Local Chabad helps support Hamilton College's Jewish community
The Chabad of Clinton has stepped up to support Hamilton College’s Jewish community as antisemitism is on the rise across the globe amidst the Israel-Hamas war.
“The increase in national antisemitic rhetoric is impacting local collegiate conversations,” explained Rabbi Didy Waks. “Many students feel isolated, alone, fearful and angry – the Israeli conflict may appear to be abroad but it's in our community too.”
Rabbi Didy and Devorah Waks established the Chabad of Clinton in 2014. The independent non-profit organization is neither affiliated with nor sponsored by Hamilton College.
As part of the Chabad on Campus network, the Waks' goal is to serve the students and faculty of Hamilton College as well as the local Jewish community.
The Chabad includes 120 Hamilton students per semester.
“Our job has never been clearer – to keep our Jewish students feeling safe, secure in body and mind,” said Didy.
Addressing fear
Didy shared how congregants have been personally grappling with the increase in national antisemitism, even those who haven’t faced harassment themselves. He’d received questions asking if it's safe to continue wearing the Star of David necklace in public.
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“We need the voices of kindness, peace and love to be louder than the voices of hate circling around campus,” said Didy.
“On Jodel – a live social media feed that connects users to their local community – anonymous posts are calling for genocide of Jews while (wrongly) claiming that Israel is committing one itself.”
Didy said students want to talk to their religious leaders about how antisemitism is affecting their lives and what they can do about it.
The power of conversation
“After the initial Hamas attacks, we were expecting to be met by unconditional condemnation and sympathy but instead Israel was condemned,” said Didy. “This is one of the hardest things I've ever had to digest and while I don’t have the answers on how to best lead our community through this, I do believe in the power of conversation.”
The Chabad of Clinton keeps its doors open at all times. Regular daily programs and weekly Shabbat dinners are offered to the public.
“Students have been coming over more regularly to talk, to hang out, to put on tefillin (Jewish prayer ritual), to eat breakfast or lunch, and to reflect on the current situation,” said Didy.
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Lane Barsch is currently a junior at Hamilton College pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science and medical anthropology.
She expressed how distraught she has felt lately, trying to get her points across on campus.
“I went to Jewish day school for 12 years, a Jewish summer camp for 10 years, I studied in Israel in high school, my mom grew up in Israel, and she speaks to me in Hebrew,” said Lane.
“I say this to reflect how Jewish Americans feel inextricably tied to the state of Israel – my Judaism and love of Israel is a part of me that is absolutely not political.”
What might collective healing look like?
Moving forward there is a call for collective healing.
“Internally, as a community, this healing will take decades, if ever,” said Didy. “Healing will begin when the world finally recognizes the Jewish people's right to safety and security within its own borders.”
But what can regular people do in their everyday lives? Didy recommends speaking up and defending the truth in environments where it's safe to do so.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: local-chabad-hamilton-college-community-jewish-hamas-war
