Pittsburgh Shlichus Marks 30th

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Yehudah Welton

Chabad House on Campus in Pittsburgh celebrated its 30th Anniversary on Oct. 8 at the O’Hara Student Center with community supporters, students, alumni, university administrators, trustees, faculty, and friends.

It was a gala affair with gourmet food stations and an open wine bar coordinated by Donna Katz and Fraydi Silverman. The program was filled with speakers who gave a menagerie of meaningful personal experiences and inspirational accounts.

MC David Gantshar, CEO of the Merraine Group, captivated the audience with personal stories and throw-back memories since his college days at the Chabad House in 1988.

Honoree, Rabbi Leon Morris, (Pitt Alum ’90) President of Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, enlightened the crowd with his erudite and inspiring message about the role of Chabad House in the lives of Jewish college students.

Also presenting an original sonnet in honor of Chabad House was Toni Linzer, Duquesne Alumna ’93, the Myer and Ann Cohen Awardee.

Dr. Kathy Humphrey, Senior Vice-Chancellor of Engagement and Secretary to the Board of Trustees at the University of Pittsburgh, left the audience spellbound while she shared her reflections from the recent University Executives Trip to Israel.

A slideshow of the recent trip set the tone for Dr. Humphrey’s moving words and a video spanning 30 years of activities on campuses in Pittsburgh showed the incredible growth and success of Chabad House on Campus.

As stated by a longtime community supporter, Devorah Leah Davidson, “The Chabad House on Campus dinner was amazing! Great food, lots of laughs, but mainly very, very uplifting! It’s incredible to hear from alumni of 30 years ago and see the huge impact the Weinstein family has had on them! The ripple effect is incredible because the alumni are now extremely influential people influencing so many others!”

Chabad House on Campus is a Jewish student organization serving nine campuses in the Pittsburgh area, directed by Rabbi Shmuel and Sara Weinstein.

The organization has expanded to include Chabad at Pitt, its undergraduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh, with directors, Rabbi Shmuli and Chasi Rothstein, and JGrads Pittsburgh, focused programming for graduate students, run by Rabbi Shua and Shoshana Hoexter.

The goal of Chabad House on Campus remains to touch the lives of every Jewish student and the broader campus community in the spirit of Ahavas Yisroel, “Love of your fellow man,” The Weinsteins said.

“This celebration underscored the significance of 30 years of enriching Jewish life in Pittsburgh and the far-reaching effects of Chabad House on Campus.”