When chronicling my experience this year at Chabad, perhaps I should start with my introduction to the Chabad house. I first arrived at there last spring. A confused and spiritually lacking young lad, I had no clue what to expect. Would these Chassidim look at me strangely? Would they laugh at the way I davened? Would they be condescending? Well, it pleases me to report that the Rabbi and his colleagues were far from demeaning.
My first Shabbos at Chabad left me walking home with a full stomach, the l'chayim spirit in my heart, and a promise to return again. I made it a practice last spring to visit the Chabad house once a month. Not bad for a thoroughly secular young boy. When I returned this fall, I resolved to go every other week.
Well, this semester my girlfriend and I make it a point to come every Shabbos. What can I say? Between the booze and second-hand smoke of 6th street and the family atmosphere of Chabad, there's no contest. Every Friday night, Liz and I are enlightened by the Siddur, entertained by the Levertov family, treated to the best Jewish soul food in the Southwest, and made to feel welcome. Jews of all ages sit around the Shabbos dinner table, all of them contributing to the eclectic mix.
It's in the Chabad house that old meets new. There's no secularizing of tradition. In fact, the opposite happens. The secular world is traditionalized. Liz and I are not Chasidic. However, it seems that Chabad is giving us ways to cope with college and the real world. Shabbos and all of the holidays provide a respite from all of the muck of our everyday lives.
Once upon a time, I felt very disconnected from G-d and from Torah. This year I've learned that it's the process of learning that matters. Because Liz and I are going to Shul, attempting to perform mitzvot, and gradually hearing what Torah has to say, I feel that we are getting closer to Hashem. My one gripe has been the absence of many Jewish students at some of our important programs this year, more students could have definitely attended Shabbos regularly.
The Jewish friends I know that could come are either disinterested, or affiliated with other organizations. This is a shame. I feel that the term "Orthodox Jew" strikes fear in the hearts of many non-practicing Jews. Few people understand that Chabad does not wish to brainwash or lead people astray from their studies. Quite the contrary.
Chabad wants to saturate Jews with their faith so they can live the life they find comfortable. The Rabbi and his family want people to explore their roots to the capacity that they are capable of. I hope that students (or non-students) read this and take it upon themselves to come to Shabbos this summer, or next fall. Give Chabad a try. Every Jew has room for improvement. Every Jew can perform one more mitzvah. Don't shy away from Torah. I promise that traditional Judaism will not let you down. Five thousand years of wisdom and struggle have proven that our faith is not a passing fad.
I'd like to thank the Chabad house and everyone affiliated for a wonderful year. The depth of the spirituality that emanates from Chabad should be felt by every Jew. I hope to see many new faces this year, and many more mitzvot. G-d willing, we'll all be seeing each other in Jerusalem very soon.
-Glenn (Yisrael) Broocker.
Sophomore, Radio-Television-Film, University of Texas
Now please read Glenn's updated letter 2 years later...
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