The week of Sukkot and Simchat Torah at 54 Turner (the Chabad House at Brandeis) is truly magical.
For over two decades, countless students—now alumni—have cherished these experiences. Each year, as we welcome new students into the Sukkah, the memories of past students come alive and blend with those of the present, as we sing and dance and then sing and dance some more.
In honor of Sukkot-Simchat Torah 5785, we invite alumni to share a memory of their Sukkot or Simchat Torah at Chabad and to partner with us in continuing this tradition for today’s students.
When making a donation share your memory in the "Message or Dedication" section.
Your donation of any size, along with your shared memory, is deeply appreciated, enabling us to keep filling the chairs and welcoming the growing number of students eager to partake in this magical and impactful experience.
The shared memories will be passed along to inspire today’s students.
Wishing you a spirited and dancing-on-chairs type of Sukkot!
Donations and memoris can be shared on Venmo to @chabadbrandeis.
My very first Chabad of Brandeis experience was on the second night of Sukkot. Campus was fairly empty as many students had gone home to their families and I was still getting accustomed to my new school. I'll never forget the warm and welcome greeting Chanie and Peretz gave me when I attended that evening. The rest was history and I had found who would become my Brandeis family away from home!
Our first of many experiences of dancing and singing on chairs with our friends, Peretz and Chanie, then continued all the way to our wedding!
To the amazing and unique spirit of Sukkot at the Chabad at Brandeis !
One memory is from freshman year. Dancing with the torah in the Cheins driveway in my freshman year was the first time I felt pure happiness at Brandeis. The past year was a whirlwind from being forced to leave yeshiva early because of COVID, not being able to have normal classes or social interactions with friends due to restrictions, and shift of living alone, I was having a hard time at Brandeis and wasn’t sure if I was going to stay. Seeing the entire community get together (6 feet apart) and masked and still be able to enjoy Simchat Torah showed me that there is something special about 54 Turner St. The Cheins have the magical ability to turn any situation, no matter how gloomy, into a positive and heimish interaction.
Some of my best Sukkot memories are of sitting in the Chabad Sukkah year after year with my friends, singing and dancing until the chairs break, meeting new people, and laughing and telling stories.
Thank you Chanie and Peretz for creating and continuing to build the Chabad at Brandeis community!
Shabbat at Chabad was something I always enjoyed but nothing compared to Sukkot and purim- especially the way you both opened the doors to people of all backgrounds, something that seems harder and even more important in today’s world.