The Mel Meister Chabad Lounge, run by Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, opened Sept. 3 as the University of Utah’s first space dedicated to Jewish life on campus.

Located just across Reservoir Park, the new space offers easy access for students looking for community and a safe space to practice their religion. Additionally, the creation of the lounge is part of a broader effort to raise visibility and support for Jewish student life at the U.

How the idea became reality

Chabad on Campus, an international organization serving universities across the country, first arrived at the U with just three students. In the past three years, the group has grown to almost 130 students. Since then, the group has worked hard to establish a permanent safe space for Jewish students. Donations from their sponsor, Adam Meister, turned the idea into a reality.

Rabbi Moshe Nigri, who represents Chabad at the U, said the space marks an important milestone for the university. “Being the first Jewish space at the U, we have goals to make students more comfortable with religion,” Nigri said.

Nigri said that the U has been “welcoming since day one,” noting that university president Taylor Randall and Salt Lake City mayor Erin Mendenhall were both in attendance for the lounge’s opening day.

In a statement to the Chronicle, the U highlighted the lounge as part of its effort to create a more supportive environment for Jewish students. “The opening of the Mel Meister Chabad Lounge, just across the street from our campus, is a powerful sign of welcome and belonging to our Jewish students,” said Chris Nelson, chief university relations officer. “We are deeply grateful for community partners like Chabad, Rabbis Moshe Nigri and Benny Zippel and the Meister family, whose support provides our students a connection to faith, friendship, and heritage.”

Inside the new space

The lounge will host social events, weekly Shabbat dinners and classes. It is open throughout the day for Jewish students to socialize and practice their religion.

Henry Rade, a senior studying entrepreneurship and marketing and president of Chabad on Campus, said the lounge is especially important because the nearest synagogue is in Sugar House, which isn’t easily accessible for many students. “The fact that now students can walk here is game changing,” Rade said, “It’s a safe space for people to go have food, drinks, relax, pray and the fact that it’s all a walkable distance now is really cool.”

Another goal for the lounge is to expand education around Judaism. Courses will be offered in the space and open to all students. “When we talk and discuss religion with others, it’s beautiful,” Nigri said.

Perspectives beyond Chabad

Dr. Hollis Robbins, an English professor and former dean of the College of Humanities, said Judaism’s growing presence on campus is an important development. “I am glad to know there is a space for Jewish Students, faculty and staff,” Robbins said. “I also think it is important that Judaism and Jewish culture should be part of everyday life in the U.”

At the same time, Robbins noted how discussions about the lounge often frame Judaism as a “faith” rather than a tradition. “One doesn’t hear Jews talking about Judaism as a faith because it isn’t really–it is a set of practices, traditions, and observances,” Robbins said. “Faith is a Christian concept.”

Because the U is predominantly influenced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she hopes that “excitement” about the Chabad Lounge will draw more attention to Jewish practices, history and culture on campus. “We can’t simply say there is a place for you over there and shrug off our responsibility here,” Robbins said. “True pluralism is about coexistence, not segregation.”

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