More than 200 students joined Chabad at Rice for Jewish holiday observances from Rosh Hashanah through Simchat Torah, finding opportunities to reconnect with Jewish traditions, make friends and experience a sense of home amid the demands of a new semester.
The season began with a packed Rosh Hashanah dinner attended by nearly 100 students. For Joelle Weiss, a first-year student from Los Angeles spending her first Jewish holiday away from home, the gathering offered a welcome sense of connection.
“I enjoyed Rosh Hashanah dinner because I got to be with my community, my home away from home! It felt like everyone was enjoying something new together,” Weiss said.
That sense of community continued through Yom Kippur, when students gathered for a day of prayer and reflection.
For Brendan Cohen of Melbourne, Australia, gathering with the Jewish community was an important part of observing the day.
“Rice University Chabad and Aishel House created a safe space for me during the Yom Kippur service, where I could feel a sense of belonging, perform my kohanim duties proudly and make friends with fellow Jewish students.”
During Sukkot, Chabad transformed its large tent into an air-conditioned sukkah, giving students and guests a comfortable place to celebrate despite unseasonably warm temperatures. Throughout the holiday, students gathered for a variety of meals and celebrations in the sukkah, including “Poke Night,” a subs dinner and “Shabbat in the Sukkah.”
For Sander Day, a first-year student from Boston, spending the holidays away from home initially brought some anxiety. Chabad’s welcoming approach helped ease those concerns.
“Chabad’s amazing Poke Night in the sukkah was not only packed with fun activities, such as building miniature sukkahs out of graham crackers and sour sticks, but also provided a home-like environment that made Sukkot special for me,” Day said.
Chabad also brought Sukkot to the wider campus community through its sukkah bike, a portable sukkah that visited students and passersby throughout the holiday. At each stop, people could enjoy a fresh cookie and fulfill the mitzvah of shaking the lulav and etrog.
For some, it was their first time experiencing the ritual of the lulav and etrog.
“Sometimes, someone stops and tells us they are Jewish but have never held a lulav and etrog,” said Rabbi Shmuli Slonim, Chabad at Rice’s co-director. “We introduce them to the mitzvah, and a conversation begins about their family, their Jewish experiences or something they have always wanted to ask. A few minutes on campus can open the door to a friendship and further discovery.”
The encounters reflect the growth of Chabad at Rice over the past decade. During its first year, about 30 students participated in the lulav and etrog ritual. This year, that number surpassed 100.
The holiday season concluded with Simchat Torah, a celebration marked by singing, dancing and rejoicing with the Torah.
“Simchat Torah is a holiday I never had celebrated before moving to Houston, but it has become one of my favorites,” said Ethan Schwartz of Conejo Valley, Calif. “The energy that Chabad brings to it is infectious, and celebrating there was a blast!”
Beyond the holiday celebrations, Rabbi Slonim and his wife Nechama, Chabad at Rice’s co-director, remain available to students seeking personal support throughout the year.
“The holidays bring many students through our doors, and we want them to know we are here for them throughout the year,” Rabbi Slonim said. “Whether they are facing academic pressures, dealing with something personal or simply need someone to listen, they can turn to us. Supporting students is a priority at Chabad, and we continue to explore ways to strengthen that support.”
With the support of the Houston community, Chabad at Rice continues to create opportunities for Jewish students to celebrate their heritage, build friendships and find a welcoming place to turn throughout their college years.