I transferred to Binghamton for my sophomore year of college after attending North Carolina State University my freshman year. While NC State is a great school academically, there was very little room for me to be an observant Jew in regards to Kashrut, Shabbat and having a Jewish social group. A big reason I transferred to Binghamton is because of its reputation of having many Jews and Jewish programming and I have been able to grow much more since I started here three years ago. I have been involved in Hillel, attended programs at the Chabad House and eaten at the Kosher Kitchen. I have learned a lot about my Jewish identity which I didn’t learn attending public schools. Simchat Torah my first year, 2000, was an amazing experience for me. Simchat Torah fell soon after the Intifada in Israel began and there was also much anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on campus. The show of support, of being proud to be a Jew despite all the negativity, was amazing. My favorite part of the Simchat Torah celebration, in addition to dancing outside the Union with the Sifrei Torah, was singing in two big circles at the end. I had never heard the song ‘Acheinu’ before, but I fell in love with it – both its meaning and it’s melody. The Simchat Torah celebration was only one way in which the Chabad House helped me experience Judaism on campus. I felt welcomed at the Chabad House every Shabbat for services, or just meals, if I chose not to daven there one week. The Chabad family made me and all my friends feel welcome to participate
with them in any way we felt comfortable. There was no hidden agenda, it was all about being Jewish with other Jews. I have been given the opportunity to strengthen my ties with the overall Jewish community and feel confident that I will be able to find as warm and welcoming of a Jewish community in the future.