Chabad on Campus runs a Summer Grand Draw each year (it ends this July 15th, 2026) and each year we like to come up with our own tagline or theme.

Given that Chabad on Campus calls it a “Grand Draw” we thought of “Drawn Together” as working to draw people in and helping draw people together is a big part of what we do at Shabbos House.

Before getting to the very helpful $36 tickets, (see below) – a few thoughts on this highly versatile multi-meaning word of “Draw” with a long list of definitions (see Merriam-Webster on “Draw”): You can draw a picture or draw a line in the sand, draw up a chair or draw a card, draw comparisons or draw a conclusion, you can draw lots, etc. The word’s meaning varies in all of these uses.

It seems that the original etymology of (the many uses of) this word is: pull, extract, or attract.

Thinking of how all this can be relevant to our efforts in drawing students together at UAlbany…

Now back to the the tickets:

Each $36 raffle ticket or multiples thereof, helps us do what it takes to draw Jewish students in and draw them together as a campus community.

This raffle campaign is very beneficial as all prizes are sponsored by Chabad on Campus, but all funds via tinyurl.com/SHRaffle2026 go directly to Shabbos House. Not only is 36 an auspicious Jewish number, it’s also a feasible and accessible amount for many. And there’s a win-win chance for everyone, certainly the mitzvah aspect!

May we share good news of your raffle winnings (Grand Prize $18K, first prize: 2 tickets to Israel, 3rd prize $1,800. 4th prize $1,000 and so on – there are even more than the 2x $500 prizes listed) but even more so, wishing even better good news: personal news, happy tidings, may each and all of us have (and realize that we have) an overabundance of blessing!