New Shluchim to the University of Chicago

The Rohr Chabad Center at UChicago is excited to announce the establishment of a full-time rabbinic couple dedicated to Jewish graduate students. The program, to be called jGrads will be run by Rabbi Mendel and Mussie Rapoport who will begin this position in time for the fall quarter. JGrads will provide Shabbat dinners, Jewish learning and social events for this underserved population in the community.

While Chabad has always made its center open to graduate students, the majority of participants have been undergraduates. “With a distinct age gap and different social interests, it was clear that Chabad needed to provide a community for Jewish graduate students, along with events where they can meet Jewish students beyond their individual programs,” said Rabbi Yossi Brackman, director of the center.

According to the University of Chicago website, there are over 9,500 graduate students on campus, of which Chabad estimates 12-15% are Jewish. While there is a student led Jewish club at the medical, law and business schools, there are no campus wide programs targeting graduate students, and very few graduate students participate in Jewish community events on campus. The Rapoports will work with the leadership of the individual school affiliated clubs to develop campus wide programming for all Jewish graduate students.

Rabbi Mendel Rapoport was raised in Clark Summit, PA where his parents run a Chabad center and has spent time in California doing Jewish outreach and mentoring young students. Mussie Rapoport is the daughter of Rabbi Yossi and Baila Brackman where she grew up assisting in the programs at Chabad House. “University students and programs for
students are the air I breathe, I was raised at UChicago, so this is a natural fit for me,” she said.

In addition to developing programs for graduate students, the Rapoports will welcome Jewish young professionals working in the Hyde Park area and collaborate with other Chabad centers that cater to Jewish young professionals.

To donate to the new Shluchim, click here.