By Gabriella Gomperts, Features Editor
The Living Chassidus Club was started by Zahavah Kaplan (SCW ‘26) at the beginning of the spring semester. The club consists of weekly farbrengens, gatherings to discuss deep, personal topics related to our lives and chassidus. Each week, either Zahavah or a different speaker discusses the ways chassidus has influenced and affected their life. They share their personal journeys and struggles in the context of growing up with or without chassidic ideals. Each person brings their own light and experiences to a farbrengen, sharing this with the group to inspire and motivate the other participants.
What inspired you to start the club?
I love Chabad and chassidus. I also love having deep conversations, so this place is where I’m able to blend the two. It’s also a way for me to create my own community at YU, where maybe I don’t quite fit into the other clubs or groups on campus. By starting this club, I’ve had the opportunity to create my own space.
Why is this club important?
There was no space on campus that allowed girls to inspire other girls on a weekly basis in the vein of chassidus. I wanted to create a space for people who have gone through similar experiences and can share how they bring the light of chassidus into their dark challenges. It’s a very warm and open environment to be vulnerable and also leave feeling inspired. We’ve had people who grew up Chabad and struggled with integrating that identity when going to different schools. We’ve also had those who grew up in environments with different values, or people who grew up without any Chabad influence and are attracted to it as they have learned more about it. Each person has their own unique story when it comes to Chabad and chassidus, and this is the place to share it.
What does “living chassidus” mean to you?
It means being authentic to your neshama and acknowledging the struggle between your animal soul and your godly soul, and always knowing that your godly soul is the real you. Each of us has a neshama, it’s a piece of Hashem that is with you and guiding you if you choose to listen to it.
What are some plans you have for this semester and future semesters?
Continuing to find people interested in joining the club and speaking at each farbrengen and club meeting. I also want to connect with other Chabad girls and girls from different backgrounds who would enjoy and benefit from these kinds of discussions. We would love new people to join and for the club to grow, although I like the small sizes of our events. Another goal would be to get some more funding to do a bigger event every once in a while.
What is your advice to someone looking to get involved on campus?
I would say just do it. There can be so many fears that come in when you’re starting a club and nerves that people won’t come. But ultimately, if you’re interested in something, there are probably a couple of people who like it too. It will be so rewarding and worth it even if it is a small group.
Anything else to say about your club?
I just want to clarify that although I’m Chabad and this club is about chassidus, it’s for anyone interested in chassidus or learning more deep concepts from the Torah. Although I would love more of our Chabad ‘girlies’ to find their space here with us in this group. I want to inform more people about our club and make a real difference in the way Torah is transmitted on campus. Moshiach now.