Chabad Jewish Student Center @ UC Berkeley

The Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center is a “Home Away From Home” at UC Berkeley where every Jewish student becomes part of an extended family. Through open doors, shared meals, meaningful conversations, and lifelong friendships, Chabad provides a welcoming home for students, alumni, and faculty. As proud UC Berkeley alumni themselves, Rabbi Gil and Bracha Leeds open their home and dedicated their lives to fostering a vibrant and caring Jewish community on campus. From delicious home-cooked Shabbat and holiday meals to classes, holiday celebrations, social events, and one-on-one mentorship, the entire UC Berkeley community is invited to participate in every aspect of Jewish life at Chabad. Jews of every background, affiliation, and level of observance are welcomed with warmth, respect, and without judgment. No matter where you are on your Jewish journey, Chabad invites you to explore your heritage, build lasting friendships, and become part of a family that will continue to support you long after graduation.

Chabad seeks to be a "home away from home" for Jews on campus and offers a wealth of social, educational and spiritual programs at campuses across America and around the globe. At college, students are exposed to new ideas and experiences and Chabad seeks to ensure that students graduate as stronger and more empowered Jews than when they entered. In the early 1950s, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, began sending rabbinical students to campuses to serve as a resource for students. Since the 1960s, Chabad campus centers open their doors to every Jewish student regardless of background or observance level. Programming always reflects tolerant, non-judgmental and open discussions, which is the hallmark of Chabad's inclusiveness. A unique quality of Chabad's campus centers is the leadership provided by a dynamic couple who create an atmosphere where students can feel safe and seek guidance on variety of social, education and spiritual issues. More recently, with the assistance of visionary philanthropists George and Pamela Rohr of New York, the Chabad on Campus International Foundation has set an ambitious course of expansion. Today, full-service Chabad Jewish student centers are found on over 130 campuses worldwide, and Chabad-Lubavitch serves hundreds of other campuses with Jewish resources. Off campus, Chabad hosts national Shabbat retreats with hundreds of students from dozens of colleges. Leadership training is highly valued by Chabad, and during the summertime hiatus, Chabad hosts a convention of campus representatives to strengthen leadership skills, share outreach strategies and prepare the next year's programming.

From JewishUCB.com