad at Penn was a visible presence that offered our son an environment to invest himself. The Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Chabad at Penn offered so much more than a Friday night meal. Chabad at Penn proved to be a home of life-changing opportunities, both spiritually and socially. This connection was what our son was searching for. Our son was able to go to Chabad during his free time and spend quality hours with friends in a comforting and casual manner. He knew that their doors were always open, whether it was for a Passover Seder, or just a regular weekday afternoon. We support Chabad at Penn so that other students can have the same opportunities for knowledge and spiritual connection. The anchor Chabad provided our son will keep him grounded for life.