It was 1981 when Rabbi Nechemia and Masha Vogel first established Chabad at the University of Rochester, opening the doors of their small home to Jewish college students at the western New York State private university.
Now, more than 30 years later—and with the Vogel’s son-in-law and daughter, Rabbi Asher and Devorah Leah Yaras, at the helm—the Rohr Chabad House-Center for Jewish Life at the University of Rochester celebrated the grand opening of its new 6,000-square-foot Jewish student center on Sept. 2, together with 200 of their students and supporters.
“We arrived here in the summer of 2004, when my in-laws shifted their focus to Rochester-wide Chabad activities,” explains Rabbi Asher Yaras. “A new home for the campus Chabad House has been a dream for 30 years, and it has been in the works for the last five.
“At first, there were 14 people at our Pesach seder; now we have 250. Whereas we used to have to rent a banquet hall for our larger events, we now have a beautiful building with room for growth.”
Yaras notes that the center’s newly renovated building is conveniently located close to campus, and features spaces for prayer and meals, and also houses a student lounge and an extensive Jewish library. Chabad serves about 1,000 students at the university.
"Every new Chabad on Campus center is a huge accomplishment with untold potential. But when it is run by someone whose parents began the Chabad on Campus at the university, and then work alongside them in reaching Jewish students, it is a level all its own," expressed Rabbi Yossy Gordon, executive vice president of Chabad on Campus International Foundation.
The initial funding for the project came from philanthropists George and Pamela Rohr, in whose honor the center is named, and Alan and Lori Zekelman.
Zekelman, a Detroit-area businessman and philanthropist, first encountered Chabad as a student at the University of Rochester, when he was approached by Rabbi Vogel to hop onto Chabad’s mobile sukkah, and make the blessing on the lulav and etrog.
In addition, the Yaras family feels fortunate to have had the support of dozens of parents, donors and local sponsors whose help was essential in bringing this building to fruition.
They also thank Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, for his support of the project.
Hot Soup and Warm Hearts
The grand opening also doubled as a celebration for the completion of a new Torah scroll donated to the Chabad House by University of Rochester alumni Greg and Kim Stein, in memory of their father Richard H. Stein.
Among the speakers at the event was 2013 graduate Rina Polyakov, who described the "home away from home" feeling she got the more time she spent with the Yaras family.
“When I look back on my years here at University of Rochester, I honestly cannot imagine them without the Chabad House,” said Polyakov. “I remember last year during finals, when I was up all night in ITS, trying to write codes on MATLAB while sick with the flu. Devorah Leah insisted on bringing me a bowl of fresh, steaming-hot butternut squash soup. She even got out of her car in the wonderful Rochester December weather to bring it in so that I wouldn’t have to go out in the cold—at 10 at night! No one I have met there connects with and cares for students like she does.”
Chabad House founder Rabbi Vogel pointed out that Polyakov’s experience at University of Rochester exemplifies the vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—when he sent young Chassidic couples as his emissaries to college campuses around the world.
“This is the formula the Rebbe established for the Chabad House,” said Vogel. “Go to campus with the shofar, the lulav, the Torah discussion, the Shabbat chicken soup and kugel—and touch Jewish minds, hearts and souls.”
Start a Discussion