From Feeling Like a Nobody to Becoming a Somebody

Columbus, OH — There are plenty of reasons the Chabad house on campus has always been a home away from home, and so much more for me.

For instance, I can safely say that the best things in life are free, especially if you’re in need of a good kosher meal. When I first arrived at Ohio State University, thousands of miles away from home in Seattle – and hundreds of miles from anyone I knew for that matter – to say I was intimidated is an understatement. The Columbus, Ohio school boasts a very large student body, so I decided to look for something besides the typical ice-breaker in the hope of finding some people who were actually like me.

I saw an OSU Chabad booth at the student involvement fair, but was a bit nervous to approach. I was the only Jew in my high school and never had the inclination to visit Chabad growing up. The student standing by the booth just smiled and said, “You’re Jewish. I’m Harold.” He’s one of my best friends now.

Harold told me about a place to get a free meal, hang out, get involved and even meet Jewish women that weren’t Hebrew school teachers, so I decided to stop by to see if I wasn’t the only “new kid.” I can honestly say that I haven’t missed a Friday night since. The people and environment are so welcoming – more than any day school or synagogue I’d ever been to. I never feel pressure to dress a certain way, or be anything but myself; I’ve embraced my Judaism because of it.

A World of Opportunity

I’ve also been brought closer to Israel. When I first realized how much anti-Israel sentiment there was on college campuses, I joined a student group that was created by the Chabad House known as Ambassadors for Israel. Since then, we have planned multiple Israel events on campus, heard some very prominent speakers; I’ve even worked in an Israel-related internship, something I would have never had the chance to do if it weren’t for Rabbi Zalman and Sarah Deitsch, and the Schottenstein Chabad House.

As I was sitting on a hill looking over the Dead Sea on a Taglit-birthright Israel-Mayanot trip that the Deitschs gave me the opportunity to go on, I thought back on how much life has changed in just three years. Now I have Jewish friends and meaningful things to do every day. But more importantly, now I have a place where I can call home when I’m thousands of miles away from where I grew up.