Dear Friends,
As we come to the close of 2025, we want to pause and say thank you. None of what is outlined in this report would be possible without your devotion to Jewish life at Dartmouth and your partnership in making it flourish.
Thanks to your support, Chabad at Dartmouth continues to be a vibrant, visible, and deeply impactful home for students, alumni, and the broader campus community.
Your ongoing commitment will enable our continued strength and growth in the year ahead.
Below are a few highlights from the past year.
A New Flagship Learning Program: 15-Minute Torah
This year we launched our flagship 15-Minute Torah micro-learning initiative, designed for busy students who strive to incorporate meaning, values, and Jewish literacy into their daily lives.
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62 unique students participated in this initiative
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554 individual learning sessions completed
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9,365 minutes of Torah studied, one focused 15-minute burst at a time
The impact of this program lies not only in its volume, but in consistency. Through their learning, students are building deep relationships with Jewish peers while engaging meaningfully with Jewish texts and values. Below are firsthand testimonials from 15-Minute Torah study students.
“15 min of Torah has been an incredible experience this fall. Growing up in a reform community, I have always taken the word of Hashem literally, but delving into its deeper meaning has given newfound strength to my Jewish Identity. Having weekly meetings with Rabs has become a highlight of my week” GJ ‘29
“Although we are different, we all bring energy to a common purpose: discussing what it means to be a Jew in the modern world. How can we spark Jewish unity, live morally, and build a better world for our kids? To answer these pressing questions we turn to our tradition. We study Torah and the commentaries of the learned rabbis and sages.” AQC ‘27
Building Community Through Shabbat
We know how critical positive Jewish experiences are, especially peer-to-peer. Our Bring-a-Friend Shabbat program has become a highlight of each term with attendance tracking as detailed below:
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Winter Term: 75 students
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Spring Term: 86 students
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Fall Term: 140 students
In total this year:
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1,300 Shabbat meals served
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Over 400 students joined us, approximately 80% Jewish, many bringing friends for their first Shabbat experience at Dartmouth
Shabbat remains the heartbeat of our community, where friendships form, identities strengthen, and students feel at home.
“As a 29, this is my first time identifying as Jewish beyond my parents, something that Rabbi mentioned on parents weekend and has stuck with me. as we sit here tonight—its not because our parents dragged us. We could be anywhere else right now, but we’re choosing to identify as Jewish. My 5 year old self could never understand this, yet it feels entirely natural. We need to be proud of our Judaism. We ought to live it openly, to be kind and courageous in the way we represent it.” JM ‘29 remarks at bring a friend Shabbat
“The tough times have pushed me to prioritize being Jewish and participating in Jewish events. Chabad and the supportive environment that Rabs and Chani have created here is a huge part of this. Shabbat dinners at chabad, even though it can be hard to fit into my crazy schedule sometimes, are always worth it. When things are heated on campus, shabbats here have helped me feel grounded and remind me that I’m a part of something greater than myself. “
ES ‘27 remarks at bring a friend Shabbat
Hands-On Jewish Life and Mitzvah Engagement
Jewish life at Dartmouth is lived, not just learned:
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Tefillin laid over 250 times
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111 shook lulav and etrog
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30 mezuzot were placed on dorm rooms
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75 students heard the shofar on the Green
For the second year in a row, we lit the public menorah in the center of the Dartmouth Green, joined by students, faculty, local residents, and Dartmouth leadership, including President Sian Beilock, EVP Jomysha Delgado Stephen, SVP Jennifer Rosales and College Chaplain Rev. Nancy Vogele ‘85. At a time when Jewish visibility is deeply important, this was a proud moment for our entire community. Though Chanukah falls during break, the Menorah remains standing and lit for students to see when they return to campus in January.
Alumni, Faculty, and Campus Partnerships
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Hosting alumni and family events builds lifelong Jewish connections and reminds students that they are part of a vibrant, multigenerational community. These gatherings offer a living picture of Jewish continuity, allowing alumni to see today’s students as they grow into the next generation, building their own Jewish homes while staying connected to past, present, and future
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Hosted two alumni and family events in New York City, one in the summer and one on the first night of Chanukah.
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Continued our weekly Thursday (8pm) alumni and friends learning class, now heading into its third year, connecting Dartmouth alumni through Torah study.
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Welcomed multiple Dartmouth faculty members into our home for Shabbat and weekday dinners, and we look forward to expanding this engagement further this year.
These relationships strengthen Jewish life not only for students and alumni today, but for generations to come.
Meeting Challenges with Strength and Dignity
This academic year began with a painful incident: a swastika drawn outside a freshman’s dorm room. While heartbreaking, the response was powerful. Dartmouth leadership acted decisively to ensure students felt seen, supported, and protected, and hosted the first annual Jewish Life BBQ at the home of Senior Vice President Jennifer Rosales. We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to building on this new and meaningful tradition.
This fall, we were honored to host Judith Raanan, a released Hamas hostage who shared her story of faith, resilience, and hope with our student community. It was a deeply moving evening, and students will carry Judith’s story with them for years to come.
Campus Traditions and Outreach
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For the 15th consecutive year, Chabad served 300 kosher hot dogs at the Green Key Block Party
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120 students attended our annual Welcome Sushi event, co-hosted with Hillel
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100 freshmen attended Chabad in fall term, the highest first term turnout in our history .
Each of these moments represents another door opened, another student welcomed, another Jewish connection formed.
Looking Ahead and Finishing the Year Strong
As we look toward the year ahead, our goals are clear: deepen learning, expand student leadership, strengthen alumni engagement, and ensure that Jewish life at Dartmouth remains strong, visible, and proud.
If you are able, we invite you to consider making a year-end gift to help us finish 2025 strong and position Chabad at Dartmouth for an even more impactful year ahead. Your support directly fuels learning, community, care, and Jewish pride on campus.
Thank you for being our partners in this sacred work. We are deeply grateful for your trust and generosity.
With warm regards and heartfelt thanks for the year to come,
Rabbi Moshe and Chani Gray
Chabad at Dartmouth