Ohio State Shliach Has an Annual Tradition on His Birthday

By COLlive reporter

At The Ohio State University, a unique and uplifting tradition has become a highlight every year, thanks to Rabbi Zalman Deitsch, Chabad Shliach at the Schottenstein Chabad Student Center. Each year on his birthday, Yud Beis Kislev, Rabbi Deitsch energetically sets out on a mission: to put on tefillin with as many Jewish students as the number of years he has been blessed with.

This year, as he turns 55, the goal was 56 pairs of tefillin. And once again, the campus is buzzing.

“It’s something very beautiful, inspiring, and uplifting,” his wife, Shlucha Sarah Deitsch, told COLlive.com, noting that OSU is the second largest university in the U.S., so finding the Jews isn’t always easy. “He goes to fraternities, the student union, anywhere Jewish students might be. The guys get excited because this is their gift to him on his birthday.”

What began 12 years ago has grown into a beloved campus tradition. Students look forward to it, word spreads quickly, and some even text the Rabbi in advance, asking if they can be part of it. “It really spreads throughout campus,” she said. “We post on social media, students get involved, and the enthusiasm is contagious.”

As of this afternoon, Rabbi Deitsch was just four pairs away from completing the mission, with 20 minutes left on the clock until sunset.

By the day’s end, it turned out that even more than 56 men put on Tefillin today with him.

And the last one was the ‘icing on the cake,’ Rabbi Deitsch related. “The young man told me, ‘I’m only half Jewish, on my Mom’s side,’ to which I responded – ‘You’re Jewish!'”

And he put them on for the first time in his life.

“Reaching this goal every year is really powerful and significant, both for Zalman and for the students,” Mrs. Deitsch said. “Zalman sees no better way to celebrate his birthday, doing what the world needs most.”