JULY 13 • 2023 | 13
n Monday, May 29, Chabad
on Campus International
sent 149 Jewish students
from universities all over
the country to Dubai. Ten
participants joined from
Michigan State University’s
Chabad House, run by Rabbi
Benzion and Mrs. Simi Shemtov. The trip
was an earned reward from JewishU in
recognition of the students’ commitments
to having engaged in formal Jewish educa-
tion over the academic year.
JewishU is an academy that offers col-
lege students dozens of unique classes
that demystify everything Jewish. From
history to philosophy, and everything in
between, students find that JewishU pro-
vides an accessible and engaging platform
for a comprehensive Jewish education
alongside their college experience. The
classes offer students an avenue to explore
Jewish philosophy and teachings while
gaining JewishU credits. Michigan State
University’s Chabad students completed
a collective 200 hours of learning. This
qualified them for a fully paid, once-in-a-
lifetime trip to the United Arab Emirates
(UAE).
While on this trip, students got to see
the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the
world), go on a wild desert journey ATV
off-roading, and then a desert camp expe-
rience for dinner and late-night entertain-
ment.
They explored the Old City markets and
visited the Palm Jumeirah (the world’s first
man-made islands). At night, they even
cruised around on a triple-decker yacht
with stunning views of the city, singing
and dancing together.
The last day, the group traveled to Abu
Dhabi where they toured the Qasr Al
Watan Presidential Palace. The trip also
included many Jewish experiences that are
unique to the UAE, such as visiting the
Abrahamic Family House, a multi-faith
complex with a synagogue, church and
mosque. There were also visits to the only
Holocaust exhibit in a Muslim country
and the first Jewish preschool in the UAE.
The itinerary included daily Torah lessons,
spectacular speakers, dining at kosher
restaurants and an inspirational Shabbat
program.
We, both on the Chabad student board
(Alex is president), were two of the lucky
Michigan State students who attended the
149 Jewish students fill the
Abrahamic House Synagogue. Rabbi
Yehuda Sarna shares that he is
brought to tears seeing the room
filled completely with Jews for the
first time.
ALEX MISON AND JARED PAZNER
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
continued on page 14