Tag: Chabad UBC

Hearing from Nova survivor

Volunteers and organizers of Unity Shabbat, which this year took place on March 1. (photo from Chabad UBC)

On March 1, more than 100 Jewish students and faculty came together for a Shabbat dinner on the University of British Columbia campus. The annual event, called Unity Shabbat, was organized by Chabad Jewish Student Centre-Vancouver in partnership with Hillel BC, Israel on Campus Club, Jewish Student Association, Jewish Law Student Association and the local chapter of the AEPi fraternity. It was co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.

The guest speaker was Shalev Biton, a 25-year-old man from Israel who survived the Nova festival terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. You could hear a pin drop as Biton told the sequence of events, which included him running from the Hamas terrorists for hours and hiding in fields and then under a building while the terrorists searched the area. The building was on the property of an Israeli Arab who subsequently saved Biton’s life – and the lives of Biton’s friends – by telling the terrorists that there was no one there.

During those hours, Biton was sure he was about to die, and repeated the Shema Yisrael prayer over and over. He told of his gratefulness to be alive and his decision to follow his passion of pursuing a career in music. Those gathered on Shabbat were inspired by his message of hope and resilience despite everything that he has been through.

photo - Left to right: Chaya and Dassie Loeub; Rabbi Chalom Loeub of Chabad UBC; Shalev Biton, a survivor of the Oct. 7 terror attacks; and Ohad Gavrieli of Hillel BC
Left to right: Chaya and Dassie Loeub; Rabbi Chalom Loeub of Chabad UBC; Shalev Biton, a survivor of the Oct. 7 terror attacks; and Ohad Gavrieli of Hillel BC. (photo from Chabad UBC)

“These past few weeks have been a very difficult time for Jewish students at UBC,” said Rabbi Chalom Loeub, co-director of Chabad Jewish Student Centre. “Unity Shabbat could not have come at a better time. It was a chance for Jewish students and faculty members to get together in a safe, inclusive atmosphere and enjoy a traditional three-course dinner. It reminds us that, despite our external differences, we are one people and we need to stick together.”

To learn more about Chabad Jewish Student Centre-Vancouver visit chabadubc.com or follow them on social media. 

– Courtesy Chabad Jewish Student Centre-Vancouver

Two modern-day Maccabees

On Nov. 24, Chabad UBC invited two former Israel Defence Forces soldiers to the Nest on the University of British Columbia campus to speak about their personal stories and life lessons from serving in the army.

Amit Shmuel, a former soldier in the elite Palchan unit, and Matan Roettger, a former soldier in the Kfir Brigade, shared some of their experiences in service; stories of their courage and the sacrifice they made protecting and defending the state of Israel, and especially of their perseverance in the face of suffering and adversity. Both suffered career-ending injuries in the line of duty, and their strength and resilience to mentally and physically recover from their trauma were remarkable.

The two soldiers were at UBC as part of a larger tour of college campuses all across North America, along with Belev Echad, an organization dedicated to providing financial and moral support to IDF veterans wounded in action and to easing their transition back into civilian life.

The local event was sponsored by Hasbara Fellowships, which helps train young student leaders to become Israel ambassadors and activists on campus. As a Hasbara Fellow myself and having firsthand experience in Israel, I found the stories of Shmuel and Roettger to accurately represent the victory of hope over despair, the value of the sanctity of life, freedom and dignity that have been deeply encoded in the fabric of Israeli society and the Jewish community worldwide.

Just as the Maccabees 2,000 years ago rededicated the Second Temple from destruction to restoration, so too did these two modern-day Maccabees rededicate their lives from tragedy to triumph. They inspire us to not focus on what we cannot control, but rather on what we can: to elevate our attitude and response toward life’s misfortunes by sharing with others our light of faith and hope for a brighter future.

Eitan Feiger is a student at the University of British Columbia, class of 2024.