JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville is home to approximately 15,000 Jewish residents, and the University of North Florida offers several resources for Jewish students, one of which is Chabad UNF, which aims to create a welcoming and supportive space at the university.
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Rabbi Shmuli Novack, co-director of Chabad at UNF, emphasizes the importance of community and connection.
“Being Jewish is fantastic. It’s a daily joy every single day; it’s an opportunity and a privilege to be a part of a thousands-of-years-long tradition,” Rabbi Novack said.
Chabad at UNF is more than just a student organization; it strives to make the university experience feel like a home away from home for the hundreds of students it serve.
Rabbi Novack explains the various ways they support students.
“If students aren’t feeling well, we deliver homemade chicken soup to the dormitories. Jewish penicillin is what it’s called. We provide mezuzahs for their doors if they need it, counseling, legal help,” he said.
The organization welcomes everyone to participate in its many activities, fostering an inclusive environment.
“There’s no level of observance, there’s no background, there’s no graduate of Hebrew school checkbox. Everyone’s welcome. We have the most diverse crowd that you can possibly imagine coming together and celebrating Jewish life in a joyous way all the time,” Rabbi Novack added.
Chabad also encourages non-Jewish students to learn more about Judaism. Rabbi Novack notes that many professors keep his contact information handy for students interested in exploring Jewish traditions.
“Absolutely, a lot of the professors have my cell number on speed dial. In the comparative religion courses, we’re always hosting students who are curious to learn more about Judaism and asking questions. We feel that, in addition to serving the Jewish students, we provide a certain level of education and diversity to the university as a whole,” he said.
While antisemitism continues to rise nationally, Rabbi Novack acknowledges these incidents but emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive narrative about Jewish culture.
“We can’t ignore it, but we also have to make sure to maintain the positive narrative. Judaism is such a joyous religion, and we have such a beautiful heritage. We have thousands of years to celebrate at our fingertips that we can’t lose that,” he said.
In addition to Chabad, there are several other organizations for Jewish students at UNF, including UNF Hillel and the UNF Jewish Student Union.
These groups work together to create a vibrant community for Jewish students, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to thrive during their university experience.
