The Kosher Eater Nation Blog - The Rohr Chabad at UC Irvine

Toy Drive Reflections

Thursday, December 27, 2012 - 12:24 AM

By Eliena Mahgerefteh

Earlier this quarter Chabad at UC Irvine put on a toy drive where students had the chance to sponsor a toy for a child. In the two days we set up booth on campus over $250 worth of toys were purchased and arrangements were made to distribute these toys to underprivileged kids and victims of Hurricane Sandy. Sunday December 9th I along with other regulars from Chabad at UC Irvine decided to spend a few hours of our day with young kids deserving of some toys and much needed smiles on their faces. Pulling up to the Motel I did not know what to expect, but after we set up camp in the community room and put out cups of juice and snacks for the kids, we began to feel a connection with the families and their rough situations. A few of us students went in search of more children living in the rooms and we saw the way they had to endure. Families of up to five living in a small room with a kitchen, single moms with no income, young teen moms whom had recently given birth, what seemed like gang members, and even a few weed smokers. It made me so sad that children had to live with 'high' parents 24/7. As we anticipated a "leave us alone" instead we were welcomed with smiles from the parents and screams of "Yes!!!" from the kids, urgently putting a sweater on as they ran to the room where they would pick out a toy and spend some time doing arts and crafts. Watching the kids faces became the best part of the trip. Some were bouncing on whoopee cushions, others were playing with water guns, and meanwhile they all made take-home bracelets. This gave the moms something to do too, and many of the mothers asked us to come back again. I would like to say that I would be more than thrilled to go back and spend some time with these kids, and anyone else that would like to join us is more than welcome too.

Chabad of UCI Celebrates Chanukah With Grand Menorah Lighting: Chancellor Michael Drake Lights First Candle

Wednesday, December 26, 2012 - 11:50 PM

By Ben Beezy, JD/MBA, Class of 2013

On December 10, the third night of Chanukah, Chabad of UCI held its annual (at least when the holiday falls during the quarter) menorah lighting ceremony. The night was particularly meaningful as Chancellor Michael Drake attended as a guest and honorary lighter of the first menorah candle. After giving a heartfelt seasons greetings message to attending UCI students and members of the Irvine Jewish community, the Chancellor climbed a ladder to light the several foot tall menorah located in the courtyard of the Student Center. Shawhin Beroukhim, student president of Chabad of UCI, lit the remaining candles on the menorah. Although many students were concerned with final exams, since December 10 also marked the beginning of finals for the fall quarter, Rabbi Zevi and Miriam were able to lead students in a round of singing and dancing followed by a near endless spread of latkes and sufganyiot. The Chanukah celebration capped off a busy quarter for members of the UCI Jewish community who have had to cope with renewed efforts by anti-Israel advocates to delegitimize the Jewish state. In a brief speech before celebrations began, Rabbi Zevi reminded attendees that the light of the menorah carries a spiritual power that illuminates truth in times of confusion, and provides guidance to those in periods of hardship. The menorah lighting was an important way for UCI Jews to connect and experience Chanukah as a singular community amidst efforts to delegitimize Israel on campus. Co-sponsors of the event included AEPi Jewish Fraternity and the Jewish Studies Department at UCI lead by Professor Matthias Lehmann. Although Chanukah ended on December 16, the Chabad menorah lighting ceremony will be remembered as an important event in the 2012-2013 academic year for its ability to publicize Chanukah, while also unifying the campus Jewish community.

Toy Drive '12

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 - 1:56 PM

By George Karatorosyan

The 2012-2013 Chabad at UCI Toy Drive was a major success this year, bringing together students in supporting and donating to both local children in need and those affected by Hurricane Sandy. The toy drive, hosted by Chabad at UCI occurs every year here at UC Irvine where students, faculty, and passer-byers can make a stop at our “toy shop”, purchase a toy for $1 from a wide variety of available toys and choose to donate the toy they purchased to the charity of their choice. This year the toy drive saw a record number of participants ultimately amounting to 250+ toys being donated to children in need. Many students from various Jewish organizations on campus took part in the toy drive, donating time to tabling and making the toy drive possible.

The beauty of the event was surrounded by all of the goodness it brought to campus life and to the students at a time where other groups were bringing negativity to campus. The event helped spread goodwill, warmness, and practice of kind deed at a time of negative atmosphere on campus. I personally felt that the goodness brought about to campus greatly helped to overcome the negative atmosphere and ultimately brought together individuals who wanted to donate to children in need during the holiday season. Seeing the excitement of those who participated in this year’s toy drive reminded all of us of the importance of bringing about positivity in all that we do. And most certainly positivity and goodness came about through the toy drive and all of the people we were able to reach out to. Seeing so many students and faculty take time out of busy schedules to stop by and help those in need truly shed light on all of the goodness and positivity that was able to come about from the toy drive.