University Chancellor at Chabad

On Sunday evening April 26, close to 200 Alumni, parents and friends came together in Northbrook, Illinois for an evening of recognition and celebration, in recognition of Chabad at University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, marking the 5th year of serving the students at the University and the entire East Central Illinois community.

The event, which was organized by a committee of alumni and parents, focused on the major impact Chabad at its shluchim Rabbi Dovid and Goldie Tiechtel have made in the five years they have been there.

At the cocktail hour, the guests were treated to a full menu of sushi and Hors D’evours, during which time they had a chance to walk around and learn about Chabad. There where booths set up focusing on the four areas of Chabad, its Education/Ritual, social events, its reach on campus and within the local community.

At the event the Chancellor of the University, Richard Herman, was honored with the Founding Award, and gave a very moving speech about the impact of Chabad on Campus, in which he said: “Today, Chabad is the heart of Jewish student life at Illinois, but it is also the heart of a Jewish community at Illinois. And as Chancellor—and as a Jew–I am forever grateful for that community. In fact, I depend and lean on it.”

Eric and Debbie Schames of Los Angeles CA, were honored with the Young Alumni award for their dedication to their work as young alumni.

One of the high moments was when the event committee honored and recognized Rabbi Dovid and Goldie Tiechtel for all their work, and their major impact on the campus, since they began in August 2003.

During Rabbi Tiechtel’s speech he asked all those that have graduated in the past 5 years since Chabad arrived on Campus to please rise, and 30 young alumni stood up, to which he proclaimed THIS is the future, these are the leaders of the next generation and this is why Chabad needs to be at Illinois.

Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz, head Shliach to the state of Illinois, delivered Divrei Brocha.

The guests heard a Keynote address from Yra Harris, a close friend of Chabad since its founding and true partner to Rabbi Tiechtel in his work. He spoke about the financial markets, about how Chabad is there for his family wherever they are in the world, and why it’s important to support Chabad even in these tough times.

During the evening a video was premiered – Illini Chabad: Life Beyond the classroom, which showed the work of Chabad.

People left inspired, energized and enthusiastic about the work and wanting to support it.