“We’re looking out for you!” No, not the battle cry of the NSA, but the enthusiastic mantra of the newly elected Student Executive Team at the Chabad House at Rutgers University for the upcoming 2013-14 school year. “If you’re Jewish, we want to be Jewish with you!” explained the new team at Chabad's Graduation Program held last week. While most colleges throughout the United States struggle to maintain a minimal student leadership committee, things are quite different at the new Chabad House Mega Jewish Student Center at Rutgers University: students passionate about their Judaism and sharing their good feelings about living a Jewish life rise to the occasion in Chabad House and vie for a position of leadership under the direction of Chabad’s Campus Directors, Rabbi Baruch and Sarah Goodman, and Educational Directors Rabbi Shaya and Chayale Shagalow.

“We have the makings of a fabulous team for this coming year, with the most energetic and caring group of student leaders all raring to go and share their excitement for Jewish life on campus!” exclaimed Jacqueline Roberman, the newly elected Student President of Rutgers Chabad. Jackie, a graduate of East Brunswick High School and now a Rutgers Junior, added, “we already have some great new ideas for the fall and spring semesters that we can’t wait to implement that will hopefully reach every one of the 5,000 plus Jewish students at Rutgers, and with our new team of great personalities, I’m sure it’s going to be fun and inspiring for everyone.”

To manage the vast array of programming that Chabad has planned for the fall, Joshua Herzfeld, a Junior from Clifton, has been named the Student Chief Executive Officer. He will also be in charge of Chabad’s educational and congregational programs throughout the year. “With so many students attending regularly, as well as the many unfamiliar students who visit Chabad daily, it’s important to welcome each and every one personally, and to extend an invitation to become involved in whatever program interests them,” stated Josh.  Mitchell Seigel of Marlboro, a Rutgers Sophomore, has been named the new CFO – Student Treasurer of Chabad’s Student Organization, who will see to it that the necessary funds are there to fuel Chabad’s expansive programming. “Every Jewish student at Rutgers deserves to see what’s going on Jewishly here at Chabad, it’s a must, because so many students have never tasted the excitement and delicious foods of Judaism. Our weekly Shabbat Experience, this year being managed by our new Shabbat Director, Jason Nissenblatt of South Brunswick, gives anyone who walks through these doors both. And I will make sure we can pay for it all. Any help will be greatly appreciated and used most wisely.” Mitch added, “The key to a successful financial campaign is to be positive, and that’s what I look forward to bringing to my position as the CFO of Chabad. Hey living on earth is expensive, but where else can you afford an annual trip around the sun?!”

Some new plans for the coming school year include the expansion of Chabad’s RU4ISRAEL Advocacy Program to extend to all 5 campuses of Rutgers, a new, weekly, kosher café with live entertainment, workout exercise rooms for college men and women, respectively, more frequent Shabbatons for High School Juniors and Seniors to get a taste of Jewish life on the college campus, a new Torah-Mates Chavrusa Learning Program, a campus-wide Moshiach and Mezuzah Campaign, and a new, student-run Childrens’ Rehab Visitation collaborative with Chai Lifeline, providing weekly coverage in our area’s childrens’ hospitals and rehab centers. This new project will be spearheaded by our incoming Vice-President Britney Plotnick, a Rutgers senior from Marlboro. “I want to make community service a regular ritual in the lives of many more students so that we can do something meaningful and caring for those around us. We’re right in between two major university teaching hospitals; what better match can there be than for college students to use their free time to brighten up someone’s day,” commented Britney. “We also visit senior citizens in our area’s nursing homes, and have special needs teens and young adults over to our new Chabad center as well. Let us know if you need us!”

Chabad House, the Jewish Student Center at Rutgers University, provides award-winning college programs for Jewish students of all backgrounds, affiliations, and levels of observance. As our new Student Orientation Director Dan Basoff from Marlton puts it, “To the rabbis, staff, and students of Chabad, a Jew is a Jew, all one family, regardless if a person is religious or not. Stop by and see for yourself how our motto “the warmest place away from home” is legit!”

Chabad’s Executive Director Rabbi Yosef Carlebach also reminds all area college students to apply early for Chabad’s College Avenue Housing and Kosher Meal Program. If you’d like more information or to get on our campus mailing list, please call our student hotline at 732 296-8806 or click on the ‘contact us’ link in this website.