Chabad at Penn Campus Update Jan 2017 by Levi Haskelevich

, 4032-34 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104

Rabbi Menachem & Chava Schmidt Executive Directors

w www.LubavitchHouse.com G /Lubavitch House c 215.746.6115

Rabbi Ephraim & Flora Levin Directors

Rabbi Levi & Nechama Haskelevich Campus Rabbi, Directors of Programming

‫בס״ד‬

WINTER

■

2016-2017

CHABAD HOUSE AT PENN PERELMAN CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE

Campus Update Ribbon Cutting & Building Dedication Ceremony The ribbon-cutting and building dedication of the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Jewish LifeLubavitch House at the University of Pennsylvania was a festive affair, welcoming students, alumni, supporters and community leaders for this joyous day of celebration. “Chabad at Penn was the first set program at a college campus, though today Chabad on Campus is considered a normal facet of Jewish outreach,” said Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov, director of the Philadelphia Lubavitcher Center, who first came to campus to begin teaching Torah classes in 1962. Ronald Perelman, of Revlon cosmetics and the building’s namesake, is a product of those first encounters on campus. A graduate of the university’s Wharton School of Business, he met Shemtov some 40 years ago, and hardly a day has passed since that the two haven’t conducted a learning session by phone. “I’m so happy to support a center where ‘every Jew is family,’ and where Jews of all backgrounds can come together to worship, celebrate and explore their heritage in a warm environment,” said Perelman in a letter read by Shemtov at the event. “Faith plays an enormous role in my life, and it’s my privilege and obligation to give back to others. I hope that Chabad will continue to enrich student life at Penn with wisdom, understanding and knowledge.” University Chaplain Rev. Charles L. Howard brought greetings from the school’s president, Amy Gutmann, naming Chabad at Penn “a pioneering model for Chabad on Campus.” Howard added that the new building will enable Chabad to make an even “fuller contribution to religious life at Penn.” Howard, himself a Penn graduate, emphasized that he “sees humanity at its best at Lubavitch,” and hopes that Chabad will continue to “bring the sweet spirit of joy to Penn’s campus.” The event’s guest speaker, Chair of Penn Board of Trustees, Jon Huntsman Jr.—former governor of Utah, and a U.S. ambassador for Singapore and China—spoke of the impact Chabad has on the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater. “This is a center of tranquility Continued >

that represents understanding, respect and tolerance,” said Huntsman, a Utah native. “There is a respect for others here that transcends all boundaries. Chabad is home for people looking for a place of respite, where they can connect. This place represents the best of the community.” Ilan Kaufthal, co-chair of the dedication ceremony along with Eric Gribetz, shared how he got involved with Chabad as a leader in the building campaign, and some of the challenges that he overcame along the way. “Over the past twenty years,” said Kaufthal in his remarks, “I have learned firsthand how many thousands of Penn students, literally, have been impacted by [Chabad’s] wisdom.” Awards were distributed to lead donors, hors d'oeuvres were enjoyed and the ceremonious ribbon was cut by a student leader, a Penn faculty member, community leaders and the Chabad representatives to the University of Pennsylvania. Reprinted and modified from Chabad.org

habad at Penn is one of the

YOU HELPED ME THROUGH

best resources at Penn. The

AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME

Haskelevich family is very

AND DEFINITELY GOT ME TO

warm and welcoming, and every

FALL IN LOVE WITH JUDAISM

Friday night Shabbat dinner feels

& JEWISH CULTURE AGAIN!

like home. Whether it is enjoying a

~ I.T.

Shabbat meal with students, learning in chavrusa with the Rabbi, or attending a Sinai Scholars session, these experiences are the only times I get to take a true break from the busy campus and get in some real learning. ~Jacob Bloch, W ’19

Connecting to our Essence Dear Friends, When a student successfully fasts the entire Yom Kippur for the first time in her life or hears the shofar blown on Rosh Hashana even though he didn’t make it to services, we are reminded that our work here at Penn is tremendously impacting Jewish lives, one mitzvah at a time. The Baal HaTanya taught that every Jew possesses a divine spark within—a spark which is a part of G-d Himself—and that spark is in a constant state of yearning to reach its source. Mitzvahs are conduits that enable our divine sparks to connect to their source. And when we facilitate other Jews’ connecting to their essence, we are following the words from the

Ethics of our Fathers, “If I am only for myself, what am I?”, compelling us to take responsibility for the spiritual welfare of others. Your support for Chabad at Penn places you squarely in the position of partner in our work. Your partnership enables us to reach Jewish students on campus, and ensure that after they graduate, they are more connected to their source than when they arrived. We thank you for collaborating with us. From all of the staff at Chabad at Penn, we wish you and yours only health, happiness and success.

Rabbi Levi &Nechama Haskelevich Campus Rabbi, Directors of Programming

Visiting Scholars

Birthright

Peter Himmelman, a Grammy and Emmy award nominated musician, author and Big Muse CEO, addressed the topic, Unlocking a More Authentic Self. Himmelman has helped leaders and teams from organizations such as Adobe, Gap Inc., McDonalds, United Health Group, The Wharton School and The Kellogg School of Management discover novel, yet practical, ways to become more innovative, expressive and better able to succeed in their day-to-day challenges. Himmelman’s presentation was both fascinating and hilarious.

It was so amazing to be sponsored to fly halfway around the world-- it really shows that someone wanted me to be there, to learn about Israel, to fall in love with the land and the people. And I definitely did all of the above! I was in awe every day of the trip--the country is so beautiful, and every single beautiful thing means something to so many. ~ Sharon Christner, C’19

How to Succeed in Business without Lying: Ambition, Backstabbing and Real-Life Tales from the Corporate World was the topic of a talk over a Shabbat dinner by Jason D. Greenblatt, executive vice president and chief legal officer of the Trump Organization. This event was cosponsored by Wharton Investment and Trading Group as well as the Wharton Undergraduate Real Estate Club. Over a more intimate Shabbat lunch, Greenblatt shared his experiences of ascending the ladder of success while being Shabbat and Jewish holiday observant, as well as some of the challenging and moving situations he has encountered. Dr. Alexander Poltorak, a Russian-born theoretical physicist, spoke on the topic, Quantum Mechanics and the Age of the Universe. Poltorak’s presentation was an interesting, original and reality-bending discussion on how advances in the field of quantum mechanics can enhance our understanding of the Torah's more abstract and mystical concepts. A three-part series titled, Modern Trends in Judaism, was chaired by Philip Wexler, Professor Emeritus of Hebrew University. The series featured visiting scholar, Rachel Werczberger, PhD, from Hebrew University, who presented on the topic of New Age Trends of Spirituality in Israel. Next, Elliot Wolfson, Jewish Studies Chair at University of California, Santa Barbara, spoke about Chabad Messianism and the Present Future. And finally, Shaul Maggid, Jewish and Religious Studies Chair at the University of Indiana, addressed the topic of Rethinking Jewish Piety in Contemporary American Judaism. Rabbi Eli Rubin, research writer and editor at Chabad.org, who attended the series, reflected on the event, commenting that “it brought leading scholars into direct conversation with students, faculty and lay members of the local community, for engaged and animated discussions about how Jewish mystical teachings and practices shape and reshape Jewish life and the place of Judaism in the wider world. Drawing on history, philosophy and sociology, participants came away with a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the growing power of Jewish spirituality and Chassidic teachings to bring vital meaning to contemporary life and society.”

Student Leadership Committee by: Jesse Berliner-Sachs C’19 | President, Undergraduate Leadership Committee The Undergraduate Leadership Committee has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had at Penn. As a committee, we work to bring meaningful Jewish experiences to all Jews on Penn’s campus through events such as weekly Shabbat dinners, Chanukah parties, lulav shaking, movie nights and much more. In addition, we meet with mentors from a variety of fields in a personal setting to speak with them about their life and career. The committee works to reach out to all types of Jews on campus through our diverse array of events, we help people interact with Judaism in the way that is best for them. The Undergraduate Committee has been an integral part of my experience in college, and I love seeing all the ways we interact with the Penn community.

Josh Harris, Co-Founder of Apollo met with student leaders

Penn alum Ben Levine W'10 mentoring student leaders

VIP reception with Alan Dershowitz, Senator Corey Booker with the prominent lawyer, jurist and author Undergraduate Leadership Committee

Tour of the Senate for the Leadership Committee

Leaders and Alumni reception in DC

Senator Booker's Chief of Staff Matt Klapper C'05

(L-R) Rabbi Levi, Ben Greenblum C'01, Heather Flett Greenblum NU'01

Chabad on Campus International Shabbaton - JewFest Chabad Word Headquarters, 770

Saturday Night Concert

by: Danielle Collins C’20 Havdallah and the Ultra Party were my favorite parts of the Shabbaton; Havdallah turned into a beautiful mini-concert afterwards. The Ultra Party was awesome with delicious food, personalized mementos (kippahs & bracelets), and lots of upbeat music and dancing. Vivacious energy poured from every person in that ballroom - it was a total blast.

Walking Tour of Crown Heights

Road Trip to New York

I also really enjoyed the walking tour of Crown Heights and the trip to the Ohel, the Rebbe’s resting place in Queens, NY. The tour’s highlights included a visit to a Torah scribe and tour of a mikvah, which gave us a very authentic perspective of Jewish life. Going to the Ohel was a very spiritual experience for me. With over 1,000 impassioned college students from across the country and world, the energy during the whole weekend was infectious. The Shabbaton was a wonderful way for all the Penn students to bond and the weekend was a huge success.

Ultra Party

Havdallah

Sukkot 500+ Over 500 students and faculty members stopped by the Chabad sukkah on Locust Walk during the festival of Sukkot this year. Visitors came to shake the lulav, enjoy lunch, a snack or just spend time in the Sukkah. Every day of the holiday, Chabad staff and volunteers manned the sukkah helping passersby perform a quick mitzvah on-the-go or enjoy the revolving daily menu of sushi, falafel, matzah ball soup and brownies. The festive holiday meals, served in the Chabad House sukkah on Spruce St., featured elaborate spreads. Over 250 meals were served during the course of the holiday, and the non-stop activity had tremendous reach on Pennâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus. The sukkah on Locust Walk is generously sponsored by the Kasirer Family. The sukkah at the Chabad House is generously sponsored by the Landes Family. "Each year as I sit within the Lubavitch sukkah on Locust Walk, I see all sorts of people welcomed in the most relaxed manner. There is always a large and very ample component of joy in evidence. What a wonderful way to celebrate the time of our happiness." - Lawrence F. Bernstein, Professor Emeritus Department of Music, University of Pennsylvania

Sinai Scholars Society by: Victoria Kalbacher, Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;19 I always laugh about how my involvement with Chabad on Campus began. It was my freshman fall semester, and a free latke event was being hosted by Chabad in one of the dining halls. I unintentionally arrived early and offered to help set up. I quickly felt comfortable with the rabbi and was intrigued about the Chabad programming he described. I joined Sinai Scholars the next semester and found myself looking forward to it every week. I engaged with Jewish texts in ways I never had before, and I was challenged to think philosophically about Jewish literature. Our field trip to Crown Heights opened my eyes to a way of Jewish life that I had never previously experienced, and I could feel the joy permeating from every crevice of that town. Over the summer, I flew across the country to attend the annual Sinai Scholars retreat in Palm Springs, California, and I found myself immersed in study, dancing, and making lifelong friendships. And now, in the fall semester of my sophomore year, I still come to Chabad once a week to study with Rabbi Levi and other Sinai Scholars students. I attribute a considerable amount of the formation of my Jewish identity on campus to Chabad, and I am so thankful for the Haskelevich family for making it such a warm and welcoming environment. I cannot wait to continue my Jewish education in the future!

Chabad on Campus Study Groundbreaking study of Chabad on Campus reveals its tremendous impact on students To access the full study visit: tinyurl.com/HertogCOC A groundbreaking study of

Chabad families “do not consider students who do not

Chabad’s work on American

follow [Jewish] practices to be any less Jewish [than they

college campuses nationwide

are], and they do not impose these practices upon them.”

was published in September. Commissioned and funded by the Hertog Foundation in New York, independent of Chabad, the study was conducted by noted social scientists, and concluded that

According to Dr. Steven M. Cohen, a seasoned researcher who has been studying the Jewish community for decades and is director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive at Stanford University, the study is a pivotal one: “In the context of American Jewry’s legitimate concern for its Jewish future, this is a vital study that’s coming at the

the impact that Chabad families leave on their students is

right time.”

quite significant.

For Rosen, the study highlights the exemplary features of

“What Chabad has achieved in the last 15 years is quite

each Chabad House on campus.

remarkable,” said Mark Rosen, who teaches the Orga-

“There are many external things—serving great food,

nizational Behavior in Jewish Nonprofits course in the

warmly greeting people—that are practiced elsewhere,

Hornstein Program and is Director of Field Experience

too,” explains Rosen. “But there’s a lot that Chabad does

Programs at Brandeis University, noting the movement’s

that is not easily replicated: The dedication, devotion and

explosive growth on U.S. college campuses from 35 cen-

commitment of the rabbis and rebbetzins in both their

ters in 2000 to 187 centers today.

work and personal lives. The way their entire family is

The research revealed surprisingly high levels of lasting

involved. The Talmudic wis-

post-college Jewish engagement following students’

dom. The Chassidic teach-

involvement with Chabad on Campus, in such critical

ings. The teachings of the

life-choices as dating and marrying Jews, broad commu-

Rebbe. Can you take a few

nal involvement and volunteering, celebration of Jewish

ingredients and apply them?

holidays, attachment to Israel, belief in G d, participation

Sure. But can you bake a cake

in Jewish learning, donating to Jewish causes, and even

without all of the ingredi-

paying synagogue dues.

ents?”

The researchers discovered what they describe as

Reprinted and adapted from

Chabad’s “complete acceptance” of students, and how

Merkos302.com

88%

A higher percentage of

Chabad inspires

Jews affected by Chabad

Jewish students to

of students that

choose Jewish spouses

attend religious services,

Chabad attracts are not Orthodox

60% in the high participation category had contact

97% Orthodox

date other Jews, stay

86% Conservative

involved in a community,

66% Reform

and to have an emotional

in the past 12 months,

78% No Denomination

connection to Israel

many even 7 years later

with their rabbi/rebbetzin

Students who statistically gain the most from Chabad were raised Reform or without affiliation

Why Do I Support Chabad at Penn?

"Chabad was a second home to me when I was a student at Penn. I always looked forward to Shabbat with Rabbi Levi and Nechama, and I am excited to be able to support Chabad at Penn for future generations of students."

Daniella (Malekan) Gershel C’10 "Before 'safe space' became a household term on college campuses, Chabad was a safe space of the best kind and with all of the best connotations. As soon as you step into the building, you're accepted and welcomed. Practices that were foreign become familiar. Silly questions don't seem silly. Differences in level of observance are eclipsed by what we all have in common. The hardest topics to address are embraced, not ignored. Before I came to Chabad, I felt a connection to other Jews because of our shared history. After coming to Chabad, I began to feel connected because of our shared present and our anticipated shared future. It's an experience that every student should have."

Jessica (Levy) Kania, C’09, W’09 “A few years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to attend Shabbat at two different Chabads at colleges with our daughter. It was inspiring and actually somewhat surprising to me to see the level of participation and enthusiasm of the students for connecting with Judaism, not what I did at that age. For me, it defined Judaism as it relates to a college-age person. At that age, a person is making many decisions that guide the rest of his/ her life. Chabad on Campus will help them establish a strong, thriving and joyous Jewish home with their family for generations to come. Thank you for all that you do.”

Mr. Larry Sifen, Norfolk, VA

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT