There may not be a Chabad on Campus on Antarctica yet, but there are now a couple of them fairly close by, as Chabad on Campus International has opened the very first two centers on the southern tip of Africa: the Campus Centre for Jewish Student Life at the University of Cape Town and Chabad on Campus K Space Johannesburg at the University of Johannesburg.
Rabbi Nissen and Ariella Goldman—ages 24 and 23, respectively, and both originally from South Africa—will co-direct the new center in Cape Town, which will serve the estimated 1,000 Jewish students at the university (known as UCT), as well as other local colleges.
South Africa’s highest-ranked university, UTC was founded in 1829 as the South African College; it is the oldest university in South Africa and the second-oldest extant university in Africa. A port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, Cape Town has a Jewish population of nearly 16,000.
Chabad has a considerable presence in South Africa, with 65 emissary couples in Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as outlying communities. Local Chabad centers have been running programs for college students for decades, but they felt that the time was right to have a full-time couple devoted to a single university.
Goldman served as chaplain last year for the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre at UCT, a Jewish-studies and research center at the university. He notes that he has developed some strong relationships with students and staff, and that a full-time Chabad presence on campus would fill a gap that formerly did not exist. With this new position, Goldman hopes that he and his wife will be able to vastly expand the scope and breadth of their activities.
“Our main goal is to build a sense of community and togetherness among the Jewish students here,” says Goldman. “To that end, we needed an actual home that the students can feel is theirs, as well as a space to host all of these programs and more.”
A self-taught musician—the rabbi grew up with a piano, and learned guitar and the drums as a youth—Goldman hopes to bring musical performances to the center, including drum circles and larger events that showcase the musical talents of Jewish students to the larger community. Other offerings include classes, meditation, social events, Shabbat dinners, and, of course, programs and services for Jewish holidays throughout the school year.
Another new development will be the “Hiking & Camping Club,” as Cape Town is known for its mountainous nature reserves.
While Chabad-Lubavitch activities on campus date back to the 1940s, it’s seeing rapid growth. Today, some 230 campus centers serve Jewish students at 500 schools, the majority of which were established during the last 15 years.
‘A Different Dynamic’
Rabbi Levi and Leah Lipskar have been on shlichus in Johannesburg for six years, the last two having been actively involved with students.
“Since the dynamic is different there—most students live at home, so there’s really no active campus life—we service young professionals as well,” explains the rabbi. “Some programs are geared specifically to students, while others are targeted for young professionals. Our major events are a mix of both, averaging between 550 and 600 attendees.”
The Chabad center opened in January. It serves Jewish students at the University of the Witswatersrand (about 200); the University of Johannesburg (more than 700); the University of South Africa (UNISA), the largest university in South Africa and primarily a correspondence-study school; and another 500 to 600 in other area universities, including graduates.
“In truth, we are servicing all students at all universities in Johannesburg since most students live at home,” says Lipskar. “Our center is full after hours.”
“And our goal,” he adds, “is to bring much-needed Yiddishkeit and warmth to as many young people as possible.”
The rabbi says that historically, Johannesburg had a very low intermarriage rate, but over the last few years, “the tide has been turning. We hope to help stop that trend in its tracks with our events and programming, and of course, by encouraging students to attend yeshivah and seminary.”
‘Inclusive and Warm Environment’
Mitch Freedman, a third-year student of business science, finance and accounting from the city of Vereeniging in the Gauteng province, says going to the University of Cape Town was “the first time I could properly interact and meet other Jewish students.”
As he became more involved in Jewish practice, Freedman began to observe Shabbat. But because he lived in a college residence, for the last three years he had to make arrangements to stay with an observant family in the closest Jewish community to do so. “Although families have been very welcoming, it would just be so amazing to be able to walk to shul from my residence with fellow students, pray together as our own community, and have our Shabbat and festive meals like one big happy family,” he says.
Now, he will be able to do just that.
Priyanka Calyn Pillay, who is from an Indian family from Durban, South Africa, is in her second year at the University of Cape Town, studying for a bachelor of social sciences degree. She is also currently converting to Judaism.
Pillay says that in the short time that Rabbi Goldman has been affiliated with the university, he has already “brought Jewish life back to our campus. Students are learning what it means to be a Jew again. This really worked out great for me as a convert as I now have the chance to mingle with the still young and growing Jewish student community, and integrate slowly without it being a complete culture shock. Plus, it’s a totally inclusive and warm environment. It’s really a big help and support for me.”
The Goldmans, who will serve under Rabbi Mendel Popack, director of the Chabad Centre of Cape Town, stress that the new Chabad House will be open and welcoming to Jews of all backgrounds.
“Labels are for clothing, not for people,” he states. “The Jewish people are one nation with one Torah and one G‑d. Nothing can divide us.”
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