Before they arrive at Chabad House at Brandeis University for Shabbat dinner, students are required to submit an essay in response to a weekly prompt related to a topic relevant to living well or on a Jewish theme.
Some prompts are lighthearted, others deeply personal, but each is designed to spark reflection and shared dialogue. This simple requirement transforms dinner into something more than a communal meal: a space of ritual and reflection, where Jewish identity is explored out loud — and together.
When I heard about this, I was admittedly skeptical: How were these students, already juggling so much — classes, clubs, jobs, and exams — making time for additional, and what felt like unnecessary, work? But each Friday night, more than 100 students fill Chabad House, the home of Rabbi Peretz and Chanie Chein.
I recently joined the Chabad House for one of these dinners, and the week’s prompt was especially powerful: “On Memory of Persecution.” Students were asked to share about a personal or family story of antisemitic persecution and reflect on how that experience shaped who they are. Could anything meaningful, or even positive, come out of moments of persecution? It was a deeply complex, personal, and timely prompt, especially in the current climate of being a Jew on campus.
When I arrived that Friday evening, the Cheins’ home was already alive with energy. Chanie welcomed students at the door, checking in with them about their week and commenting on something they had written. Rabbi Peretz made his way through the crowd, thanking students for their participation and offering glimpses of recognition or nodding to the thoughtfulness of their words. Long tables stretched across every room, packed with students reconnecting after the long week. On one wall, 50 printed essays on this week’s theme were taped up, the ones which students gave permission to share, among them my own. Immersing myself in the full experience felt essential, not only to understand the impact of this unique Shabbat dinner model, but to contribute to the shared vulnerability and trust that defines it.
We lit candles. We recited the blessings. We passed challah. The Shabbat dinner followed its usual rhythm, but layered into it was something more. Between courses, students began to share their essays aloud.
One by one, they stood at the front of the room, climbing atop a chair — just as Rabbi Peretz does each week when leading the blessings — so everyone could see and hear them. Standing elevated, surrounded by their community, each student held the space with presence and vulnerability. Some read with quiet conviction. Others choked back emotion. Each story added another layer of depth that night.
“My grandfather escaped the Nazis as a teenager…my grandmother, on the other hand, endured Auschwitz. Their stories are not just history to me; they shape who I am…[driving] my passion for justice and advocacy, particularly in defending Jewish history and combating antisemitism.”
—Lee-El Messinger
“Antisemitism should never be accepted or deemed as a positive act, but there is possibility that it can have positive effects. Persecution of any kind has the ability to unite the group being persecuted. Additionally, it has the power to show people the truth about hate.”
—Anonymous
“I was afraid of my identity. My fear slowly turned into anger because I was in utter shock and disbelief with the fact that someone wanted to cause harm to my family simply because we were Jewish…the antisemitism that I received empowered me to stand up and educate people about Judaism.”
—Leah Mahgerefteh
I left the Chabad House Shabbat dinner feeling deeply moved by the power of what I had witnessed and been part of. The evening was more than a meal; it was a uniquely layered experience where education, tradition, and community came together with intention. The student excerpts shared above are just a few examples of the power of storytelling in action and students engaging in reflection and conversation that allows for personal growth and the strengthening of Jewish identity. It’s in spaces like these that the fight against antisemitism takes on a uniquely powerful shape: not just through response, but through the proactive work of building informed, connected, and resilient Jewish communities.
CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism is proud to partner with Brandeis Chabad and support this powerful model of student-centered education and community-building. And I’m proud to have been part of it — even for just one night.
Read the full collection of participant reflections from the Chabad House at Brandeis “On Memory of Persecution” Shabbat dinner.
