Rabbi Johnson, his Wife Join Chabad House as New Directors

Austin, TX — A new rabbi and his wife have come to Austin manage campus activities of Chabad-Lubavitch at the University of Texas.

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Rabbi Zev Johnson and his wife, Ariela, are co-directing Chabad House, Rabbi Yosef and Rochel Levertov announced.

The Johnsons arrived in June with infant daughter, Menucha, “who has already become a hit with the students,” Rabbi Johnson said. “Ariela and I are beyond excited to be here.”

Johnson — or Rabbi Zev, as students often call him — is no stranger to UT. Hailing from traditional Jewish circles in Dallas, he attended the university.

He described how, at his first encounter with UT’s Chabad, he connected immediately with the Levertovs and their way of life.

“They provided an inspiring message of practical mysticism,” Johnson said. “They showed me how a traditional Jew can live productively and successfully in the modern world.”

Ariela Johnson, the Rebbetzin, clarified, “They formed a close, beautiful relationship. They answered a lot of his questions. He loves the Tanya (classic Chassidic text blending Kabbalah and Talmud), the Niggunim (melodies). …”

Rabbi Johnson went on to study at the Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, N.J., and received his ordination earlier this year from the Ma’ayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Israel.

The couple met on a traditional Shidduch date in New York while he was in rabbinical school.

She already was looking to devote her life to outreach, or shlichus, as it is called. She cites the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s message about the unique importance of every Jew as being influential in her decision. She loves to teach and study, to help people find their roots.

Before moving back to Austin, Rabbi Johnson had returned here regularly to spend time with UT students and to assist Rabbi Levertov on campus.

“Zev’s passion is Austin: the students, the community, the campus,” his wife said.

It has become her passion, as well.

Although they arrived here in the summer, a slow time on campus, the Johnsons already are making waves at UT. Shabbat attendance is on the increase, with more than 25 guests at the Shabbat table Friday nights.

UT senior Cheryl Nolan said, “I’m not super-religious, but I’ve been going to Chabad on and off for a year. They (the Johnsons) bring so much life and so much energy, and inspire me to learn more.”

Others echo Nolan’s experience.

“It’s really exciting to have a new face here that Jewish students can look to,” said Frankie Shulkin, a UT sophomore who is internal financial director for student government. “You can already feel the family’s energy, and their passion and commitment to making Jewish students feel welcome at UT.

“I am confident that they will find great success because their doors are always open, and their Shabbos table is very warm.”

With more than 4,000 Jewish students, many of them unaffiliated, UT-Austin is considered fertile ground for outreach. The Levertovs have been serving the campus as well as the greater Austin community for more than 24 years, but the community’s growth in recent years and the addition of Bais Menachem Hebrew Academy and the Chabad Center for Jewish Living in Northwest Hills have made it difficult for them to focus on campus activities. They expressed gratitude to the Rohr Family Foundation for making it possible to bring on a rabbi exclusively devoted to the UT campus.

UT students and faculty move between Chabad House and Texas Hillel with ease, often on the same day. Margo Sack, Hillel’s director of Jewish student life, said she looks forward to working with Rabbi Johnson in the years ahead.

Rabbi David Komerofsky, executive director of Hillel, agreed.

“It’s great to have a new colleague in the area, especially someone with such a strong connection to this university and community,” he said. “I am delighted to have Rabbi Johnson and his family as neighbors near campus.”

Many new things will be happening at Chabad House, not the least of which will be a major renovation, starting after the High Holy Days.

“We look forward to continuing to expand our activities in such a way that every single Jewish student on campus will be able to appreciate,” Rabbi Johnson said. “Each Jewish student is a gem. As an alumnus of UT, I am humbled, yet at the same time inspired, to be able to give back to my student community.”

For more information or to support Chabad programs at UT, contact Rabbi Johnson at or rabbizev@alumni.utexas.net or 472-3900. On Facebook, he goes by “Rabbi Zev Johnson.”

Debbie Friedman can be reached via email at dbfrdmn@yahoo.com