A dinner to honor the memory of Yossi Gourarie, who passed away last April after a prolonged battle with brain cancer, brought out more than 300 students for the first-ever “Mega Shabbat” dinner on Feb. 3 at Penn State’s Alumni Hall in State College, Pa. He is the father of Rabbi Hershy Gourarie, co-director of PSJews-Chabad of the Undergrads with his wife, Miri.
For every student who attended, Chabad donated $2 to a campus event that raises funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer.
Rabbi Nosson and Sarah Meretsky, co-directors of Chabad at Penn State, joined the Gouraries. Guests included Dr. Eric Barron, president of Penn State University, and his wife, Molly. To the crowd gathered, he said: “The feeling of unity and togetherness here tonight is unbelievable.”
As for Rabbi Gourarie, he noted that “my father would have loved to be here, and I’m sure he is smiling down and enjoying every moment.”
All photos were taken before the start of Shabbat
The crowd at dinner, which began before the start of Shabbat (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Rabbi Hershy Gourarie, co-director of PSJews-Chabad of the Undergrads (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Dr. Eric Barron, president of Penn State University (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Wrapping tefillin before the start of Shabbat last Friday (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Showing up in support of the rabbi and his family (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Camaraderie at a first-time event (Photo: Hannah Geller)
One of the many tables of women students (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Sam Epstein and Rabbi Gourarie (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Lora Lee Ashkenazy and Kaela Rothstein (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Bannon and Gourarie (Photo: Hannah Geller)
From left: Rabbi Hershy Gourarie, Dr. Eric Bannon and Rabbi Nosson Meretsky (Photo: Hannah Geller)
Molly and Dr. Eric Bannon, and Rabbi Hershy and Miri Gourarie, and their baby daughter (Photo: Hannah Geller)
“Shabbat is a time to stop doing & start being.” (Photo: Hannah Geller)
“If you wait until you find the meaning in life, will there be enough life left to live meaningfully?” (Photo: Hannah Geller)
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