On Wednesday, Sept. 18, members of the Hamilton community hosted “Let Here Be Light” in front of Sadove from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in collaboration with international Jewish organization Chabad on Campus. The event consisted of several stalls highlighting Jewish values and rituals, including food, games, a raffle, crafts and traditional objects.
Gabby Nakkab ’25, Co-President of Hamilton Chabad, tells The Spectator, “The ‘light’ is supposed to be our pride and we’re bringing Jewish pride to campus, and just letting people know that we’re here…[Chabad] is technically off-campus, so…bringing it here, people know that we’re here… A lot of Chabard Board Members came out to help man the tables, and anyone can come, Jewish or not.” Nakkab emphasized the importance of highlighting Hamilton’s Jewish community to first-years.
She explains how Chabad Community on Campus has members traveling across college campuses in the U.S., including Binghamton University and The Ohio State University, to host “Let Here Be Light” events. A blue van reading the event’s slogan was parked in front of Howard Diner.
“[They] very quickly put this whole thing together,” says Chabad of Clinton’s Rabbi Didy Waks who often works with Hamilton’s Chabad Student Group. “It was like a seamless production… it’s a reaction from all the smaller Chabads on campuses around the country… trying to figure out how to give a boost to Jewish students on campus. We always think about dealing with difficult situations by adding in light, instead of trying to fight dark situations.”
Of the organizational process, Rabbi Didy told The Spectator how he reached out to Hamilton’s Chabad students regarding the opportunity and was met with enthusiasm for the idea. “We just figured, ‘let’s set it up at a busy time,’” said Rabbi Didy. “I arranged it, but essentially the Chabad student group sponsored it. They’re using their funding to run it.”
Alongside representatives from Chabad on Campus, Hamilton’s Chabad group and Chabad of Clinton, local Jewish community members, such as Rabbi Geier of Utica’s Temple Beth El, came to contribute to the event. Rabbi Geier, at a stall of traditional Jewish objects, worked to share Jewish culture and heritage with visitors. He showed
The Spectator
objects represented on the table, including kippahs, mezuzahs, Seder plates, tefillins, a Torah and more.
