My favorite aspect of Jewish life in Binghamton (or maybe of my job in the Kosher Kitchen) is how tight-knit the Jewish community here is and how many different kinds of members of the Jewish community one can, and does, meet. We have Yekkes, Russians, Persians and Morraccans, Yeshiva graduates and public school graduates, traditionalists and more liberal types, ones from NYC who never knew a non-Jew in their life and ones from upstate who were the only Jew in their town. The debates in the KK between Jewish students on all extremes of the American and Israeli political spectra are legendary.
At Chabad, Hillel and in the KK, you get to know a complete community - your community - of people you can count on to know your name, where you may be in life, and who can understand (each in their own way) your commitment to our Jewish heritage.
PS - Chabad pizza is the best within 100 miles! And the “good salad” is even better!