Making
Room in Shabbos House for the ever-growing numbers of students!
"The Little House That Could" - but hardly! Look for the
New Building Campaign.
Pictures below are part of Preparations for first Shabbos of Fall '03 semester at Shabbos House (following a great turnout of 150 at the Hillel dinner in Campus Center 375 the week before). 140 students managed to enjoy a wonderful Shabbos meal together. Like in the Holy Jerusalem Temple of old, miraculously there was room!
The beloved "L" sinker Couch as well as the other corner couch sit outside on the deck to make room for extra tables inside Shabbos House. It turned out to be a clear, cool night, and guys hung out outside after the meal. See the New Carport Solution Page!
Somehow, after much discussion and maneuvering 13 tables with a minimum of 10 seats apiece fit comfy inside. It is a whole different scene with all these seats filled, and then more folks without seats! This picture was taken from a deck door, and the opposite corner is not visible. Benches (home-built) were key in maximizing space.
Special thanks to those who took the time on Friday afternoon to shlep out the couches, bring up reserve tables from the basement and make the set-up work. Pictured above: L-R: Brad Legum, Ben Lieb, Moshe Rubin, Rabbi Mendel, Eric Himy, Harriett Roffe and Raizy Rubin. Not pictured is Jason Kersch - who took this photo.
Shabbos House opened its doors in 1975, founded by Rabbi Israel Rubin of Capital Chabad Lubavitch Centers. Originally the house was half the size, and was expanded in the 1980's to its present size.
Prior Shabbos House Student Center Directors included the families of Rabbi Israel and Rochel Rubin, Rabbi Moshe and Esther Chanowitz, Reb Yoel Seliger and Ruth Lind, Reb Pinchas and Yehudis Schreiber and now us - Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin.
Back in 1997 - 25-30 students came to Shabbos House on Friday Nights. It was a great close-knit group, and we remain close in touch with that first SUNY Albany group we met.
Each year more students came, feeling welcome and at home. In time, we had to move two very comfortable captain chairs "the blue chairs" to the new student residence at 320 Fuller Road, the old "brown couch" to the basement. The Bimah (built by Shaun Zeitlin and Jevon Clinton) had to be moved outside weekly after prayers to make room for tables along the side wall. Sometimes we had to dig a space in the snow so that the Bimah could get out.
It is no simple feat to rearrange the table and furniture to maximize space in a room 25'x30'. Specials thanks are due to Chaim Spilman (class of 2001) who was named our "Major General of Logistics" - and many other students who brainstormed, arranged and schlepped.
In 2002-2003 the situation got even tighter, with regular weekends reaching 100-120 students - emphasizing the need for a new, bigger and better facility. Thanks to a very generous matching gift led by Mr. Jack Rosenblum and Mr. Norman Massry, our building campaign is well underway..
We are now almost 2/3 there! See our building campaign page for how everyone can get involved to make this beautiful and most necessary Jewish Student Center built to meet the growing needs of the Jewish students at UAlbany.
We also thank the many student volunteers who navigate the maze of tables with trays of food - for each course, and often do not get to sit down and eat their own meal until the official portion of the dinner is done. You are amazing!
As students often tell us: "There will always be room in Shabbos House" - and its because of the students who make others feel welcome and where there is love - there is room.
See also
See PDF (Adobe
Reader) versions of
"Let Them Come In!"
promotional in the Capital District Jewish Holiday Guide Newspaper
Passover 2003
"Even a miracle needs a little oil"
promotional in the Capital District Jewish Holiday Guide Newspaper Chanukah
2003