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been attending Shabbat dinners
at Chabad with friends, but got
more involved after Oct. 7 to
meet and bond with other Jewish
students. He joined the student
board and helped plan the Mega Shabbat
dinner. “It felt like you were in this big
family; it was very meaningful to be
there,” he says, adding that the message
of the evening was one of strength.
Additionally, Feber says he plans to
keep reaching out and bringing people
into the community and spreading the
message of togetherness. “No matter
who we are, we’re all Jewish, and we
should all come together and build
bridges together,” he says.
Aidan Warren, an MSU sophomore
from West Bloomfield, attended the
Mega Shabbat for the third time, having
first come with his sister when he was a
senior in high school. “I loved it, and I
come back every year,” he says. “I started
to get involved and helped to get other
people to come.”
His parents joined him for the event,
as did some of his cousins, his aunt
and members of his AEPi fraternity. He
made new friends and reconnected with
a Jewish student he’d been on a wrestling
team with as well.
“It’s a chance for all the Jews you do
know on campus, to see them again and
talk about things. It’s really nice,” he
says. “Having this event, and realizing
there’s other Jews around you, you’re
not the only one, and that we’re all here
for you, and having it also be a place to
reconnect with people you don’t always
talk to — it makes me happy to see that
people care and want to be there for one
another.”
Rachel Perry, a sophomore from
Bloomfield, says she knew she wanted
to be involved with Chabad after taking
part in a Mega Shabbat her brother
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Local children from the
greater Lansing Jewish community
enjoy the photo booth. The many
candles made for a beautiful
evening. Blake Phillips from
Huntington Woods puts on tefillin
with Arik Shemtov. Danny and
Karen Diskin, parents of junior
Ilana Diskin, who won a prize in the
mitzvah raffle. Rabbi Bentzion and
Simi Shemtov, co-directors of MSU
Chabad. Seniors Lana Heany and
Dash Ankers enjoying their third
annual Mega Shabbat together. Dr.
Bruce Skolnik of West Bloomfield
enjoys Mega Shabbat with alumni
daughter Maya, currently studying
in med school at Washington
University.
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