Chabad offers a vibrant and nurturing community where hundreds of students choose to engage in Jewish life!

We provide a plethora of Jewish opportunities for the campus community, including family-style Shabbat dinners that typically attract well over a hundred students, along with educational classes, social programs and pro-Israel activities. We have facilitated Birthright Israel trips for more than 1000 WashU students. Through the Chabad Student Association, we offer students the opportunity to lead our programs. As part of the campus safety net, our professional team helps provide support, guidance and referrals.

Chabad also offers programs and resources for graduate students as part of the JGrads initiative. Students at local colleges, including UMSL, SLU, Webster U., and St. Louis Community College, are supported by The Network.

Chabad has been a constant source of warmth and belonging throughout my time at WashU. As a freshman, it gave me a place to go during a period of transition and uncertainty. It was a community where I immediately felt welcomed, supported, and at home. Now, as a sophomore and serving as Vice President, Chabad continues to be an essential part of my college experience. It is where I celebrate holidays, share Shabbat meals, build meaningful friendships, and stay connected to my values and traditions. Chabad is more than a physical space; it is a community that has grounded me, shaped my growth, and will remain a cornerstone of my life at WashU and beyond.

Chabad on Campus has been an instrumental part of my Jewish growth throughout college. The Chabad team consistently goes above and beyond to make sure I can fully practice my Judaism. Whether it’s preparing a candle-lighting set for Hanukkah, being present on campus during Sukkot to shake the lulav, or creating a warm and meaningful Shabbat environment, Chabad has always been there for me. What stands out most is not just their willingness to help, but the genuine joy and passion with which they show up to help a fellow Jew connect.

Chabad builds and fosters Jewish life on campus giving students a space to learn about and connect with their Jewish identities. Chabad opens itself up to be a home for all independent of background giving students a fun and enriching experience irrespective of observance level.

Chabad has been my community here at Washu. It’s where I met my friends, continue Jewish education and feel welcomed. Chabad has also taught me so much about myself by giving me a place to work on becoming more religious and starting to keep Shabbat.

Through my first semester at WashU, Chabad has been instrumental in making a successful transition to College life From the moment I arrived on campus, Rabbi Tzemach, Mushka, and the rest of the Chabad team welcomed me with open arms. Their home quickly became a place of comfort from laughter, to delicious meals and feeling genuine care. Whether it was a Shabbat meal at their table or a quick visit for advice and connection, I always felt supported during my first weeks in St. Louis . Participating in JewishU and learning from Rabbi Tzemach allowed me to deepen my understanding of Jewish thought and tradition while building strong friendships with fellow Jewish students. Chabad has not only given me community, but also a sense of identity and purpose that has and will continue to enrich my experience at WashU.

WashU Chabad’s impact on my life extends far beyond campus and the academic year. Over the summer, I joined other WashU students for Shabbat dinner at Mushka and Tzemach's apartment, where we also had the joy of meeting baby Rivka. Mushka was an incredible source of support during my transition to WashU, and we grew especially close when I was lucky enough to participate in a week-long Chabad volunteer trip to Israel at the end of my freshman year. Through these experiences, she has become both a mentor and a great friend, and yet another reason I stay so connected to WashU Chabad.
Ultimately, WashU Chabad has given me far more than a place to spend Shabbat—it has given me belonging, confidence and connection to my Jewish identity, and a community I cherish deeply. I couldn’t love it more!

From the moment our son stepped onto WashU’s campus and ventured through the door of the Chabad house we have been impressed. From the amazing Shabbat dinners to the fabulous learning opportunities, Chabad hits a home run. We see how Chana and Rabbi Hershey so effectively serve as mentors and counselors, as well as family for so many students. While at Chabad, we were overwhelmed that over 200 students were the recipients of a beautiful (and free!) Shabbat dinner. That was the beginning of our support of this beautiful endeavor.

Every Friday night and every Jewish holiday, the Novack's give my son a nurturing environment where he can form friendships, explore his Jewish identity, and become part of a won- derful kehilah (community) of bright committed students.The students share incredible home-cooked meals and conversations inspired by Rabbi Novack’s Dvar Torahs that strengthen their moral compass.
By supporting Chabad, I am strengthening my son’s and his classmates’ characters, in addition to their relation- ship with Judaism and Israel.

When I think of the impact Chabad has had on me since I came to WashU, I realize that it’s hard to put my gratitude into words. Chabad has been a place where I have gotten to explore my Jewish identity on a deeper, more meaningful level than I had prior to my engagement with the community. I attribute this to discussions held with the Rabbis, as well as spending meaningful time with like-minded peers. Chabad is a warm supportive and welcoming environment. Whether it be exploring my Jewish pride, finding ways to get involved in leadership, or just needing a warm Shabbat meal—Chabad is the first place that I go and has truly been a home away from home.