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Chabad women’s leadership seminary launches unprecedented $50 million Leaders of Light capital campaign

Sem grads report from the front lines of the campus war

Brooklyn, NY: Chabad’s Jewish women leadership seminary, Beth Rivkah Division of Higher Education, unveiled immediate plans for one of the largest Chabad capital projects in the world: building a new campus to educate the next generation of female leaders who will shape the Jewish people for decades to come. In light of the current crisis, it is more urgent than ever to prepare young women to strengthen Jewish identity, promote Jewish life and values, and connect with Israel.

“The decision to speed up the Leaders of Light campaign to build Beth Rivkah’s new campus is in direct response to evil,” said Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, Chairman of the Board. “When darkness descends, we bring in even more light.”

Beth Rivkah seminary alumna Yehudis Bluming, who serves as the co-director of Rohr Chabad of Duke University and University of North Carolina, agrees. “Fighting darkness or engaging in a social media war is aimless and endless. Instead, we are focusing on empowering Jewish students, helping increase their pride and camaraderie.” She organized a Jewish night at a sorority, speaking to fifty girls about Miriam having faith in Egypt, and leading a tambourine-decorating workshop. The Blumings held a Zoom session with parents to hear their concerns and reassure them of their children’s safety. “We hope to give Jewish students the knowledge and inspiration they need to strengthen their identity and not be lured by misguided groups,” she said.

Chabad women leaders like Yehudis Bluming embrace multiple roles and responsibilities in the Jewish community and on college campuses, fostering Jewish pride in the face of growing hostility.

As co-director of Chabad at Columbia University, another alumna, Naomi Drizin, is also on the front lines of the campus battleground, where anti-Israel and antisemitic factions threaten the safety of Jewish students. “Our most important role is to be present for Jewish students, to be a listening ear and to do what we can to ensure their safety,” she said. “In addition to acknowledging the pain of the Jewish people and doing what we can to combat antisemitism, we’re here to strengthen one another through positivity. Chabad has brought together various student groups as well as supportive faculty and alumni to work on a few initiatives. One is raising funds for the Columbia Jewish Community ambulance for Magen David Adom.”

In another example of female leadership that is so critically needed today, Bracha Plotkin, co-director of Chabad at New Paltz, notes how the widespread pro-Palestinian rhetoric on campus – both in and out of the classroom, makes Jewish students feel unsafe. “We are taking the positive approach. We just had 150 for Shabbat dinner. We are doing challah bakes, and lunch ‘n learn sessions. Unfortunately, many students experience anti-Israel comments from faculty, which we then report to the administration. Students are afraid to speak up, they are afraid it would impact their grade. We provide a safe space where students can ask questions and talk about Israel without fear of being attacked.” 

These women exemplify the “Leaders of Light” who emerge from Beth Rivkah seminary, prepared to stand up for the Jewish people.

“We call upon the philanthropic community to ensure that the future of the Jewish people is safeguarded with trained leaders ready to confront future challenges,” said Rabbi Shemtov. 

Beth Rivkah’s state-of-the-art global campus will be built in New York near Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters and will increase the capacity of the school, including classrooms, library lounges,  a fitness center, performing arts theater, and residence hall for 250.

The new edifice will accommodate the school’s growing enrollment of both in-town and out-of-town students. It will offer a beautiful, spacious, and fitting environment for young women to live, learn, and enjoy a seminary experience that will impact them for a lifetime.