In high school I was told not to go to Binghamton because I will become less observant and lose my connection to Judaism. I laughed at that statement because I went to Yeshiva all of my life and grew up in an Orthodox home, so I thought nothing could phase me. Then I showed up to my dorm on the first day of freshman year and met my roommate, “Spike”. Besides for the infamous “mezuzah incident” and other minor episodes, we got along really well. However, for the first time in my life I found myself being questioned about my beliefs and rituals. I came to realize that I wanted and needed to understand more about my Judaism, so I started taking advantage of all that the Chabad House has to offer. My Judaism has been strengthened by attending the weekly parsha classes, beit midrash, and my “almost perfect” shacharit attendance record for the past 2 years. No one forced me to learn, pray, or keep kosher, yet I enjoyed doing these things so much more than I used to.
It’s hard to say what I will miss most about Chabad. While the Purim Carnivals, Mitzvah Marathons, and the lettuce salad will always hold a special place in my heart, it is the relationships I have established through Chabad that I will always remember.