By Rabbi Eli Moshe & Mirel Levitansky at Chabad @ S. Monica College
This weekend, Shabbos Parshas Lech Lecha (November 11-13), well over 1,000 college and university students and 100 Shluchim and Shluchos will be coming to Crown Heights for the largest student Pegisha ever.
Shluchim are still looking for gracious residents who can host students for the weekend, for sleeping (Friday and Motzoei Shabbos) and/or Friday night Shabbos dinner.
If you have any space for either boys or girls please contact ND Dubrowski at [email protected] or 917-202-5364.
As Shluchim on campus, many of my colleagues deal with great mesiras nefesh with a constant uphill battle, inspiring and serving hundreds of Jewish students every week. Around this time each year, though, we are reminded that we’re not alone.
Seeing the unbelievable Hachnosas Orchim with which the residents of Crown Heights open their doors, take care of our students, and put up with all of the tumult that goes along with such an endeavor – especially knowing that this comes so closely on the heels of an already very taxing month of Tishrei – is the greatest reminder that ‘Chassidim Ein Mishpocha,’ that we are part of a family of Chassidim who are true partners in our work.
Indeed, the students who come, year after year, walk away inspired. They are touched by the exposure to a Chassidic community, by the festive meals and classes, by the visits to 770 and the Ohel. But more often than not, what they are most affected by are their hosts. By the thought that families would open their doors to complete strangers, show them such warmth and even lend them their keys!
So before we descend on your homes and lives for a couple of days, I wanted to take this opportunity – on behalf of Chabad on Campus International and on behalf of each and every one of the Shluchim and Shluchos – to thank you for your hospitality and for the impact you will have on our students’ lives.
I have been asked to reiterate the following point. (Although it may seem superfluous – Ein mezarzin elah lemzurazin):
The majority of students you will see on the streets have a long-standing developing relationship with Chabad on their campus. In almost every case, the Shliach and Shlucha have prepared the student, to the extent possible, gently highlighted behaviors that may be out of place in this neighborhood. What these students gain most from the people they meet is the simple and straightforward Ahavas Yisroel that Crown Heights is built upon.
If they are doing something Halachically inappropriate – smoking, taking a picture, or carrying an umbrella on Shabbos, to name but a few possibilities – please remember these people are on a journey in their Yiddishkeit. Past experience has shown that positive and uplifting experiences help them grow in their Yiddishkeit, while well-intentioned instructions about Hilchos Shabbos or other matters don’t necessarily have the desired effect…
Along the same lines, times have changed drastically in the attitudes that most universities and parents have towards students drinking alcohol. We respectfully remind you to be very careful about serving mashke at all, and especially to anyone under the legal age of 21 (most of the students), to avoid any negative results and possible legal liabilities chas v’sholom.
Again, thank you! May all of our efforts be met with hatzlacha, may we achieve our goal of bringing nachas to the Rebbe, and may we immediately all together celebrate the ultimate kibutz goliyos with the coming of Moshiach Now!
As a BT I can tell you my first trip to ch was very traumatic. I packed, what I perceived to be tznius clothing. Girls on the street made fun of me, ladies yelled at me to cover up and men behaved untzniusly towards me because they assumed they could based on my looks. I wont go into detail but for a teen on her first trip without parents this was a very painful experience that I never had in my secular life. To the point I was ashamed of my body and self conscious of how I looked at… Read more »
Nothing wrong in giving a guide book and meet prior to going to campus kinus where the Shliach charges the students with excitement & enthusiasm as well as giving some pointers of respect to our generous kind hosts and respecting their house rules & values even if we don’t generally live by those rules. Chalk it down to a unique & awesome experience .Thus for those who Havnt attended before are aware they are staying in a religious Shabbat observance household …. And give examples of how to behave…. If the student was going to any other experiential place they… Read more »
1) GET
2) A
3) LIFE!
Please sell your home and move to boro park. Enjoy your self obsessed life.
Please translate and post on Hebrew Chabad sites. Many people who do not go on col for to language barrier need to read this.
Ty and Hatzlacha!
Maybe 90% of crown heights just respect the community and dress tzniusdik??? Tznius is the minority here, move on
Rabbi levitansky, I am not positive if ur point for it seems u mention three points A. Ur looking for people to host students B. Not mention to the students anything regarding hulchis shabbos, of which whike we are raising our own children we can at least try to explain to your guests in our homes how here we live different, and we keep shabbos to its fullest. Obviously I am not here to check their pockets when they leave in shabbos, but in the proximity of our homes they shiuld respect shabbos, for this is the point that they… Read more »
Love Chabad on Campus!
Changing the world, one neshama at a time.
Campus shluchim are great!
Looking forward to sharing your success when you come to our shchuna.
Beyond Hilchos shabbas I think tznius also needs to be addressed. It is important that these students dress modestly to respect the community. Even if they cannot appreciate halacha they should be mature enough to respect a community who does. If they cannot they should not be coming. Same goes for C-teen…
As a former student shabbaton guest, I want to say that this weekend truly has a big impact on the students! For many it is their first time keeping shabbos and spending it with so many frum people. Bh I am now happily married and it warms my heart seeing all the students fill crown heights each year and remind me of where my whole journey started
To see hundreds of students coming in CH with there Shluchim from all over the world