Instead of hitting the bars on a Friday night, some Jewish students gather every Sabbath at Chabad - a new Orthodox Jewish student center opened in response to requests by ASU's Jewish community.
Though Hillel Jewish Student Center has been at ASU since the 1950s, directors of the organization said they don't believe competition for the estimated 3,000 Jewish student population will arise.
"It's not competition. It's providing choices for people," said Rabbi Barton Lee of Hillel. "Both of us believe that it is good for students to have Hillel and Chabad and any other Jewish center.
"The more one learns and sees in life, the more meaningful it is," he added.
Chabad - pronounced hah-BOD - is led by 25-year-old Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel and his wife, Chana. The center invites Jews of all denominations, but does follow a more orthodox view.
"Hillel can only reach out to a certain amount of students," Tiechtel said. "At Chabad, a Jew is a Jew, period. We don't put labels on people."
Judaism is divided into three main denominations: orthodox, conservative and reform, Tiechtel said.
As word of the new center spreads, students are showing up at Tiechtel's home in increasing numbers for Sabbath worship, dinner and for various events held weekly, Tiechtel said.
"We sincerely care for them," he said. "Our goal is to provide a home base, to provide someone to speak with if they have any problems, and we'll even provide chicken soup if they need it."
Chabad, a Hebrew acronym for wisdom, comprehension and knowledge, is part of a national organization and is supported by donations and Chabad-Lubavitch of Arizona.
"There was a need for Chabad at ASU," said Rabbi Ralman Levertov, regional director of the organization. "The center does not put pressure on students - it accepts everyone one for who they are."
Jennifer Jambor, Chabad vice president, said Hillel and Chabad would work together on future events, which will give students more options.
While Hillel and Chabad offer many of the same services, the difference lies in the style of worship, she said.
"Chabad provides traditional services - meaning services are predominantly in Hebrew," Jambor said. "There's no mixing of men and women during prayer, and we dance."
Jewish and non-Jewish students interested in learning more about Chabad can visit its Web site at www.chabadasu.com or stop by Chabad, located at 1112 S. Mill Ave.
Reach the reporter at jacqueline.shoyeb@asu.edu.
