Anti-Jewish Hate Couldn’t Stop 2,200 Students at Shabbat Dinner

by Ellen Braunstein – chabad.org

A mega Shabbat dinner on Friday night served to unify the Jewish community of Binghamton University in New York with a record 2,200 students participating.

The Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life sponsored the April 5 event, saying that it was the largest gathering of students in one place for a Shabbat dinner.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of a community-wide Shabbat meal that began with 1,000 participants in 1994 and was led by Binghamton co-directors Rabbi Aaron and Rivkah Slonim.

Today, there are 4,000 Jewish students at Binghamton; 1,500 of them are active with Chabad during the school year in one capacity or another.

“There’s a very special feeling in the room for those who put their whole heart and soul into making it and for those who experience what may be their once-a-year connection to Judaism,“ said Goldie Ohana, programming director of Rohr Chabad Center at Binghamton.

“It means everything to me to just spend the night together in unity,” said Michal Levine, a junior, who volunteered to help coordinate the event.

It took a collective effort to pull this feat off. Some 235 student volunteers came together to organize, set up and coordinate the Shabbat dinner, which was free and open to all students, faculty and staff.

‘There’s No Better Time to Deepen Our Jewish Pride’

The annual event takes on greater significance with the unprecedented level of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on campuses everywhere.

“We’re in such a troubling time for the Jewish nation, and it can feel very despondent,” Ohana said. “And with this event that we create and the atmosphere that’s put out, it’s all about being stronger and prouder in our Jewish identity and connecting as many Jews as we can with Hashem. There’s no better time to deepen our Jewish pride by coming to this event.”

The Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—always taught that darkness can only be banished with light, and hatred with indiscriminate love. Organizers are urging communities to gather in even greater numbers, bolstering Jewish community and pride.

The “Shabbat 2400” dinner at Binghamton has spawned similar programs on campuses across the country and around the world and many vendors and organizations donated funds and services.

It required more than 775 pounds of chicken, 360 pounds of challah bread, 2,200 matzah balls and 250 large bottles of grape juice among other items. There were 240 Shabbat tables set up at Binghamton University Events Center.

“People don’t understand how they can get food for over 2,000 people,” said sophomore Haley Wilenzick, one of the three head organizers of Shabbat 2400. “But it’s because of all the volunteers who are helping out. The kitchen was full of singing and energy as they were cooking for this huge event.”

A.J. Keiser, a sophomore and business major from West Orange, N.J., helped prepare food. He says he was amazed to see “the willingness of people to just step up and help in any way they can and continue to just offer their time to make sure this program runs as well as possible.”

A Meaningful Dinner

Before the onset of Shabbat, students were welcomed with video greetings from prominent influencers: Montana Tucker, Inbar Lavi and Mayim Bialik. New York Gov. Kathy Hochel also addressed the crowd.

The services then began with Jewish women coming together to welcome Shabbat with candle-lighting before the dinner; highlighted by Shabbat traditions such as kiddush and Shabbat hymns and songs.

Wilenzick said that “to finally see it come to fruition and just be surrounded by 2,200 people is really powerful.”

Preparations began back in October. “It’s a lot of teamwork, delegating and communication,” said Levine, who is majoring in Judaic studies with a minor in Israel studies and education. “We also come up with new creative ideas of how to publicize the event and get people really engaged.” All were invited to attend, not just Jewish students.

Students brought their friends and acquaintances. A publicity blitz, Matzah Ball Mania, was held on campus to reach many students. The volunteers gave out matzah-ball soup and had people guess the weight of huge challahs, all to advertise the big event.

Levine was inspired to get involved by her mother, herself a Binghamton alumnus who graduated in 1994. “I grew up hearing all these stories about the Jewish community and how strong it was and her relationship with Rabbi Slonin and his wife, Rivkah. To see from the small community that my mom had to how much it’s grown 30 years later, I feel that it’s my home.”

For Keiser, the Shabbat 2400 means “achdut, being united and coming together and realizing that no matter what level of observance or religiosity, we’re all Jews, and all we really want is to come together and celebrate Shabbat together.”