Amid war in Israel, hundreds of students, alumni, faculty members, Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries from around the United States, and local and state officials gathered at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the school’s Chabad Center for Jewish Life and Living and to take part in the grand opening of its new 27,000-square-foot Jewish student center and dormitory.
“We created this space as a hub for inclusion, education and ‘pro-semitism,’ ” said Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel, director of Illini Chabad. “We envision the new center as a shining example, urging the larger community to proactively unite, irrespective of our differences.” Tiechtel paid homage to those who laid the groundwork for the Chabad—from the founders of Illinois’ Jewish community, who arrived in Champaign just after the Civil War, to the numerous donors such as George and Pamela Rohr, who assisted with the purchase of the building.
Among the guests at the ceremony was Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who shared words of hope and inspiration. “Just a little over 20 years ago, there was no Chabad physical presence on campus ... Jewish students were honestly left to fend for themselves.” “Now,” he continued, “Jews of the University of Illinois have a place to call home.” Pritzker declared that amid the recent tragedy in Israel and rising campus antisemitism. “This center will send the message to Jewish students everywhere that you belong here.”
Other speakers at the event included University president Tim Killeen, chancellor Robert Jones and board of trustees chair Don Edwards, who praised Chabad for the important role it has played as a welcoming space, not only for the campus’s 3,000 Jewish students, but as a meeting place for students and faculty of all backgrounds. They emphasized the deep relationship the university has had with Chabad since the Tiechtels arrived in 2003.
The 27,000-square-foot building features a kosher dining hall, study lounges, prayer spaces, social halls, a resource library and a game room. As one of the largest campus Jewish centers in the country, Illini Chabad also serves the local Jewish community, and features adult education and teen programs. The new center also includes university-recognized dormitories—the first of any Chabad campus center in the United States.
“The rabbi and his wife are bridge-builders in the community. They’re inclusive, not exclusive,” said Larry Gould (class of 1983), who together with his wife, Suzanne, and his family were major donors to the project and dedicated the building. “Yes, this is a Jewish organization, and we’re proud of that. No one gets turned away at Chabad.”
Gould shared that Chabad has a deep personal significance for him, as well as his immediate and extended family, who all graduated from the university. “I wish Chabad had been here for all of us to enjoy and enhance our college experience,” he said.
Ellie Scott, Illini Chabad’s student president, shared her experience, noting how the organization has provided her with a place to connect with her religion. She said “Chabad is special because it exposes each individual to different aspects of Judaism, such as the teachings of the Torah, celebrations of holidays, and the culture of family and friends.”
The dedication ceremony commenced with Tehillim (“Psalms”) and greetings from Rabbi Meir Moscowitz, director of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, as well as prayers for the the safety of the Israel Defense Forces, led by Cantor Aryeh Hurwitz of Chabad of Boca Raton, Fla. Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, representing his father, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky—vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement—also shared words of inspiration and a prayer for world peace. Also in attendance was Rabbi Avi Weinstein, COO of Chabad on Campus International.
Rabbi Tiechtel concluded by giving gratitude to those who came before and shared his vision of Chabad as a place crowd—all faiths, all traditions, all cultures—we come together as one community to dedicate this center.”
Here is the link to watch the full dedication ceremony.
Join the Discussion