Situated on 1,600 acres tucked inside the scenic Pine Barrens in Galloway Township, N.J., Stockton University is a small college whose rankings have consistently been strong. Founded in 1969, its website lists it as a top-tier North American “Best Regional College” (2016) and among the “Best in the Northeast” (The Princeton Review)—it attracts students seeking to study across multiple disciplines at a small to mid-size school. Some 8,700 graduate and undergraduate students are enrolled; of them, about 900 are Jewish.
One of those Jewish students is 22-year-old Danielle Fox. In part due to a student trip to Israel and some healthy envy about the on-campus experiences of friends from other schools who she met on the trip, Stockton now has a full-time Chabad-Lubavitch presence.
The psychology and elementary-education major, now in her senior year, explains: “Last year, an amazing opportunity to travel to Israel came to me with a trip organizer through Chabad on Campus. I wasn’t familiar with Chabad, but the trip opened my eyes to an amazing organization.”
“Everyone on this trip,” she relates, “was a part of their campus Chabads from all over the country. I was the only one who was not since we didn’t have one.” As a result, she says, “the other students on the Israel trip seemed to have more insight to certain aspects of Judaism that I had never been exposed to.”
Fox wanted what the other students described. “They seemed to have a family at Chabad at their schools, a family who was there for them at a home away from home. These people on my trip had a place where they could celebrate holidays, learn and meet new people—that was something I wanted for other Jewish students at Stockton.”
It was that eye-opening insight that led her to Rabbi Meir and Shaina Rapoport.
Unbeknown to her, a plan was already in the works for a Chabad presence on campus. Fox’s eagerness brought her in touch with the couple early on, and she became an active participant in making students aware of the new development and helping get others involved. The rabbi credits her with being a catalyst to their presence on campus.
The Rapoports, both 24, and their baby son Mendel arrived in September following months of preparation that began back in March, offering students a glimpse of what they could look forward to with the festive Purim party they threw in conjunction with Hillel at Stockton; the Passover matzah-baking experience they offered, in addition to handing out boxes of shmurah matzah to students and faculty; and other assorted programs to enhance and expand the students’ experiences with Jewish culture, customs and traditions.
“That first Shabbat was a hit, as well as the ‘Welcome Back Barbecue,’ ” reports Fox. “Rabbi Meir and Shaina brought all of us together to make sure we knew that we could go to them for anything we ever needed.”
“This is an example of how a very positive Jewish experience propels young men and women closer to their Judaism,” says Rabbi Yossy Gordon, executive vice president of Chabad on Campus International. “It’s one of the findings described so clearly in the recent Hertog Study: that involvement with campus Chabad centers has a significant and lasting effect on the long-term Jewish engagement of students from all backgrounds.”
‘Do Jewish Joyfully’
Shaina (nee Matusof) is originally from Madison, Wis. Rabbi Meir Rapoport grew up in nearby Atlantic City, where his large family has been a Chabad presence and an anchor of Jewish life there and in surrounding counties for more than 30 years. At Stockton, the Rapoports eagerly welcome each new face, each new student, each new guest who comes to them for Shabbat with the hopes that he or she will soon return—and with a friend.
The rabbi notes that the university administration seems, in general, happy to go along with groups, clubs and organizations students want to form. Even Jewish faculty members were excited and talking about Chabad; “the faculty,” he says, “was pointing students towards us.”
Stockton is also home to the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center. The college offers a bachelor’s degree in Jewish studies, and a master’s degree in Holocaust and genocide studies.
The new Chabad center at Stockton University joins the list of 56 Chabad centers in the state of New Jersey, with more than 100 shluchim, under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Herson, and joins the regional Chabad centers directed by Rabbi Shmuel Rapoport.
“We are so excited to provide a warm environment for students to come and learn about their Jewish heritage,” stresses Rapoport. “Our slogan is: ‘Do Jewish joyfully.’ And our message is: ‘Let’s celebrate our Judaism in an enjoyable way, and make it meaningful at the same time.’ ”
Danielle Fox thinks they have done just that. “I am confident,” she says, “that this year will bring many students the joy and love that I have for Chabad.”
Start a Discussion