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

