Help Us Give Every Student
a Passover to Remember!

B"H

Passover 5786 / 2026

A Letter from Rabbi Shmuly Haskelevitch

Shalom!

Everyone says college is supposed to be the "best years of your life." But for so many Jewish students, it doesn't always feel that way.

I see it every year. Especially for Jewish students like "Noah," here at Colgate.

Noah never thought much about his Judaism before.

He had gone to synagogue a few times. He lights Chanukah candles. He goes to a Seder at his grandparents' house. But being Jewish wasn't something he thought about often. When he left home for college, suddenly he began looking for connection, community, and tradition.

But now it's harder on campus.

Suddenly, the whole world is talking about Israel and the Jewish people.

In the recent past, being Jewish on campus has felt different. You've probably felt it too. The war in Israel. The protests. The messages on social media. The professors who say things that make you shift uncomfortably in your seat. The students who whisper or post anonymously about "Zionists" and "oppressors."

Noah feels more alone than ever.

I've heard stories like Noah's so many times. You see, so many students here are living in their own kind of "Egypt."

• For some, "Egypt" is feeling no connection with their heritage and their Judaism.
• For others, "Egypt" is the loss of friendships and connections simply because they are Jewish.
• For each one of them, Passover is about leaving whatever holds us back, finding freedom, finding connection, and finding a place at the table.

That's why I'm writing to you today.

Because Passover is coming, and you can help Jewish students like Noah break free from their Egypt and experience the joy and power of Yiddishkeit.

Will you help us set the Seder table here in Hamilton?

Because setting the Seder table doesn't just mean arranging plates and cups. It means making sure that no Jewish student is left out. It means helping students find a place where they can freely express their Judaism, celebrate their heritage, and build a strong Jewish identity together.

Your gift today of $180, $360, $540, or any amount will ensure that every student gets the chance to experience the Jewish joy of Passover.

I especially need your help because we don't just host a Seder. We host students for all ten meals of Passover. For eight days, students need a place where they can simply be Jewish. A place where they can eat, celebrate, sing, and feel proud of who they are.

Providing kosher meals, Seders, and a welcoming space costs more than $12,000, making Passover the most expensive week of the year.

I love telling students about matzah. We call matzah the bread of affliction, the food our ancestors ate as slaves in Egypt. But when they walked out of Egypt, that very same bread became the bread of freedom. The lesson is powerful. The very things that can hold us down can also lift us up if we choose to step forward.

Passover changes people. The simple act of sitting at a table, surrounded by people who understand you and who make you feel that you belong, can change everything.

Your gift of $180 sponsors one meal. $360 covers two meals. $1,800 helps ensure students like Noah can experience a full Passover.

Can I count on you for a Passover donation? Any amount that's right for you will help make this possible. It will be a wonderful mitzvah. And it will strengthen Jewish young people at a critical moment in their lives. It will help build Jewish families and communities for generations to come.

And it starts with you.

Thank you for being a part of this. Thank you for helping make Passover more than just a holiday. Thank you for helping make it home.

Wishing you and your family a Happy and Kosher Holiday.
Chag Kasher V'Sameach!

With gratitude,
Rabbi Shmuly Haskelevitch

P.S. Passover begins the evening of April 1st. We are preparing Seders and meals for every Jewish student who needs a place to go. Your gift of $180, $360, or any amount will help us open the door and set the table for them.