New Brunswick, NJ — October 20, 2025 — The Chabad House at Rutgers University hosted its first official Parents and Family Weekend this past weekend, coinciding with Rutgers University’s Homecoming Weekend. The event brought together over 400 students, alumni, parents, and siblings, making it one of the most vibrant Shabbat weekends of the year at Chabad House.
Over 30 alumni and families visited throughout the weekend, joining students for lively and delicious Shabbat meals, a grand tour of the Chabad House facility and its many amenities, a panel discussion with student Resident Advisors (RAs), and a Student–Parent BBQ Meet ’n Greet on Sunday with Chabad House Executive Director and Founder Rabbi Yosef Carlebach, as well as heartfelt welcome and Dvar Torah delivered by Rabbi Baruch Goodman, Chabad’s Campus Activities Director.
Parents expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude throughout the weekend. One parent commented, “Chabad clearly thought of everything in building this magnificent facility—the beautiful dining room, recreation area with game rooms and musical instruments, an impressive synagogue, study spaces, and elegant private dorms. I wish I were back in college and could have attended Chabad House!”
One touching story from the weekend highlighted Chabad’s profound impact on individual students. A mother visiting for the Homecoming football game stopped by to thank Rabbi Goodman for welcoming her son, Austin, and his Jewish friends so warmly the previous year. She recounted how, during a casual Tuesday night JCafé event, Rabbi Goodman discovered through conversation that Austin’s mother was Jewish. When he shared that this meant Austin himself was Jewish—since Judaism is passed down maternally—it was a revelation for him. Moments later, another student walked in and, surprised to see Austin there, asked, “Hey Austin, what brings you to Chabad?” Austin smiled and replied simply, “I’m Jewish.” For the first time in his life, he had identified himself as a Jew.
This was the first official Parents Weekend that Chabad House participated in alongside Rutgers University’s Homecoming weekend, though parents and alumni have long made a tradition of visiting Chabad House on such weekends to re-experience its warmth, joy, and the spirited “Scarlet Friday Knight Shabbat” atmosphere that fills the building each and every weekend.
