26 | FEBRUARY 9 • 2023
M
ichigan State University Chabad’s
new location in downtown East
Lansing opened in time for
the 2022 High Holidays in September to
provide a more centralized location for the
student population.
Previously, Rabbi Bentzion
Shemtov and his wife, Simi, ran
all programming out of their
house.
Dubbed the “Jewish Spartan
Mom,
” Simi Shemtov said the
new location allows Chabad to
accommodate more people for
Shabbat dinners and the High
Holidays. “People before were eating out-
side and on the floor of our living room.
”
In its nearly four-month span, the down-
town location continues to be a fixture for
Jewish students and members of nearby
Jewish communities.
It also has allowed Chabad to connect
with more Jewish students in the area
and allowed the students to throw Rabbi
Shemtov a surprise birthday party — one of
many examples of students showing appre-
ciation for the impact the rabbi and his
family have made on MSU students.
During his birthday party on Sunday, Jan.
26, Rabbi Shemtov continued to show his
admiration for his Jewish Spartans when he
performed an impromptu five-minute bar
mitzvah for MSU Junior Dash Akers. Rabbi
Shemtov led Akers in wrapping tefillin and
reciting the Shema in front of the MSU
Chabad community.
Akers said he first visited Chabad this
school year. He said he wasn’t very involved
in Judaism growing up, but he would
celebrate the traditions with family on
his mom’s side when he visited them in
California.
Akers said having his bar mitzvah with
Chabad was very special. “Chabad being
here — it felt like a family moment to be
included in this heritage.
”
Akers said Chabad has been very wel-
coming for him from the start as he learns
about Jewish culture.
MSU Junior Emily Roth is another
student who has felt the compassion the
Chabad family has offered her since her
freshman year in college.
“Benzi and Simi have been nothing but
family to me since I’ve met them. They will
be there for anything you need at any time,
”
she said.
MSU Chabad offers services and social
and educational events to MSU students
and members of Mid-Michigan’s Jewish
community.
Chabad is free for all to attend. Chabad
relies solely on donations for program-
ming so it can give out free mezuzahs and
menorahs, and soup to people who are sick.
Rabbi Shemtov said they are available 24/7
to help their Jewish community.
OUR COMMUNITY
The Chabad Jewish student center sees
newfound success in downtown East Lansing.
A New Home for
MSU Chabad
Rabbi
Bentzion
Shemtov
BRIAN GOLDSMITH SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
LEFT: Havdalah at MSU Chabad. ABOVE: Dash
Akers and Rabbi Shemtov saying the Shema
during the “five-minute bar mitzvah.”
“BENZI AND SIMI HAVE BEEN NOTHING
BUT FAMILY TO ME SINCE I’VE MET THEM.”
— MSU STUDENT EMILY ROTH