European Campus Rabbis Convene in Manchester

European campus rabbis and their families gathered in Manchester, England, to discuss issues surrounding Jewish student life and coordinate programming against a backdrop of rising anti-Semitism and threats to religious life across the continent.

The two-day conference, which was organized with the help of the Chabad on Campus International Foundation, brought representatives of 20 Chabad-Lubavitch centers affiliated with Chabad on Campus UK and Chabad on Campus Europe. According to Rabbi Eli Brackman, who opened the event with Rabbi Yossy Gordon, executive vice president of the Chabad on Campus International Foundation, the gathering was four times larger than previous conferences.

“The growth of Chabad on Campus UK and Europe has vastly increased the size of the conference,” he said of the group of about 100 people, who came for a series of group sessions, roundtable discussions and informal networking.

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Brackman, who serves as chairman of Chabad on Campus UK and director of the Oxford Chabad Society, explained that as Jewish life on campus continues to expand, Chabad Houses are playing a central role in helping students address anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiments, “as well as crises in Jewish identity and knowledge in the UK and Europe.”

Throughout the conference, attendees focused on strategies for developing stronger Jewish leadership on campus through increased education. Ideas hinged on providing students with personal experiences through Sabbath dinners and open-door policies.

“A primary focus was how to help create more committed and inspired Jewish leaders in Europe for future generations,” said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, and chairman of the Chabad on Campus International Foundation.

The highlight of the event, noted participants, was a banquet at the home of Chabad on Campus supporters Zalman and Risa Klyne. The dinner raised nearly 50,000 euros for campus projects.

“This was our tribute to [campus emissaries],” said Zalman Klyne. “We wanted to honor them for their incredible work.”

Jonathan Chernick, a medical student at Manchester University, spoke at the banquet.

“Chabad takes care of my three Jewish needs on campus: education, family support and kosher food,” he remarked in a speech that summed up the appeal of a Chabad House as a Jewish home away from home.

For his part, Gordon, who traveled to the conference with Chabad on Campus International Foundation strategic initiative director Rabbi Avi Weinstein, said that he left inspired.

“It was a very packed schedule, but was also very, very meaningful,” said Gordon. “The warmth and dedication of the emissaries is exhilarating. The practical ideas and inspiration shared in Manchester will bring a greater measure of success to the centers in the UK and Europe.”

Weinstein, who shared ideas with attendees about how to expand their reach, agreed.

“Being in the company of this dynamic and energetic group, who are on the front lines of strengthening Jewish pride on campus throughout Europe, was incredibly inspiring,” he said.

The conference was organized by a steering committee that included Rabbi Zalman and Mushky Loewenthal of Manchester, Rabbi Shmuli and Tzivia Brown of Liverpool, and Rabbi Michoel and Chana Danow of Leeds.