From the first day that I started attending Binghamton University, the bond with my Jewish identity only grew stronger. Growing up going to Yeshiva all my life, with the exception of two months at Lawrence, I have had constant links to Judaism and my Jewish past. But coming to college, for the first time, I started to feel nervous about how life would be changed not being in the Jewish environment that I was used to. This only helped solidify my role in being part of the vast Jewish community that Binghamton offers. Right away our first “Jew-crew” was formed with myself, Eric Katz, Michael Blechner, Oren Kashi, Warren Skydell and Enoch Law. Being away from the constant watch of my Rabbis at HAFTR only made me want to be that much more involved in Chabad and all the Jewish events that I could possibly help with or attend. Also, I was one of the few Jewish players on my hockey team here at Binghamton, and this truly had a great impact on me because it was so important to me to set an example and to not make a “chilul Hashem” (desecrate G-d’s name by acting in a way unseemly for a Jew). My friends and I really made the most of everything we could and Binghamton helped me in turn become that much closer with my own Jewish identity.
Some of my most memorable events included helping with the Purim Carnival, showing off my mitzvah skills in the mitzvah marathon, and doing everything I could to help set and clean up at the Shabbat 1000. But most memorable will be the Erev Shabbat meals in Chabad with my best friends and my girlfriend, Natalie. It was here, in my home away from home, where I got to spend Shabbat with family in Binghamton, listen to fascinating speeches, sing and enjoy the lettuce salad that I’d have to basically smuggle in order to get a second serving of. It was also in Chabad where I became the most feared and recognized ping pong player in Chabad history. But looking past the ping pong, Chabad plays such an important role not only in Binghamton University but in each of our lives. Giving us that feeling of Shabbat and Jewish unity at a time when we are away from our homes and did not have that security really made Binghamton as special as it could have been. Chabad gives a secular school a chance to have an active Jewish community which has played a huge role in my life and which I will truly miss when I graduate.
Some events I’d like to see added to Jewish life is maybe Chabad ping pong tournaments, Jiu Jitsu and parsha night, some wacky events like post Shabbos Taboo and Vodka Oneg, or Super Guys Night, where the ladies go downstairs and the guys get the crazy cakes and ultra fun and maybe we can have a sleepover party too. But in all seriousness, Chabad makes Binghamton perfect, and as long as it continues the way it is I can only hope others can have the same special experience and incredible four (and for some, five or six) years that Chabad had given me.