For many, constantly hanging around dozens of college kids once they’re past college age themselves is not the most attractive offer. For Rabbi Dovid Reyder of the Chabad of Catonsville and UMBC, it’s like the fountain of youth.

“I always say, as I get older, these students keep me young because of their energy, their excitement and their openness to try new things and to connect,” Reyder said.

That energy, which is reciprocated, is part of the reason that the Chabad in a nondescript house south of campus is a thriving center of Jewish life for University of Maryland, Baltimore County Retrievers and members of the Catonsville community.

With the 2026-27 school year kicking off last week, things at the Chabad of Catonsville and UMBC are back in full swing. On Friday, the Chabad welcomed students back with a Shabbat celebration that included a four-course dinner. For some students, it was their first time at a Shabbat dinner.

“You see them coming and engaging. Even though we ourselves are Orthodox, they’re not, and it’s totally fine. We accept them the way they are, and give them this opportunity to connect to Jewish people and to God in the most meaningful and beautiful way,” Reyder said.

What makes Chabad of Catonsville and UMBC different from others is found in its name: the organization doesn’t just serve students or the general public, it serves both. That’s a unique element for a Chabad, and Reyder said he “wouldn’t say it’s difficult — but it’s definitely not easy.”

“Sometimes we have to be very creative with how to utilize our time with the two communities,” Reyder said. “Sometimes we actually have events together, and sometimes it works really nicely. They blend and end up connecting, and the [college students] appreciate some of the older folks. [Older people] love that all of a sudden there’s this young energy.”

For the Chabad, there are considerations to take into account when it comes to its two audiences and when to try to combine them. The type of information, the ideal size of the group, the time of day and other factors play into those decisions.

“Sometimes it’s a little tricky,” Reyder said.

Regardless of who a given event is marketed to, there are plenty of events at the Chabad of Catonsville and UMBC. Some, such as Pizza and Parsha, navigate specifically religious subjects one might think difficult to distill for Jews of different religious backgrounds.

“We make everything as basic as possible,” Reyder said.

For an event like Pizza and Parsha, everything is in English, everything is broken down and concepts are explained from the ground up.

“That’s how we roll,” Reyder said. “We very much look out for the students who haven’t learned [a lot] and we’re there for them.”

Looking out for Jewish students extends beyond religious and social programming. While the ADL found a decrease in antisemitic incidents on campus from 2024 to 2025, it’s still a problem.

Reyder is tuned into that, but said he prefers to label antisemitism with a more simple term: “Jew-hatred.”

“‘Antisemitism’ makes it sound like something prestigious,” Reyder said. “It’s simple, baseless Jew-hatred.”

For Reyder, the Chabad of Catonsville and UMBC can help students learn about Judaism, engage with them socially, help them grow community and more. But ultimately, all of those goals speak to a larger one: creating Jewish pride, in the face of whatever they may encounter.

“We tell students all the time that the most important thing is to remember that they have to be proud to be Jewish, and they have to be able to be proud of who they are,” Reyder said. “We’re there for them to be able to share that pride. And we really believe that if you’re proud of who you are and you engage with it with joy, then the haters will fall away.”

Another school year has begun at UMBC, and the Chabad not far from campus is ready to welcome students and community members alike.

Reyder sees plenty of smiling faces walk through the Chabad doors, but he’s always happy to welcome more.

“Reach out, and we’re excited to hear from you, and we look forward to all of us being together,” he said.

aguckes@midatlanticmedia.com