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Q. How many Orthodox Jews are at UAlbany?

A. We’re getting this question more often now from prospective parents. The answer is that we really don’t know. We don’t track denominations. We have little idea of what religious observances students do or don’t keep in the dorm rooms. … Read the rest

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Q. I saw in your newsletter pictures of the Shabbos tables… do you allow photos to be taken on Shabbos?

A. Of course not! In fact, on Shabbos Chanukah we had to kindly ask a reporter/photographer to leave and come back on a weeknight. Those pictures were taken before Shabbos, of the set-up or arrangements. Usually we indicate that in … Read the rest

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Q. Why don’t you use a “Yad” (hand-pointer) when you read the Torah? 

A. I do sometimes. First of all, from what I’ve seen, it’s not used in the Chabad community (not sure why not at this time). Secondly, on a personal level, holding out an extended object for a length of time … Read the rest

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Q. Do “share-holders” actually own the new Shabbos House?

A. In a spiritual sense they do, but legally Shabbos House isn’t set-up as a public corporation – it’s a religious non-profit, a 501(c)3. In promoting support for the Building Fund, we called gifts of $1,000 “shares” for it is … Read the rest

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Q. Is there a reason why you guys always serve “Saratoga Water”? Is it sponsored?

 A. Saratoga Water is not (yet) a corporate sponsor of Shabbos House. Why do we serve it? When we searched around for a distributor to deliver cases of water and soda (now seltzer, since we stopped serving soda on a … Read the rest

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Q. You said, “Let’s Bench!” and then we did grace after meals. What does “bench” mean?

 A. Oh, bentsch is Yiddish for bless, hence Bentscher is Yiddish for the booklet of blessings we use after the meal.… Read the rest

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Q. Why is there ice in this milk?

A. That’s because our milk comes frozen, or we freeze it when we get it, because we don’t get it often enough, and we didn’t thaw this bottle long enough.

Why does our milk come frozen? That’s because we keep … Read the rest

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Q. Do you guys set up appointments, if I have something personal to chat about?

A. Of course! We live here, so we’re here most of the time, and you can either come by to talk, or call ahead and we can set-up a good time that works for both of us. We may not … Read the rest

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Q. Where do these cool themed & textured Kippahs come from?

A. Marshall H. (Class of 2004) did some promotional and website work for “KrazyKeepas” (www.krazykeepas.com) and he sent us up a variety of their creative Kippah designs. Their website goes beyond Kippas actually. You can get matching ties … Read the rest

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Q. Where did you get so many bamboo poles for the Sukkah? 

A. Bernie Saul (obm) owned and operated “Saul Equipment” a restaurant supply business in downtown Albany. His shop near where the Times Union Center (formerly The Perpsi and before that the Knick Arena) was a landmark of sorts (its actually … Read the rest

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