This was written before the tragic news from Israel. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and join in prayer for the safe return of every hostage. May their memories be a blessing.
Am Yisroel Chai.
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‘They just kept coming and coming! The energy was amazing!’
It’s right after Shabbat and I wanted to take a moment to share what just happened at UMD Chabad.
On Friday night, we hosted our annual Chinese Shabbat dinner at Chabad! We set up rows and rows of tables and we made food all week long. And of course, as it always is, all the Chinese food was homemade here at Chabad! And then the big night came and so did the students.
Over 550 students joined us for amazing expression of Shabbat, Judaism, positivity, and Jewish pride! From freshmen to seniors, new students and old students, at all levels of community involvement, found a seat around the table. (link for pre Shabbat photos)
Chinese Shabbat followed a week of welcoming students back to campus for the new semester. We made a Kosher BLT (Bagels Lox and Tefillin) at a fraternity and put up 40 Mezuzot on and around campus. (Almost 100 students have already requested Mezuzot!) We traveled and participated in the wedding of an UMD alum (with two more coming up in the next few days BH), one of our many interactions with students and faculty. And all of this was just the first week!
The school year of 2024-25 is off to a great start and we have so much more planned ahead!
Now, UMD is also in the news for other reasons. Without getting into all the details right now, although you are, of course, always welcome to reach out and be in touch with me, I would like to share the following:
I, and the leaders of the UMD Jewish community, have personally been in close and continuing conversation with the university leadership and administration. We are appreciative of their consistent support for Chabad and the entire Jewish community here at UMD. Just this past Friday night, during our Chinese Shabbat dinner, the university (and county) police department maintained a constant presence to ensure that we could comfortably, and without worry, enjoy this wonderful moment of vibrant Jewish life on campus, as they have also done at many of our other past events.
With regard to the protest planned for Oct. 7th, we share your dismay in the abhorrent timing of such an event. I have directly conveyed our concerns to the university president and administration in the strongest possible terms. I don’t yet know how this will all still play out, but regardless of the outcome Jewish life at UMD is alive and well, strong and proud, and our mission here will not waver. Chinese Shabbat was but one incredibly powerful example. Where else will you find this large of an outdoor Shabbat dinner? Mezuzot, Tefillin, social events in dorms, you name it and it is happening here at UMD. The UMD community is a special one and we are privileged to be a part of it.
We will always be here for every single Jewish student at UMD, to help them safely and comfortably practice and enjoy our beautiful, shared heritage.
Rabbi Eli Backman