Rabbi Eliyahu and Chaya Citron (nee Turk) have recently moved to Portland, Oregon to strengthen the Jewish community in the urban Colleges throughout SW Portland.
Rabbi Eliyahu and Chaya Citron (nee Turk) and their daughter Leah recently moved to Portland, Oregon to establish Chabad on Campus SW Portland.
While Reed College in Portland’s east side has its own Chabad house, the many colleges in Southwest Portland have been left out. Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm, the head Shliah of Oregon, appointed the Citrons so the students in these colleges will have a Chabad house dedicated especially to them.
The Citrons will be creating a Jewish Student Center to strengthen the Jewish community in the urban Colleges throughout SW Portland, including Portland State University, Oregon Health and Science University, and Portland Community College. The main focus, however, will be on Lewis and Clark College. Lewis and Clark College is a small liberal arts college with a large Jewish student population. An estimated 20% of the students are Jewish!
The new shluchim are excited to help strengthen Jewish pride and community on campus. They will provide many programs including Friday night meals, holiday programming, easy opportunities to do mitzvahs, and educational classes.
“So many students are searching for morality and values, we want to give them the opportunity to find meaning in their own heritage. Our goal is to create an environment of acceptance where every student can feel comfortable and at home,” said Rabbi Citron.
Chaya is also serving as Site Director of The Gan Preschool at Chabad of SW Portland.
In the short time the Citrons already spent in Portland, they have been amazed at the interest from the students. They already met around 100 Jewish students, blew shofar 50 times over Rosh Hashana, distributed over 50 menorahs, and host around 10 students for weekly Shabbos meals.
Help them kickstart this new endeavor and change the lives of these college students. Through your support, you become a partner in this important work of providing for Jewish students physically, emotionally, and spiritually!
You can donate to the new shluchim at: charidy.com/new
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