Chabad at George Mason University opens Kosher restaurant

Jewish students at George Mason University in northern Virginia welcome the opening of Mason Mensch, the first kosher restaurant at the college – and in the northern half of the state. The restaurant was created by Chabad by George Mason University, after Chabad’s rabbi Ezra and Bracha Wiemer So increased demand for kosher options on campus.

About 675 of George Mason’s 40,000 students are Jewish, and although they make up less than 2% of the campus stock, they are eager to connect. Sienna WolfeA junior at GMU, Wiemers met in 2021. “Here in the north -virginia there are not many Jews, especially on campus,” says Los Angeles natives, “so it was very important to me in a school like this to find the Jewish community . “

Wolfe participates in weekly Torah classes and Shabbat -dinners in Chabad. “As a student, it’s wonderful to go to someone’s house and eat a homemade meal with a lot of fellow Jews,” she said. After hearing from Wolfe – and many others – Wiemers began working to create kosher food options on campus.

Their original offering was a kosher meal basket, created in coordination with Char Bar-a Washington, DC Kosher Restaurant, which had delivered overpowered meals every day. As demand grew and meals would sell out, CHABAD collaborated with Char Bar, College and other Jewish and food organizations to create the restaurant. Michael Chelstwho owns Char Bar, says it is “an honor to bring kosher to the university and the northern Virginia community.”

The restaurant has its own kitchen and all food is cooked fresh on site. Diners enjoy breast nachos, chickenpoppers and shawarma arayes. “I come from a community with lots of kosher restaurants, and the food at Mason Mensch is absolutely incredible,” Wolfe said. “Even non-Jewish students eat there, and it’s great to see support from other students.”

Mason Mensch has become a gathering room for Jewish students as well as the local Northern Virginia Jewish community. The opening – at a time when many Jewish students had felt incarcerated on campus after a series of disturbing anti -Semitic events and the arrest of a GMU student who had planned a terrorist attack – have made a statement, according to students.

“A lot of Jewish students were afraid to join something Jewish on campus, and Mason Mensch gives them a space where they can go and be a proud Jew, eat kosher meals with other Jewish students and feel safe,” Wolfe said . “It shows society that we are a strong Jewish presence and we do not go anywhere; We will be here no matter what. “