One of the most fun aspects of being a Jewish student at UCI is the abundance of Chabad events on and off campus. These events range from our weekly Friday night Shabbat dinners at our Chabad house, where we catch up and spend time with each other after a long academic week, to the West Coast Chabad Shabbaton in San Diego, where we had the opportunity to meet other Jewish students from campuses that spread across the whole West coast region, and experience a one of a kind Chabad style Shabbat. One of the events, or random study breaks in the middle, was the Chabad Kosher Pickle Factory. Here’s the rundown:
Arriving at the Student Center after a long day of work and studying, Rabbi Zevi and Miriam had already set up refreshments, and everyone came in and chilled until the start of the event. In the same room there was a typical Chabad Rabbi setting up a table with a mountain of Persian cucumbers in front of him. When he finished setting up his station, we all sat down at the tables (set up along the perimeter of the room), and the event began. The “Pickle Rabbi” explained to us the “art” of making kosher pickles, and began to show us the process. Beginning with an empty jar, we added water, salt, Persian cucumbers, and pickle spices. Everything was in exact measurements and ratios as to perfect our pickles. In the process, the Pickle Rabbi was explaining the Judaic significance behind every ingredient used, some fun facts about Kashrut, as well as crack a few jokes in between. We all walked out of that room having gained a jar of the most fresh and great tasting pickles. It was obvious they were kosher. All in all, it is the Chabad events like these that make day to day life at UCI enjoyable. They give us something to do, as well as an opportunity to spend time with our Jewish friends on campus.