Rabbi Tzemach and Mushka Cohen have been appointed as New Shluchim to University City, Missouri, to serve as Directors of Learning and Student Engagement at Washington University.
Over 1500 Jewish students at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) have something new to celebrate: the hiring of Rabbi Tzemach and Mushka Cohen, along with their baby daughter Rivka, as the newest members of the Chabad team!
The Cohens have been appointed to serve as Directors of Learning and Student Engagement, with a special focus on connecting with underclassmen and helping them build strong foundations during their college years.
Since 2002, Chabad at WashU – The Rohr Center for Jewish Life – has been a vibrant hub of Jewish life, where thousands of students have found inspiration, community, and a powerful connection to their heritage. Just steps from campus, Chabad is alive with energy—hosting unforgettable Shabbat dinners, thought-provoking classes, and dynamic events that bring Jewish life to the forefront of student experience.
Yet as the Jewish student population continues to grow and diversify, so too does the need for personalized mentorship, Torah learning, and meaningful connection, especially for students navigating their first years on campus.
To help meet this need, Rabbi Hershey and Chana Novack, co-directors of Chabad at WashU, have appointed the Cohens to join the team. Their appointment comes under the guidance of Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad in St. Louis.
The Cohens bring energy, warmth, and a deep passion for creating meaningful Jewish experiences. They’ve already sparked strong connections with WashU students—welcoming them at Pegisha in New York, staying in touch over school breaks, and showing up with genuine care all year long. Now, they’re hitting the ground running, ready to strengthen those relationships and be a vibrant, daily presence in student life.
“When we came to campus to gauge interest, we were welcomed with such excitement,” said Rabbi Tzemach Cohen. “We hosted events and classes, and students kept asking, ‘When are you coming back?’ The interest and warmth were incredible. We felt there was so much more to do—and the students were clearly eager for it.”
To support the launch of this new phase, the Cohens have initiated a fundraising campaign to underwrite the implementation of initial programming. You can donate at charidy.com/washu.
Much gratitude is due to Chabad on Campus International for facilitating this endeavor, with support from The Rohr Foundation through the New Shluchim Initiative.
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