Burning Bright: Rabbi Lev and Talia Hope To Be Advocates, Advisors and Allies for MATC’s Jewish Students
Dispelling darkness in the world, spreading goodness and kindness, and uplifting spirits can take 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Rabbi Lev Voskoboynik is up for it.
“Our mission is to spread light,” said Voskoboynik. “In a dark room, lighting a single candle can brighten the entire space. We’re here to light as many candles as we can.”
In June, Voskoboynik was appointed to support Jewish students across five Milwaukee colleges, including Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).
Voskoboynik and his wife, Talia, have embraced their roles as shluchim—Hebrew for emissary or messenger—for Chabad on Campus of Milwaukee, a division of Lubavitch of Wisconsin. Chabad, one of the largest Jewish religious organizations worldwide, boasts more than 4,500 centers globally.
Previously, Chabad on Campus of Milwaukee served University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students. This summer, the program expanded to include MATC, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Before moving to Milwaukee, the Voskoboyniks spent a year serving Jewish students at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
“They are eager to hit the ground running with a variety of programs designed to foster a vibrant Jewish life on campus,” said Rabbi Yisroel Shmotkin, Director of Lubavitch in Wisconsin, who announced their appointment. “Their dedication and passion for Jewish life are sure to inspire and engage the students they serve.”
The Voskoboyniks aim to create a warm and welcoming environment where students can safely explore and celebrate their Jewish identity. They plan to visit campuses, host weekend Sabbath meals, deliver chicken soup to sick students, and offer lifestyle, mental health, and wellness courses.
“I believe we can make a real difference for people who are at a very vulnerable point in their lives,” Rabbi Voskoboynik said. “Like anyone, college students need something to be happy about, something to live for and to have a place where they can make real friends.”
At 26, Voskoboynik is just a few years older than most university students and three years younger than the average MATC student. Yet students seem to respond enthusiastically to the couple’s optimism, geniality, gentleness, and generosity.
“The students listen to us. It’s amazing to see their reactions,” Voskoboynik said. “I think we’re close enough in age that they understand and believe we’ve encountered many of the same feelings and experiences. Our personal journeys help us relate and connect with them on a deeper level.”
And the journey to becoming a Rabbi and a Rebbetzin – the wife of a rabbi – can start anywhere.
Back in 2016, Voskoboynik was a happy, healthy high school student in Northridge, California, the son of non-observant Jewish parents. He took college-level courses, got good grades and won trophies as a champion tennis player.
Yet he sensed something missing. He discovered what he was seeking at a summer camp his parents encouraged him to attend.
“I was always thinking about what was next, what was out there. When I went to the camp, I became captivated by the idea that there was something deeper,” he said.
Seven years later, Voskoboynik was ordained after studying at rabbinical schools in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles.
“The journey from being non-observant to becoming a Rabbi was a bit more than my parents expected,” he said with a laugh. “I shook things up pretty good.”
Talia Voskoboynik also grew up non-observant. She encountered Chabad on Campus at Texas A&M University, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and served as a student leader for the group.
“She became religious in college as well. We’ve had our journeys, and now we’re giving back as best we can,” Voskoboynik said.
The couple met on a blind date arranged by a friend of Talia’s. They dated for 2½ weeks before getting engaged, married, and moved to New York before starting their internship in Kansas.
In Kansas, the Voskoboyniks learned how to run a Chabad center, effectively reach students, and raise funds. Talia had a baby boy named Mendel, named after the most prominent Jewish leader of the modern era, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who’s name means comfort in Yiddish.
Their impactful service at Kansas led to their recommendation for the Chabad on Campus Milwaukee position. They visited Milwaukee last December, and despite the cold and snow, they fell in love with the city.
“We love the warmth of the people, their patience, hospitality, and genuineness,” Voskoboynik said. “Our plan is to stay in Milwaukee for the rest of our lives, working with and serving the Jewish students here.”
For more, visit www.chabadoncampusmke.com. To donate, visit https://www.chabadoncampusmke.com/donate
I know lev for years and he is a real powerhouse I have no doubt he will be successful in his new shlichus
Are misssed 😢