The Syracuse University campus came alive as Yavneh’s Shabbat Project brought a renewed energy to Jewish life at the university. Six dedicated Yavneh student leaders from McMaster, Guelph, and Washington University traveled to Syracuse, creating a vibrant Shabbat experience that left a lasting impact on the campus community.
A Weekend of Connection and Joy
From the moment the visiting Yavneh students arrived, they infused the campus with enthusiasm. Friday evening began with a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat service that broke new ground for the Syracuse community—featuring dancing for the first time. The energy continued at Chabad, where students shared a festive dinner followed by an oneg with the rabbi, creating space for meaningful conversation and connection.
Throughout Shabbat day, the merged community gathered at Chabad for board games and casual conversation. In a special touch that demonstrated Yavneh’s commitment to enhancing campus Jewish life, the organization sponsored seudah shlishit —a practice not typically observed on campus. The generous spread of deli sandwiches, snacks, and treats proved particularly welcome since the kosher dining facilities remained closed until after Shabbat’s conclusion.
As Shabbat drew to a close, the community came together for a musical Havdalah ceremony. The weekend’s programming continued with a paint night that attracted additional students who had been unable to participate in the Shabbat activities but were eager to join the community gathering.
Student Impact and Leadership
“We had a lot of students who were really happy to have new guests and extra faces to talk to,” reported one of the student organizers. “Many expressed hope that the Canadian students would return, noting the relatively short distance between campuses.”
The Yavneh visitors heard repeatedly from Syracuse students how much more spiritual and meaningful their Shabbat experience felt with the presence of peers who brought enthusiasm and knowledge. The impact was evident in the immediate feedback—Syracuse students began asking when Yavneh would return before the weekend had even concluded.
This successful event exemplified peer leadership in action. Student organizers took full responsibility for planning, coordination, and implementation, demonstrating the power of student-to-student connection in building vibrant Jewish campus communities.
ShtarkTank: The Innovation Behind the Impact
The Shabbat Project that transformed the Syracuse experience originated as a winning idea from Yavneh’s innovative ShtarkTank program. ShtarkTank offers motivated individuals and student teams the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of student leaders (affectionately called “Shtarks”), who provide constructive feedback and funding to turn promising concepts into reality.
With up to $25,000 in available funding, ShtarkTank empowers Jewish students to develop creative solutions for enhancing Jewish life on campuses nationwide. The Shabbat Project stands as one of the program’s most successful initiatives, focusing specifically on enlivening Shabbat experiences at colleges with smaller Jewish communities.
The concept operates on a simple but powerful premise: students travel to various campuses across North America to share the joy and connection of Shabbat with their peers. The program aims to help campus communities build stronger Shabbat environments, expand Jewish involvement, foster connections between like-minded Jewish college students, and recruit new participants to engage with Yavneh.
Building a National Movement
The Syracuse event represented just one success story in the broader Yavneh Campus Shabbat Project initiative. Through inter-collegiate Shabbatons on campuses nationwide, the program has created a growing movement of peer-led Shabbat experiences filled with singing, eating, learning, and community-building.
What makes the Shabbat Project particularly effective is its student-driven approach. Rather than outside organizations imposing programming, current college students design and implement experiences that resonate with their peers. This authentic, grassroots strategy creates spaces where students feel comfortable exploring Jewish tradition and building lasting relationships.
The Syracuse Shabbaton demonstrated the Shabbat Project’s core values in action: creating joyful Jewish experiences, fostering genuine connections between students from different campuses, and strengthening Jewish community through shared celebration. As the program continues to expand to more campuses, it carries forward Yavneh’s mission of empowering Jewish students to lead and inspire their peers.
For campuses interested in hosting a Shabbat Project visit or for students looking to join future Shabbatons, Yavneh continues to welcome new participants into this growing movement.
For more information about JLIC and the Yavneh program, please reach out to any of our Directors.
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