New Paltz, FIU to Toast New Facilities

The name of the game is expansion at several campus Chabad Houses this year, as shluchim and students in New York and Florida prepare to celebrate their new facilities.

Coming on the heels of the Chabad Student Center’s closing last week on the purchase of a new location at the University of California at S. Cruz, the Chabad Houses at the State University of New York at New Paltz and Florida International University in Miami announced high-profile events related to their own capital campaigns.

Chabad Plays Host for Fraternity’s Winter Gathering

Chicago, IL — A festive Friday night dinner kicked off Alpha Epsilon Pi’s Midwest conclave in Chicago, held during the last weekend in January. Young men from Texas to Toronto came together for a heartwarming Jewish experience, Chabad style, which included plenty of food, a Stump the Rabbi session and much singing for the 225 attendees.

Different regions of AEPi chapters hold semi-annual regional conclaves each winter, bringing the fraternity’s brothers together for a few days of conferences. According to organizers, the Chicago event represented the first time that a kosher Shabbat dinner was part of the program. “Attendance was twice as high this year,” said Lee Solomon, Midwest Conclave chairman and a student at the University of Chicago, “so we thought it would be nice to have a Shabbat extravaganza as an ice breaker.”

West Coast Jewish Leaders Gather For Chabad Convention

Los Angeles, CA — Hundreds of local Chabad representatives and Jewish community leaders from across California and Nevada will gather on February 18 and 19 to participate in the 2007 West Coast Chabad convention. The event at the Glendale Hilton will feature nationally syndicated radio host and best-selling author Michael Medved as its keynote speaker.

Chabad’s convention, or Kinus, is the largest annual gathering of West Coast Jewish leaders, drawing representatives from every major Jewish community in the region. The Kinus brings Chabad emissaries together to attend workshops, hear speakers, and share ideas on serving their local communities.

Clergy Put their Faith in YouTube

West Palm Beach, FL – South Florida clergy are turning to technology to broaden their audiences, putting cyber-sermons and virtual religious lessons alongside the blooper reels and video blogs on YouTube.