On this episode of Religion on Campus, Podcasts editor Olivia Miller and contributor Lauren Miller interview Rabbi Dovid Gurevich, the Chabad Rabbi at UCLA since 2006. They explore Jewish life on campus, student engagement programs, support for Jewish students’ spiritual journeys in college and the importance of community in Jewish life.

Lauren Miller: Welcome to Religion on Campus. I’m Lauren Miller.

Olivia Miller: And I’m Olivia Miller. We’re sisters and UCLA Bruins exploring faith at our university.

LM: From ancient traditions to modern practices, join us as we uncover the spiritual side of UCLA life.

After attending law school at George Washington University, Rabbi Dovid Gurevich became the Chabad Rabbi at UCLA starting in 2006.

OM: Right across from UCLA on Gayley, the Chabad house is responsible for providing services to hundreds of Jewish students as well as alumni.

Rabbi, thank you so much for being here.

Rabbi Dovid Gurevich: My pleasure.

OM: So for the people who aren’t familiar with Chabad, can you please tell us about this organization and how, as rabbi of the Chabad House, can you describe your key responsibilities in overseeing what’s going on?

DG: So I would actually describe Chabad as an entire movement much more than an organization. It’s kind of decentralized in that way, and it’s been around for almost 250 years. It has expanded tremendously in the last few decades, and I’m very humbled and proud to be part of that incredible growth. And fun fact, Chabad House here at UCLA was the first Chabad House in the world.

OM: Wow. Oh, I did not know that.

LM: I didn’t know that either.

DG: Yeah, it opened up in 1969, in the fall of 1969, after the summer of love. Just as people or human beings were landing on the moon, Chabad was landing on campus. First landing was right here at UCLA.

LM: And what year did you join Chabad of UCLA?

DG: So we came here about 18 years ago. 2006.

OM: Wow. Before that, was there a Chabad here or was it—

DG: Yes. So there have been many predecessors before us. Obviously, ‘69 was way before I was even born, s the presence has been here. Because it was the first, it also kind of became and morphed into headquarters of Chabad for the entire West Coast. So Westwood is also home to the headquarters of Chabad for the entire West Coast. But when we came back, we re-focused on students and being specifically present for campus, and it’s been an incredible ride ever since.

OM: So what are your specific duties as the UCLA Chabad Rabbi?

DG: We’re here to support Jewish life in any form that it will take, obviously to provide opportunities for students to have positive enriching Jewish experiences from Shabbat celebrations and dinners to services, educational, social events, trips. You name it, if it’s Jewish, we try to do it.

OM: And for you personally, what have been some of your most rewarding experiences in this work?

DG: There have been so many. It’s hard to kind of isolate them. But some of the most rewarding parts is when you hear back how maybe sometimes something I may have said years ago and it stuck with someone and they bump into an alum years down the road. And they are like, wow, that was really impactful to them. I probably don’t remember what I said by then, but it’s just rewarding to hear that it made an impact and it made some positive change in their lives. And sometimes more immediate, but just last night we got together with our student leaders and they gave us tremendous feedback about the role that Chabad has played in their lives in the past couple years, especially in the last few months when they felt they were being a little bit more challenged on campus. So it was very gratifying to hear that.

LM: For many students, Chabad becomes like a second home during their time at UCLA. How does the Chabad House at UCLA help alumni stay engaged? Because you were talking about how you run into alumni and they tell you about their experience and how it’s made such an impact on their lives. So if you could tell us if there’s anything that the Chabad House at UCLA does to keep alumni engaged and connected after they graduate with the community.

DG: Yeah, absolutely. So that’s why I kind of didn’t like the word organization because it’s like a little musty and stale. We kind of operate like family. So when students come, they really are embraced and become part of family. And I always tell our seniors, they cannot graduate from family. It’s not possible. So family stays intact, and we try to keep in touch with as many alumni as possible. It’s a challenge because every year that number is growing, obviously. A few hundred alumni join the ranks. So not everyone does keep in touch, but those who do, it’s an incredible relationship. I officiate sometimes their weddings.

OM: Wow.

DG: That is probably the biggest highlight by far.

LM: Wait, how many weddings have you been a part of?

DG: Not enough. But I can probably recall at least half a dozen in the last couple of years, including our COVID weddings and things like that. So that was just the most rewarding aspect of it for sure. But in general, sometimes alumni reach out for advice with personal relationships or with dating or with their career choices or help them to introduce to, if they’re going to grad school, to someone in their graduate school, Chabad there. I invite them to pay it forward so to speak. So they join our supporters’ growing group, allow them to come back just for Shabbat because they miss it. Sometimes they come back and mentor the students and put them in touch. I think just last night, I found someone in a post-graduation medical assistant position with one of our alumni. And that’s also super rewarding as well, just to be able to help out to the students who are now transitioning to become alumni. It’s a big family.

LM: How many couples have met at UCLA? If you had to like ballpark a number.

DG: It’s a good question. That I can think of at least four or five. Like our past two and board president met her future husband at the Shabbat by us. Actually several of them did come think of it. One of them was also a fellow Bruin. Another one came to visit for Shabbat, mega Shabbat actually.

OM and LM: Oh, wow.

DG: And it was a Berkeley and UCLA wedding, so it was really awesome. Those are like also super special aspects of why we’re here and very important. We actually do try to help people. There’s something, primarily alumni avail themselves of that called metatchabad.com. It’s just Jewish matchmaking. So I think it’s such an important area of life. There’s no reason why people should not have more guidance and assistance for that. So we’re definitely here to help, and my wife is an incredible life coach, if you will.

OM: Going back on talking about Shabbat, what are the typical traditions that Chabad of UCLA has?

DG: So we try to keep it very traditional, but at the same time very open to those who might not be familiar with every all the trappings of a Shabbat Jewish experience. So we always start with services, although not a lot of people attend it, but I feel it’s important to have that as an available option. During the winter, Shabbat comes in early, so people come in, already it’s already dark. But in the summer like now, when people come in, usually women are invited to light Shabbat candles, and they will go and begin the actual celebration with the traditional Kiddush ceremony when we sanctify the day. And then I invite people to wash and we break the challah bread, make the blessing. And then it just goes into incredible four course dinner.

OM: Wow.

DG: And that’s probably the most exciting part, we get to talk to each other to socialize. I also try to share a few words of inspiration usually just to make sure that it’s not just the social event but also some content and educational component to it. And I think we all need inspiration.

OM: Absolutely. So there’s the Shabbat, which is every Friday. Every Friday there’s services. And then Thursday is Challah Bake, so it’s to prepare for the Shabbat, correct?

DG: Well, it’s kind of an event in its own, right? Challah is also a mitzvah to bake Challah and to separate that special piece. So on the one hand, it’s fun. On the other hand, it’s also meaningful and educational. So we usually do a weekly one, including tonight. It’s fun just doing it to be together. It’s an acquired skill that a lot of people will hopefully retain for the rest of their lives. And it’s also, there’s nothing like homemade challah, especially the way my wife makes it. So we cannot even go back to any bakery challah at this point. We’re stuck with homemade. Not complaining, but it’s just what everyone loves. And yeah, sometimes people take it home and or just devour it right there on the spot because it’s that good. And sometimes people have enough of a discipline to keep it for 24 hours for Shabbat.

OM: Right. And what is the mega Shabbat that you referenced?

DG: So at least once a year we try to bring as many students as possible together for this major event. And it’s basically similar to the regular Shabbat only on a much bigger scale. So we tried to get hundreds more people. I think this year, although classes were online that week, but we ended up with nearly 400 students present. And just an incredible vibe to be together and to have so many other people who are like-minded, celebrating similar thing in a very safe environment and very homey environment. So we had some other components. So for example, we had a gift of life where they were swabbing for bone marrow matching.

OM: Oh, wow.

DG: So they came before Shabbat, to do it, as people were walking in. And actually, a fun fact, a couple of years ago, somebody did match at our mega Shabbat and became a bone marrow donor.

OM and LM: Wow.

DG: Through this registry, saving someone’s life, they had to fly across country, have a whole procedure, but it was incredible because something incredible came out that because we were able to facilitate something like this at our mega Shabbat.

LM: I want our listeners to hear a little bit more about the educational opportunities that you offer and specifically, Sinai Scholars, because I know that is very popular at Chabad. And if you could just tell us a little bit about that.

DG: Oh, absolutely. I think education is a huge component of what we do. In fact, the word Chabad stands for wisdom, understanding and knowledge, which is a Hebrew acronym of the term Chabad. So we’re all about learning and education and giving deeper meaningful experiences to students. And one of the best ways we do it is through the Sinai Scholars program, which has been offered to Chabad campus, I believe, since around the same time that we came 2006, although we brought here two years later as it was expanding. So I think we were on the first 20 campuses that had it. And it’s kind of a gateway to Jewish knowledge and educational base; doesn’t presume any prior knowledge, but we do go kind of deep. And it’s an eight-week program that covers some of the foundations of Jewish life. So we begin with exploration of Jewish identity. And that would go on as to how to express such identity and some of the core Jewish values. Then we talk about the value of the ritual components of Judaism. There are so many of those. We have a class dedicated to Shabbat on its own because it’s such a mainstay of Jewish life. There’s a class about relationships from a Jewish perspective. But also a big deal. We talk about the ethics based on the Torah and how somehow this thousands years old document can be applicable to our most modern ethical issues that arise. Now we talk about Jewish mysticism and we conclude kind of looking forward to the Jewish future and what it’s all about, how to find ultimately one’s purpose in life and to go about living much more meaningfully.

OM: University is a very challenging time for many students navigating their faith. What are some common spiritual struggles or questions the UCLA students bring to the Chabad house and how does UCLA Chabad try to address these concerns and keep students connected to their faith?

DG: It’s a great question. I think it’s a very pivotal moment in people’s lives because it’s the first time when people are away from home and they’re challenged from many different directions, both from their peers as well as academically and socially, to be part of something that they weren’t a part of before. So if they were home before, they were probably doing things with their family or with their immediate so-called friends in high school. Now they’re in much more diverse environment and quite often their challenges to their belief systems or whatever they were doing and I think in general, there are many distractions. So a lot of people for the first time are confronted with the questions, deeper questions of their identity and what role that plays in their lives. Quite often they end up exploring things much deeper than ever before because now that people are adult age, it’s motivating much deeper questions. And I love deep questions, so I’m always down for that. So we try to facilitate that to make sure that people have those opportunities to just have positive Jewish experiences. They’re very accessible and easy. But at the same time, if they have deeper probing questions, they should be comfortable to ask them. I always encourage, including Sinai Scholars, but in any of the other educational opportunities and beyond that, you have to ask questions. It’s one of the most Jewish things you can do. So we’re here to kind of help people wherever they have any challenges in terms of their Jewishness and hopefully people take advantage of that.

LM: And then following up regarding that question is how do you make students who come from secular backgrounds, from Judaism, how do you make Chabad more accessible and relevant for people with secular backgrounds but want to be involved?

DG: So I think we can always find common ground. Chicken soup is not religious. It’s delicious. So things like that, I think they can go a long way in breaking ice. Also, I can relate. I was, I didn’t grow up religious. So to me, it’s something that’s relatable. I went through kind of many of those questions myself. So I can totally connect to something like that without dismissing it as something that’s not a valid question. But in general, I think people are usually just looking for comfort zone. I would just try to make them feel as comfortable as possible, just treat them as individuals and human beings and welcoming with a smile and a hug and a handshake or whatever it takes. And hopefully they sense that and come back for more. We don’t impose any of these religious values. I think it has to be very organic that people just have to explore who they are and how it speaks to them. And we’re just here to kind of inform and educate and facilitate their journey.

LM: College can expose students to perspectives and challenge their beliefs. Would you say the UCLA experience tends to bring Jewish students closer or further from their faith and traditions?

DG: It depends on the person. I think a lot of people are exploring and that’s a good thing as long as they are not cynical because I think cynicism dismisses too much stuff. It’s great to be a skeptic or questioning things including Jewish stuff as long as you’re open to hearing perspectives and being educated from different points of view, no problem. I don’t think Judaism is afraid of questions at all. In fact, we embrace them. But cynicism sometimes can creep in. I haven’t encountered a lot of that, to be honest. I think a lot of people who may be kind of drifting away, avoid us a little bit perhaps, but there’s no reason for that. I think, if you have questions, you have to address them, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But many people do end up exploring things and getting closer to their Jewish identity, which is really awesome because again it’s a very pivotal point in students’ lives. Very formative, biggest decisions are being made now where you live, where you work, relationships, etc., family formation. So it has to be making the informed decisions. And I think to their Jewish identity, whether they appreciate it or not plays a huge role in that.

LM: Absolutely. And for those who are, you know, struggling with their spiritual beliefs as a Jew, what counseling or resources did the Chabad house provide for those questioning their religious upbringing?

DG: So we’re happy to meet with people one-on-one. I think that’s the most effective thing because then it’s customized and personal and tailored to their questions. Of course, every program we provide has hopefully something that can be beneficial to people who are exploring and questioning things. And again, specifically, I think educational things are the best in that regard because then it’s grounded in our tradition and the texts and it helps people to inform things from the first-hand sources. But I think the best thing is, again, just sit down and grab a coffee or something and talk it over.

LM: Absolutely. And for those, going back to Sinai Scholars, for those who graduated from Sinai Scholars, do you sense or have observed students being more confident in their religious and their Jewish beliefs?

DG: Definitely. In fact, they write in the reflection at the end. So we hear that feedback and it’s very, very positive. Overwhelmingly positive. Both the essay that they write at the end as a feedback as well as the survey. And we see that many of them remain engaged, whether they become regulars at Shabbat dinners or join our student leadership board, Chaboard it as we call it, or they continue learning. We have additional opportunities. I think about a year ago, we began something called JewishU, which has smaller, like, bite-sized mini courses, usually four weeks short. And that’s a lot more doable for many people because it’s lesser commitment. And they’re on different topics. So Sinai Scholars is like an overarching big thing that covers many mainstays of Jewish life, and JewishU could be either focused, let’s say on medical ethics or something specific like that. And then people who are interested in that specific topic continue and further their Jewish education and involvement.

LM: What was the most popular JewishU course?

DG: Good question. I have to think about that for a second.

OM: Well, you’re thinking about that. I’ll say regarding Sinai Scholars, Yoni Fogelman, one of the Sinai Scholars students, I interviewed him for Bruin to Bruin and we talked about his music and he did mention about how Sinai Scholars changed his perspective. So it’s definitely and inspired him musically. So it’s definitely important.

DG: Yeah, it’s not uncommon. A lot of students have that, I would even call transformative experience, and that’s really awesome. So JewishU, I guess the medical ethics was the most popular one this past year, where about nine or 10 regulars would come to that. And it was just fascinating to hear Jewish takes on cutting edge medical ethical issues.

LM: Now to go back to more so the activities that the Chabad House has for Jewish students, can you describe any retreats or social activities hosted by the UCLA Chabad House that have been very particularly meaningful? I know you mentioned Mega Shabbat, if you go into a little detail about that, and if there’s some other things you would like to mention.

DG: Sure. So on a regular basis, we have Cafe Chabad. I think it’s every other Monday, nowadays. And sometimes we throw in some activity with that. But generally, it’s just a social where people come together and enjoy kosher dinner. And if there’s an activity, then it’s tied into that as well to make it more fun. We obviously have holiday celebrations. A lot of them have social components. Well, the Hanukkah party, this year, Purim was in spring break, but usually that’s probably our biggest and most popular event is the Purim party. We have barbecues with the UCLA Bayit. Ice Cream Social for incoming freshmen, usually in the beginning of the year.

LM: Can you tell for the people who don’t know what the Bayit is? Can you just explain that?

DG: Oh yeah, UCLA Bayit is like a Jewish co-op student housing that’s here in Westwood Village on the Frat Row, basically.

LM: Okay. And does Chabad do a lot of stuff with the Bayit house?

DG: Yeah, we do quite a bit. Many of them are our regular students who come a lot for Shabbat and because they have their own nice space and the barbecue grill in the backyard built in. So sometimes we just grill there and have some more fun around the fire pit that they have. In fact, about a year ago, it was a Lag B’Omer, which is a minor Jewish holiday, with a very beautiful barbecue there.

LM: There can be a misunderstanding about the role of religion, particularly Judaism at public university at UCLA. What are some common stereotypes and misconceptions that your work has helped to dispel about Jewish campus life?

DG: So even like within Jewish community, there could be stereotypes. For example, some people think that Chabad is only for very religious students.

LM: Right, I’ve heard that before.

DG: And sometimes very religious students think that Chabad is only here to outreach to non-religious. So you kind of get from both sides. But that’s a stereotype because once people walk in, they realize that we have students who are more walks of life, all different backgrounds. And we want to make sure that they all feel comfortable and confident and just grown in their Jewish experiences. So that’s a challenge in a sense. Also, a lot of people, again, conflate politics with religion. That’s never a good thing. So I have jokingly, but I always say it, often say Shabbat dinners that we stay away from controversy so we don’t talk about politics or religion.

LM: So then my next question, just reflecting back at your years in this role as the Chabad Rabbi at UCLA, what has been the most particularly meaningful or impactful aspects of working in the Chabad house at UCLA, and what lessons will you carry forward?

DG: It kind of stretches back to the very beginning in our minds because it’s not exactly like a nine to five job. We’re basically in this 24/7. I kind of joke with students that we work on Shabbat, especially on Shabbat.

OM: Yes.

DG: The day of rest.

LM: But that’s when you’re busiest.

DG: Exactly. So, you know, a lot of those kind of moments kind of kaleidoscope together at this point. It’s been so long but just you know a lot of incredible memories whether it’s just some mitzvahs in the middle of Bruin Walk or lighting a Menorah by the dorms, whatever. You know, there’s just been so many incredible moments, but some of the most rewarding things are memories that you’d establish with individuals and they kind of remind you years after. Something’s maybe small, it’s seemingly trivial. Like, I don’t know, a couple of guys who showed up once in the middle of Passover and they ate about 10 pounds of schnitzel. That kind of stuff. We can still joke about it a decade later.

OM: So for those who, for the listeners who don’t know, what is a mitzvah?

DG: So usually mitzvah is translated as a commandment, which is a very straightforward way of looking at it. And the Torah is replete with them, a traditional number of the 613 of them. I like to think of mitzvah as something deeper than that. In the teachings of Chabad, Hasidic mysticism, mitzvah is described as a bond or a connection. So I see mitzvah as actually opportunities to connect. To what? So first and foremost, to the one who commanded us, which is the one above, the Almighty, but also connects us to ourselves, to our inner core being, to our souls. You can also see this historically, it connects us to our ancestors and to our future as well. So, you know, let’s say you just like Shabbat candles, probably your great-grandmother was also like Shabbat candles 100 years ago, and so was her great-grandmother. And there’s like a chain of tradition or whatever you want to call it that really bonds us throughout time but also throughout space because you were sharing these bonds and these mitzvahs with the other Jewish people over the world. So the Jews lighting Shabbat candles in Japan and in Australia, in Argentina and in Israel and all over the world. So that also helps us to connect, and it’s such a powerful experiential thing that cannot be overstated.

LM: Now, I also want to mention something that you haven’t mentioned that I think is really interesting just going off on connecting, can you discuss Tabling Tuesday?

OM: Yeah, I was just thinking about that.

DG: Yeah, so it kind of made the regular thing to make sure that I am present on campus and sometimes I try to table with other students as well, but I think it’s just important to have that presence to make sure that we sometimes meet new people, people who sometimes are searching for Jewish outlets or opportunities to celebrate and of course seeing the familiar faces. So we’re there on Bruin Walk pretty much every Tuesday. And again, with opportunities to do a mitzvah on the spot, whether you give a few coins to charity or pick up Shabbat candles, or for the guys to wrap the tefillin or something seasonal sometimes. So in Sukkot I bring my Lulav for people to shake and I give out matzah before Passover and menorahs before Hanukkah. So it also takes on a seasonal element as well to make sure people have those opportunities to do Jewish stuff.

LM: And for those who are looking to see you on campus for Tabling Tuesday, where are you located? Like where’s the general area that you’re located? Where people can come find you if they want to say hi?

DG: Yeah, right there on Bruin Walk. I usually grab a table that’s available. So it depends on availability, and I don’t have like a favorite table per se.

LM: No designated spot.

DG: Not really. It depends on availability primarily. But yeah, right there in the middle of Bruin Walk, which I realize people sometimes avoid, but if you know that’s a friendly, familiar face, maybe it could be something to actually look forward to.

LM: Exactly. And people will take off their AirPods and actually stop and say hello.

OM: Yeah.

DG: That’s the best part, because it’s easy to be ignored, but it’s much more rewarding to actually engage with people.

LM: Absolutely.

OM: Sure. Anything else you’d like to say?

DG: Just that everyone is welcome to be a part of Jewish life on this campus, which is robust. But everyone I think is very important to be part of the community and family, especially nowadays where people are feeling sometimes lonely and we need each other much more than ever before and much more than sometimes people realize.

OM: Absolutely. Rabbi, thank you so much for coming on. We really appreciate your time. We know how busy you are, especially because Shabbat’s coming up tomorrow. So you’re very busy getting ready, we know, so thank you for taking the time.

DG: Thank you so much for having me.

OM: Religion on Campus is brought to you by the Daily Bruin Podcasts. You can listen to other episodes of the show on dailybruin.com or Spotify, SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts and transcripts are available.

OM: My name is Olivia Miller.

LM: My name is Lauren Miller. Thank you for listening.