One Student’s Thoughts on a Campus Shabbaton

S. Diego, CA — Some may call it overcrowding. Others may call it a fire hazard. But to Chabad, it was just another Shabbaton. After more than 600 college students from across California and Arizona descended on Chabad at S. Diego State University for the Feb.1-3 gathering, the scene Friday night was intense: The walls seemed to literally extend outward to make room for the myriad students, and despite the cramped circumstances, only smiles graced every face. This was just the beginning of the weekend, and more promised to follow.

Although I have been to several similar Shabbatons during my college career, it seemed impossible to be prepared for such a momentous event. Every year, the number of attendees for the West Coast Shabbaton seems to skyrocket, and the excitement grows right along with the people. The Shabbat dinner was truly a site to behold, and the many zemiros and inspiring speeches from both rabbis and students just added to the evening.

As this Shabbat also fell out on Tu B’Shevat, the marking of the Jewish “New Year” for trees, many of the speeches reflected on the holiness of the day, and how it paralleled the Shabbaton. Just as the holiday is connected to the growth of trees, this Shabbaton was a symbol of the growth of the Jewish nation and the coming together of hundreds of Jewish people. Personally, I’ve been religious my whole life, but it was amazing to see how much I didn’t know. It was a sure sign of the many facets of the Torah and the importance of every single Jewish person embracing their heritage.

The party went on late into the evening, but everyone eventually settled down for the night at the houses of many San Diego students and community members who opened their homes for the visiting students and families.

Fun on the Beach and in the Sun

Lunch the next day continued in the same vein as the previous night, and new tables sprung up every few minutes to accommodate the influx of students. Each student was eager to get as much out of the wonderful food – both physical and spiritual – as possible, to nourish the body and soul. After Shabbat ended, the party moved to La Jolla Shores beach, where the group gathered around a large bonfire for a night of hookah and barbeque. Music filled the air as many students sang Jewish songs accompanied by several guitars, bongos, even a mandolin.

Sunday, though, topped all that came before. Rabbi Chalom Boudjnah of SDSU packed up the festivities for a jaunt to Tijuana for some horseback riding and paintball across the border. More than 100 students filed into the buses to Mexico, and after several hours of action-packed fun, the weary riders and paint-splattered warriors were invited to Chabad of Tijuana to watch the Super Bowl. But the football game took a back seat to the delicious fiesta that was set up, and the room was buzzing with lively conversation and newfound friendships. As the Shabbaton ebbed to a close, my mind wandered from the frustration over my hometown Chicago Bears’ defeat to the joy enjoyed by all that weekend.

There is nothing quite as wonderful as seeing a multitude of young Jewish men and women come together for a weekend of Torah, achdus, and, of course, fun. The Shabbat was proof that no matter how much growth there is in the coming years – both of trees and of Jews – there will always be room for everyone in Chabad.