New Brunswick, NJ – Over 100 students from Rutgers University gathered in solemn tribute at a candlelight vigil held last night on the front steps of Chabad House. The event was organized to honor the life of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, the beloved Chabad rabbi from Dubai who was tragically abducted and murdered by Islamic terrorists in the UAE last week. Despite the onset of Thanksgiving Break, when many students had already left campus, members of the Rutgers community came together across all five campuses to share in this moment of grief and remembrance.
The vigil was organized to give the Jewish community at Rutgers an opportunity to mourn and process the impact of this brutal act of antisemitism and hatred, which struck at the heart of their values. The gathering reflected a central teaching from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Sages): to increase Torah learning, prayer, and acts of kindness in response to hardship, in order to bring blessings, safety, and security to the world.
Student leaders from Students Supporting Israel (SSI), Kelly Shapiro and Michael Batushansky, distributed candles, allowing participants to join in the symbolic act of lighting in tribute. Chabad’s Resident Advisor Noa Strupinsky provided attendees the chance to give tzedakah (charitable donations) in memory of Rabbi Kogan, exemplifying the enduring legacy of giving and compassion that he embodied.
Eva Lebowitz, Chabad’s Student President, and Yair Herskowitz, Student Vice President, led the assembled students in words of Torah and prayers from King David’s Tehillim (Psalms), creating a powerful moment of collective reflection. Rabbi Baruch Goodman, Chabad’s Campus Activities Director, spoke movingly about the need to respond to darkness with acts of light and goodness.
“Tonight, as we gather here on College Avenue, we must remember that even in the deepest darkness, there is always light, and that light is within each and every one of us,” Rabbi Goodman said. “Rabbi Tzvi’s murder is a tragedy for every Jew, for every human being who believes in peace and kindness. We must respond and spread light, warmth, and love. His life was a beacon of warmth, love, and peace. We now must be the ones who carry his light forward.”
The vigil served as a critical reminder of the importance of Ahavat Yisrael – love of one’s fellow, unity and resilience in the face of hatred and violence. The students who attended left with a renewed commitment to uphold Rabbi Kogan’s legacy by embodying his spirit of kindness and dedication to peace. Special thanks to Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, Chabad’s Administrator, who attended the vigil and arranged for security for the event provided by Andrew of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office and NJ State Police.
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