Taking It to the Next Level on New York’s Bowery

As soon as Micah Timen found out that tickets were on sale for the “Miracle on the Bowery” event, he bought one. And so, he spent Thursday night, March 6, celebrating Chabad House Bowery, which serves New York University and other area universities, their alumni and friends.

There were nearly 1,000 parents, grandparents, young professionals, friends and students in attendance.

It was this Chabad’s first time holding a development-related event and a chance to identify its brand, articulate its message and propose a new fundraising narrative, says Rabbi Dov Yonah Korn, co-director of the Chabad House with his wife, Sarah. “We’re celebrating the fact that investors are coming forth to us because they’re getting turned on by what we’re doing.”

“My goal is for people to feel that they’re a part of Chabad House Bowery and to be proud to be a part of this incredible network, this incredible moment—to harness all the love in the room and get some conversation going,” continues the rabbi. “That lays the groundwork for the organization’s future.”

The event also coincided with the couple’s 15th anniversary in the area doing the work of theRebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. Over that time, they have built a diverse community and promoted leadership, even educating students to teach other students, explains the rabbi. Their alumni and friends network has grown as well, and turned out en masse for the celebration.

Held at the snazzy event space Capitale on New York’s Lower East Side, there were cocktails to sip at high tables, food stations with fajitas, meat-carving stations and skewers, pasta and sushi, as well as plates of hors d’oeuvres walked around by servers. “Klezmer with a kick” set the stage of the live music in the background, and banners draped from high ceilings highlighted what Chabad offers and sets out to do.

There was also a video section with flat-screen televisions where guests could don headphones and listen to people talk about their experiences at Chabad. The event featured an interactive “guided flash mob” element as well—300 sets of headphones were distributed, and the wearers were instructed how to interact with their non-headphone-wearing peers.

“What was most amazing was how many people showed up,” says Timen. (In fact, the bash was sold out.) “It is a testament to how many people the Korns have deeply touched.”

‘Celebrate the Miracle’

Originally from Cleveland, Timen came to campus in the fall of 2007, and says he “fell in love with the good vibes of Chabad.” It was the welcoming atmosphere that the rabbi and his wife—and, by extension, others who went to the Chabad House—provided.

“It felt homey and comfortable for me,” he says.

He’s back on campus now, taking classes to go to medical school and learning with the rabbi on a weekly basis. And, he notes, he was glad to take part in Chabad’s big event, which just by the crowd it drew showcased how much the community has grown. “I thought it was really cool to have such a gathering of Jews at one place, at one time.”

At the event, Chabad launched a student giving campaign, where donations will be matched by a Chabad supporter. It also launched a “Dreamer’s Club” for philanthropists interested in helping take Chabad House Bowery to the next level, and announced a future kosher restaurant to be opened downtown under Chabad’s auspices. And the contributions of all those in attendance were emphasized and acknowledged.

“It’s a miracle, and we wanted to pause to celebrate the miracle and push it forward to the next one,” says the rabbi.

Sarah Korn recalls their previous smaller space, at the start of their shlichus, when she would cook food in her apartment and walk it over to the Chabad House. They operated out of a basement on Washington Square North; their first Shabbat dinner was attended by three students. But every story has a beginning … word spread, and the number of guests soon multiplied.

The home-cooked food was a draw, she acknowledges, but the young people were also attracted to something bigger. “It’s the warmth of the place—the home, the connection.

“That’s not us; that’s the Rebbe,” she says. “We are the Rebbe’s [emissaries], so we are able to do it.”

What’s amazing, she adds, is the tremendous growth that they’ve seen. What started from Shabbat meals has evolved into their Chabad being a center for Jewish life—and their work is just beginning, she says. “Everybody needs something different; we’re all individuals. I hope everybody gets what they need, and that we can be multifaceted enough to reach as many Jews as possible.”

‘Look to the Future’

Richard Norman, who moved to New York for work about a year-and-a-half ago, messaged friends ahead of time to tell them about the “incredible event” that they should attend. He invited colleagues from work, friends from downtown and even his sister. “I knew it would be an event people would enjoy, and it proved to be right—the event was a big success,” he says.

The London broil and sliders caught his attention, but more importantly, so did the evening’s significance for the Chabad House.

“It’s a transition in terms of how people will connect to and understand what Chabad is doing,” he remarks. “It’s a chance to celebrate successes of the past and also look to the future—and in many ways, it left it out there for people to see different ways to get involved.”

For Timen, the event was a chance to catch up with old friends and to savor the ongoing connection he has to the community.

On a more personal level, he adds, the rabbi has provided advice in a nonjudgmental way, which is especially helpful to college students as they start making decisions that will influence their future. “If you have a rabbi like that, then it’s safe to say there will be higher propensity to continue on in a committed Jewish life.”

Timen came to the gala early and stayed late. “And the entire time,” he says, “I was smiling from ear to ear.”