Rabbi admits alcohol was served at Chabad
Source: Facebook
Rabbi Dov Hillel Klein announced that Wednesday would be his last formal service at Northwestern. Klein was asked to resign by Patricia Telles-Irvin, vice president for student affairs, after he was found to be serving alcohol to minors.
September 26, 2012
Students have been served wine and hard liquor at Tannenbaum Chabad House, Rabbi Dov Hillel Klein told The Daily just one day after he announced Northwestern’s disaffiliation with the organization.
In an email sent Tuesday to NU's Jewish community, Klein said that Patricia Telles-Irvin, vice president for student affairs, cut relationships with Chabad House because the organization “had not followed university policy on alcohol consumption.”
University policy states, “Students are subject to Illinois law and University policy, which prohibit the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages by any person under the age of 21 years,” according to the 2011-2012 Student Handbook.
Klein maintains that he did not violate any state laws. He claims an Illinois state law allows people under the age of 21 to accept and consume alcohol during religious ceremonies. He told The Daily that alcohol was served during Shabbat dinners.
“The service of alcohol at Chabad was associated with Jewish ritual and celebration,” Klein said. “It is part of the Jewish culture.”
The Student Handbook, however, makes no exception for religious events.
Klein said Chabad House “respects university policy.” He said he was first notified the University would cut ties with Chabad House due to alcohol consumption on July 29. As of Aug. 1, he said alcohol had not been served at Chabad House, outside of very small amounts outside a ritual called the Kiddush ceremony.
“We’re not about alcohol,” Klein said. “We’re about God. We’re about fellowship. We’re about faith, spirituality, joy and teaching.”
Matthew Renick, a Weinberg senior who is president of the Chabad House student executive board, said Klein announced in August all campus Chabad Houses across the country are going dry at a national convention of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity in Phoenix.
“It’s just one piece of a larger puzzle that is Jewish life,” Renick said. “It certainly is not the foremost part.”
Klein said the organization would continue to host programming at the house despite the disaffiliation, and that he expected students would continue to attend. Renick said he would remain active at Chabad House.
“Being Jewish was something I was before Northwestern, and how I choose to be Jewish at Northwestern will not change because of something like this,” Renick said.
However, Klein hopes Chabad House will regain campus status in the future and hopes to discuss that policy with the University.
“It isn’t an ideal situation to remain unaffiliated,” Klein said. “I feel very much targeted and discriminated against.”
Klein took legal action against the University on Friday, following its disaffiliation of Chabad House. Acting on behalf of Chabad House and Klein, Lubavitch-Chabad of Illinois filed a discrimination complaint in federal district court against Northwestern, Telles-Irvin and University chaplain Timothy Stevens.
“The University claims that it offers a wide variety of religious and community options but it is discriminating against Chabad House and the Jewish faith,” the complaint reads.
NU officials will not comment while the matter is in litigation, said spokesman Bob Rowley.
“They’re discriminating against Chabad, which is part of the Jewish faith,” said Klein, who also declined to comment on the litigation.
Many students were caught off guard by the email Klein sent to students publicizing the rift between Chabad House and the University.
Chabad House has played an active role in campus life for almost three decades, and Klein was involved in many aspects of campus life. He acted as adviser to AEPi and previously served as the associate master of the Communications Residence College. He also was influential in creating the University’s kosher meal plan and, until this year, served as the Supervising Manager of the program for the University and Sodexo.
Klein is also the senior chaplain with the Evanston Police Department and has been called on by the University to aid in crises counseling involving death and suicide.
AEPi president Ethan Merel, said he did not expect the news.
“Fraternities turn over membership every four years,” Merel said. “He has been there and seen the transitions, and he was always useful in providing advice.”
Weinberg junior Alex Jakubowski responded to the news while in Italy by mobilizing support for Klein on social media. He created a Facebook group called, “We Support Rabbi Klein and Chabad at Northwestern.” The page received 122 “likes” in nine hours.
“From taking students to White Sox games to talking them through failed relationships, Rabbi Klein has been one of the best resources at Northwestern for almost 30 years and is certainly one of the best people I have ever met,” Jakubowski said in an email to The Daily.
Klein does not yet know the extent to which the University’s decision will impact his role on campus, and he said he was not sure if he would continue in his role as adviser to AEPi or have his scheduled firesides.
While Klein is no longer officially affiliated with the University, he said his bond with NU remains strong. When he received the email alerting him of missing sophomore Harsha Maddula, he said he immediately began to drive around campus looking for him.
“He may not be a part of the Jewish faith community, but he is a part of my community,” Klein said. “Northwestern is my community.”
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What the hell is this?
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if Rabbi Klein says he will go dry why won't VP Patricia Telles-Irvin accept that and let him back on campus? It does look a lot like she is targeting him in a discriminatory move. Maybe she hates religious Jews or just Chabad-affiliated Jews.
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of course the northwestern chabad served alcohol. just like every other chabad and hillel in the country and beyond. this should be a non-issue. what, they're going to go "dry" now? what about shabbat kiddush? not to mention purim, or the seders! what a joke. hope there's no newman center on campus is having mass and giving communion! then, who knows what could happen!
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Does this mean that Catholic communion is done with Cool Aid affair at Northwestern, no wine? Hmm.
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This is absolutely ridiculous. There should be a carefully worded religious exemption to the policy. At the very least, there should have been more dialogue before Chabad was disaffiliated. As a Christian, I would be pretty offended if Northwestern said communion wine had to be grape juice. How is this, in principle, any different? (I know that the quantities are probably larger, but as long as they aren't dangerously large, I don't see how that matters.) Get it together, Northwestern!
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Well, guess we'll have to close up all the fraternities now, too.
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Ron Coleman (Law '88) Reply:
October 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I assumed that, too, but several weeks later no word of frats closing down.
This is so preposterous that the "Prohibition" rationale for this action appears to be a pretext.
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The people commenting on this article have no idea what they're talking about, it seems. It's been common knowledge for years that Rabbi Klein, while awesome as a person, would not-so-infrequently invite dorms worth of people to celebrate various holidays at the Chabad house.
That? Not a problem. Even the religious alcohol bit or whatever, not a problem. The problem is that he often takes it above and beyond the religious merit of what's going on, and the Chabad parties with the Rabbi turn into underage slush-fests. Show me where in Jewish tradition one celebrates by pounding shots of hard liquor -- that's what's going on, and that's what Northwestern admins are likely sick of hearing about. This isn't an attack on religion or the use of reasonable amounts of alcohol in religious services.
Klein had to have known this day would come. Regardless of his intent or the rest of his character, serving up hard A to underage students is a no-no at Northwestern.
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Kenny Reply:
September 28th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
"Show me where in Jewish tradition one celebrates by pounding shots of hard liquor"
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yesh Reply:
September 29th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Look up farbrengan
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Show me where in Jewish tradition one celebrates by pounding shots of hard liquor... only hundreds of years of orthodox tradition. This is how the great rabbis were able to liberate their minds to see visions. Bottom line, the university has been aware of the goings on for years and instead of complaining they have praised Klein's contributions to campus. It amazes me that they have turned on him so quickly. The new VP should have sat down with Klein and explained her administration's stance and allowed him to adjust which he would have done. Instead she's taken these actions forcing everybody into a no-win solution.
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Ron Coleman (Law '88) Reply:
October 23rd, 2012 at 3:52 pm
I went to many farbrengens at the Tannenbaum Chabad House when I was at Northwestern in the '80's, and elsewhere too. But please don't mischaracterize Jewish tradition. Consumption of large amounts of alcohol is absolutely not a universal practice and indeed I am not aware of any "great rabbi" who did so, much less to the point of seeing "visions," as part of his Divine Service.
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A rabbi providing alcohol to underage students is really not a big deal. Is there any religion that is not enamored with alcoholic beverages? (Side note: I'm not actually sure. Do the NU Muslim or Hindu students partake in alcohol consumption? Does anyone know? ) What I think proves more disconcerting is a student's very recent death caused, at least partially, by alcohol-induced behavior.
While I don't quite see what's wrong with a rabbi serving hard liquor - as I've never had the chance to liberate my mind to see visions - I don't think the University's disaffiliation with Chabad was a discriminatory move. Northwestern has a great Jewish presence on campus and is genuinely very sensitive about issues of diversity and discrimination in its community. The Office of Student Affairs has been receiving complaints for years now from students about the aforementioned "under-age slush fests" and they've decided that enough is enough.
I'm sure Rabbi Klein is a wonderful person, but I also think assuming VP Telles-Irvin was being anti-Semitic is a gross injustice to her character. She has done great things for the university thus far; I highly doubt she would try to discriminate against any particular religious group. I'm personally shocked by this story. I honestly thought Jews ran the show in NU. In any case, the lawsuit makes perfect sense considering the extensive Jewish presence on the legal front. I just hope this doesn't cause any discord within the NU community.
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M Reply:
March 18th, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Just answering your question - Muslims do not drink alcohol. Hindus do, however.
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Don't be the boy who cries wolf and attributes anti antisemitism at this decision....
Interesting to look at precedant of such a decision. Check out the religious freedom restoration act along with legal cases including ayahuasca and canabis ( and yes alchohol ranks somewhere in between those two) where the defense was they were above the law because it was part of there "religion". Just because something is "part of your religion" does not mean you are legally entitled to practice it in america. There are laws that being religious does not entitle for you to break. Getting completely drunk ( especially when breaking the rules of the state you reside in) is not part of judaism. I doubt the school would of had a problem if everyone had a shot at kiddush, but my understanding is that they go a lot further then that. In the end of the day i am for a younger drinking age, but so long as its not there, i dont see why being religious should give you an advantage over anyone else who is looking to drink. I hope this can all be resolved with respect so you guys can return to the campus. I know of many people that benefit greatly from what you do.
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What we have here are comments from guys who have never been to the Chabad House and do not know Klein.
I've been to Chabad House many times. It is not an underage slush-fest or anything the like. The only time it gets a bit crazy is Purim and Simchat Torah. The last 3 years when I was there there he had some "bartenders" carding. Otherwise it is very calm with no drunken behavior. I suggest you guys go check it out. I alternate between Hillel and the Chabad House and Rabbi Klein's personality is definitely what makes him the star he is.
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Ron Coleman (Law '88) Reply:
October 23rd, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Purim, Simchas Torah... yes, well, at least years ago Succos in Evanston was a chilly affair, and we did find a way to warm up in the brisk out of doors.
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In the past alcoho;l flowed freely at the Chabad House but it seems from the comments of people who actually have been there in recent years things have changed but the old reputation lingers on. Imputing motives to NW does not help matters. Publicity and court proceddings will not be to either parties benefit.
If the Chabad House goes dry as Rabbi Klen has been quoted as saying with the reasonable exception of wine for kiddush at the beginning of Sabbath and Hoiliday meals it seem an amiable solution can be found. Specific procedures similar to those used at Greek Houses and perhaps a probation period should be considered. Surely discussion, mediation or arbitration will lead to a solution we could gladly drink to (a non-alcoholic toast that is.)
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The wrong chabad makes alcoholics out of their affiliates, and many of their Rabbi's have sever drinking prblems. it is a fact
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I believe Chabad ONLY help people with lots of money , I have beg for my son but if I got no money they will not help him , but later they will bring A BLACK guy to the teletrom to show how good they are PEOPLE open your eyes STOP DONATING to chabad !!!
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