Chabad Opens ‘The Kugel Collaborative’ for Philadelphia University Students

The new year has brought something new to Jewish students of the arts in Philadelphia: a modern, stylish and comfortable space where they can study, socialize and kick back with a cup of coffee while the creative juices flow.

On a Sunday afternoon that still smacked of summer, students (and even a parent or two) walked in and out of the Kugel Collaborative, a Chabad on Campus two-story center co-directed by Rabbi Daniel and Reuvena Leah Grodnitzky, both originally from the area. Located on the city’s uber-hip South Street, the gallery space moved from a temporary venue nearby to the now permanent space the couple purchased in April and then had renovated.

It took a while to find the right space—“it’s always hard finding real estate,” acknowledges the 30-year-old rabbi—but the new location seems to fit the bill. It’s within walking distance to a number of art schools and lies in an area long frequented by young people.

As far as the “Kugel” goes, Grodnitzky explains: “We wanted a name that was clearly identifiable as Jewish, eye-catching and a little bit silly, which is very much in line with the way young artists are marketing their creativity nowadays. Just like kugel, which is a bunch of different ingredients mixed together into one whole, our Chabad House is a place that any Jew—no matter their hair color or level of Jewish education—can feel like and realize that they are an integral part of the Jewish people.”

Student art decorates the walls, some of it for sale. A backyard patio will feature outdoor sculpture pieces and provide additional seating during artist receptions. The light-hued wood floors on the main level lead to stairs down to a carpeted finished basement with multiple rooms—one for classes, programs, performances or simply for lounging; and another officially titled the “Borowsky Film Room and Library,” where students can watch films about Judaism and Israel, and share their own work with their peers.

In fact, members of the Borowsky family attended the Sept. 20 grand opening, where they had the chance to meet some of the many visitors committed to the arts, and, for that matter, Chabad.

Groditzky also notes the contributions of the Rohr family “for enabling our work and helping our vision become a reality. Their generosity has made this new center possible and has a direct impact on Jewish campus life in Philadelphia.”

‘Know Their Audience’

Andrew Hutz, 25, from Wilmington, Del., discovered the Kugel Collaborative as part of the effort to learn more about his heritage. “I was looking for connection, community—to boost my Jewish identity,” he says.

The sophomore at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia says he appreciates feeling included and takes part in all kinds of activities, including classes, Shabbat services and holiday programs. Growing up, he went to synagogue a few times a year and became a bar mitzvah, but when he got to school and discovered Chabad, he started seeking more.

In fact, he participated on the Taglit: Birthright Israel Mayanot 10-day trip this summer without knowing anyone—and wound up staying an extra three weeks.

University of the Arts film alumnus Michael Mizrahi, also 25, says he met “Rabbi Daniel” within the first month of starting school five years ago during a Sukkot program in the city’s tony Rittenhouse Square. He just spent Yom Kippur with the Grodnitzkys, something he’s done before. “It’s a nice tradition to break the fast with them,” he says, noting that he’s seen both their family—the couple has five children—and the gallery space grow.

Over the years, he has participated in the Sinai Scholars program and the annual Chabad on Campus International Student Shabbaton in New York (this year taking place from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25). Mizrahi feels that one of the successes of campus emissaries is that “they cater to student schedules. They know their audience and work positively to get people involved. And they relate everything back to Judaism.”

“Students at campuses all over have parallel experiences at their Chabad Houses,” he continues, whether in a major city or leafy suburban setting. “We all have a connection.”

‘Express Their Creativity’

Corey Leavitt, 19, a sophomore at the University of the Arts studying film and photography, has been coming to the Kugel Collaborative for a year now, learning about it through social media. Even though his family wasn’t very religious, he says he felt he was, and “wanted to be more in touch with Judaism.”

“When I first came here, I didn’t know anyone, but it was very welcoming. It also brings me back; it makes me feel nostalgic,” says the Northeast Philadelphia native. “I try to do as much as I can. I like the one-on-one that Chabad offers—the family environment and the fact that everything is more personal.”

His mother also attended the opening. Anne Leavitt says she feels good knowing there is a place not far from school where her son can come to meet other Jewish students, have a coffee or read a book, all in the backdrop of getting some structure on religion.

While guests toured the building, music-school graduate and guitarist Benya Barshai performed, putting the gallery’s objective into practice.

Grodnitzky believes that the new space will appeal to both young professionals and students at the more than half-dozen major arts schools in the city. Since the Kugel Collaborative first started in February 2012, a variety of shows have been curated, including “The Art of Joy,” “Passover at (Marc) Chagall’s Seder Table” and “A Philadelphia Exposé.”

“The gallery provides those pursuing careers in the fine arts and performing arts to share their work and express their creativity in a Jewish way,” says the rabbi. “And the timing of the opening, coinciding with the High Holy Days, provides extra motivation to capitalize upon the excitement of both a new center and a new year.”

As far as Michelle Fishkin goes, “I didn’t know what Chabad was,” she says, before she arrived at the University of the Arts from New Jersey. The 24-year-old junior recalls that the rabbi first invited her to Shabbat dinner, where she wound up seeing a number of friends there.

Now she attends them whenever she can, and tries to help a little with the cooking beforehand or the cleaning up afterwards. “Growing up, I lit candles, celebrated the Jewish holidays and had a bat mitzvah, but I wasn’t brought up with the rituals and rules.”

She says she likes learning about Judaism and Jewish law, and she’s open to knowing more.

Which is good, says the rabbi, because on tap for October and November is a series of six classes on “Stress Relief Through Art,” to be taught by a local fine-arts major. In addition to weekly Shabbat programs are Kugel Kabbalah classes, monthly film screenings and one-on-one learning/mentoring opportunities. Also on deck: a bimonthly Sunday “Jewish Jazz Brunch,” where students will perform while guests schmear cream cheese on bagels.

“We hope,” says the rabbi, “that other students will start teaching paintings classes, offer music lessons and much more in the space.”