Neo-Nazis to Encounter ‘Good Deed Marathon’

From Chabad.org:

As Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced a state of emergency ahead of an Oct. 19 speech by Richard Spencer at the University of Florida in Gainesville, the Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Student Center announced that it will host a “Good Deed Marathon” throughout the day on campus, and that it will be open for extended hours throughout the week with extra security measures in place. The university has the largest number of enrolled Jewish students in the United States.

Rabbi Berl Goldman, executive director of the Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Student Center there, echoed a call by Ken Fuchs, president of the university, to shun the white supremacists, and urged students and community members to avoid the talk. Instead, he encouraged students to “counter hate with love and dispel darkness with light” by attending any of the alternative events on campus, including the Good Deed Marathon.

“Despite the negative energy that some are bringing into our city on Thursday,” Goldman told Chabad.org, “it’s important that we do our part to counter that with random acts of love and kindness, which can chase away much darkness.”

Fara Moskowitz, student president of the UF Lubavitch-Chabad Student Group expressed the importance of this project for the school’s 9,400 Jewish students. “Our group is dedicated to giving students opportunities to enrich their lives and the lives of those around them through projects and events that promote kindness, happiness and compassion to others,” she said.

Goldman said he understands that the event and possible protest will “provoke fear, especially for people who are targets of hate and violence because of their skin color, religion, culture, sexual orientation or beliefs.”

As a result, the Chabad center will be open for additional hours throughout the week. From 9 a.m. to midnight on Oct. 18, Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, students can freely use the campus Chabad center’s lobby/lounge, library, fitness room and Wi-Fi. Coffee, tea and snacks will be available throughout the day, and the KosherGrill/Café will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. In addition, Chabad UF will offer many activities during the course of the three days.

The school had denied an earlier request by Spencer to speak in September, citing security concerns after Aug. 12 protests in Charlottesville, Va., led to extensive violence, including the death of a 32-year-old woman who was killed when a man drove his car into a group countering the event. The governor’s state of emergency order will make it easier to coordinate security efforts by the state, the city and campus officials.

Chanie Goldman, co-director of Chabad UF, said: “Although our world at times experiences deliberate expressions of hate, it is especially important now that all people practice extra goodness and kindness, proving that hate and evil will never win. It’s important on this day that everyone will have a positive way to refocus and contribute in a show of love.”