Hi, my name is Maddie Goldberg and I am a senior at UT this semester studying public health. Three years ago, I came to UT from St. Louis, Missouri without knowing anyone. I was nervous about leaving home for the first time, and all I could hope was that I would find a community of people who cared about and valued me. When I went to Shabbat dinner for the first time at Chabad my freshman year, I instantly felt connected to everyone around me in that room. We all had something very special in common: our desire to find a Jewish home in a new place.
I felt so welcomed by Rabbi Zev, Ariela, and their entire family. I knew at Chabad I could be myself, and I felt a sense of unconditional love and acceptance that can sometimes be hard to find in a new place. As the year went on, I found myself looking forward to Friday nights because I craved this feeling of warmth that Chabad provided me with. I began celebrating Shabbat more than I ever had at home, and my connection to Judaism grew stronger and stronger. When I studied abroad my second semester of junior year, I genuinely missed my weekly Shabbat dinners and the feeling of comfort that I got from them.
I am so happy to be back with my Chabad family this year as a member of the student board. I chose to be a student leader for Chabad because I know just how special it was for me to find a Jewish home when I came to college. In my position, I hope that I can make younger students feel as comfortable and welcomed at Chabad as I do!
ב"ה