With classes resuming at Israeli universities after a record setting three-month strike by the senior lecturers' union, seven Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries serving the country's institutions of higher learning held their first conference on Sunday.

The conference of Chabad on Campus in Israel, an organization supported by grants from the philanthropic Tabacinic family of Bal Harbour, Fla., took place in the Negev desert city of Be'er Sheva. Hosted by Rabbi Gil Blizovski, director of the Chabad House at the city's Ben Gurion University, the gathering afforded the emissaries the opportunity to discuss programming and brainstorm about new offerings designed to increase student involvement in Jewish life.

Among the items they discussed were holding semi-annual Shabbatons at different campuses and teaching a rotating class on Judaism.

"We each shared our stories and our progress on campus," said Rabbi Shaye Gerlitzky, who directs the Chabad House at Tel-Aviv University with his wife, Chava Gerlitzky.

The Gerlitzkys arrived six months ago, and have since hosted large parties for Chanukah and Tu B'Shevat, the "New Year for Trees." He said an average of 70 students participate in their Friday night dinners each week.