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helped plan. A member of the 
student board, she has helped 
set up tables and encouraged 
others to attend the event. 
This year, she helped set 
up the dessert table, complete 
with hamantaschen and other 
pastries. “There was a huge 
turnout,” she says. “It was 
nice to spend time with those 
people I don’t see all the time 
at school.” 
She says she also found it 
meaningful to sit down and 
eat with others, saying the 
blessings and lighting Shabbat 
candles. 
“It’s definitely a special 
time of the year for me, and I 
think it also helps other kids 
get more involved in Chabad 
and realize that it’s a fun 
organization to be a part of — 
it brings a sense of home to 
college.” 

A Michigan State alum, 
Sue Widenbaum-Vainik of 
Franklin says she was proud 
to participate in the Mega 
Shabbat with her family and 
surprised to see the Jewish 
community on campus some 
400-strong. Her daughter 
Grace, a freshman, is involved 
in student leadership at 
Chabad, while her son 

Hunter, a senior, is also active 
with the organization. So, she, 
her husband and older son 
Trevor decided to attend. 
“They tell me they feel like 
they have a home away from 
home. They have a place 
where they can go and feel 
safe,” she says. “Especially 
since the events of Oct. 7, I 
think it’s even more important 

that not just my kids, but also 
the kids on campus, feel they 
have a safe place where they 
can go.” 
She adds the ambiance felt 
safe and welcoming; even 
standing in line, people would 
strike up conversations, 
she says. And she says she’d 
definitely go back next year. 
Now, she says, her family 
is looking forward to the 
Chabad Passover seder, which 
she donated to, in addition to 
sponsoring a table at the Mega 
Shabbat in her late brother’s 
memory. 
They’ll be heading back 
to East Lansing for Chabad’s 
community seder, she adds, 
as Passover falls during final 
exams this year. “It’s nice that 
if [Grace] is up there during 
the week and there’s a holiday, 
she’s able to go to Chabad 
for the holidays and kosher 
meals.” 

OUR COMMUNITY

continued from page 17

Parents, faculty and community members join Jewish Spartans at the 
annual Mega Shabbat.

SHARON 
ALTERMAN

EDITH
BROIDA
GERALD S.
COOK

PAUL 
GOLDSMITH
NANCY
KALEF

ALAN S.
SCHWARTZ
BARRY
KAUFMAN
SUZANNE
SIMON

