By COLlive reporter
Joining the thousands of students arriving in Tucson for the fall semester at the University of Arizona (U of A) are new Chabad Shluchim planning to expand Jewish programming and services on campus.
Rabbi Shmuly and Sara Shanowitz (née Kugel) and their daughter Risha are moving this month to serve Jewish undergraduate students as part of Chabad at the University of Arizona.
Shmuly is originally from California and studied at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad in Los Angeles and Yeshiva Jabad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sara is from the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn and studied at Associated Beth Rivkah Schools. Both were raised in hospitable homes with many Shabbos guests. “We would like to continue that lifestyle,” he declares.
The couple will carry on a history of four decades of a Chabad presence in Tucson.
In October 1983, the Rebbe sent Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Shemtov to serve the Jewish population of Tucson, joining Head Shluchim Rabbi Zalman and Tzipi Levertov who are in Phoenix. One of the first activities of the Shemtovs was reaching out to Jewish students who hailed from across the country and the world.
“On our very first visit to Tucson, Chanie and I walked around campus and from that day on, we were committed to creating a home away from home for the students,” Rabbi Shemtov recalls.
Over the years, the Shemtovs served tens of thousands of meals from their home and a center that was on Mountain Avenue. As one of the first and pioneering Shluchim on Campus, Rabbi and Mrs. Shemtov taught countless Torah classes, provided guidance and eventually rejoiced at the weddings of alumni.
As their presence grew, they hired Rabbi Yossi and Naomi Winner in 2005. And now, almost two decades later, the Shanowitzs are joining the team to serve the estimated 4,000 Jewish students at the university known as the U of A.
“We are very excited to have them come and work at the University of Arizona and to bring in a new spirit for the new generation,” Rabbi Shemtov said.
Rabbi Shanowitz said: “We are looking forward to bringing more excitement to Jewish life on campus and to connect with as many students as possible. We want to create a Jewish home where students can feel like our family is their family on campus.”
To support their endeavor, visit: raisethon.com/UAchabad.
Campus Shluchim must be supported!! they’re on the front lines of bringing light to the darkness. Guiding the confused kids on todays Universities
It should be with a lot of hatzlacha!!!
U of A is so lucky! Best of luck! We will miss you!