A Comprehensive Learning Experience

UPDATED
Thanks to wonderful conversations with students and parents, we are updating this to reflect the thoughtful feedback they shared.

Also you can listen to podcast conversation between Chanie and Peretz and a student about Chabad Brandeis 360° here.

Introduction

Since establishing Chabad at Brandeis in 2001, our goal of making Chabad a welcoming place for all Jewish Brandeis students to explore and expand their connection to Judaism has been met with resounding success. Over the years, this goal has expanded to include their personal growth and the life skills necessary for post-college life, considering them essential for lifelong sustainable Jewish connection.

As we begin our 25th year at Chabad of Brandeis, we are combining these goals to offer Chabad Brandeis 360°—an upgraded comprehensive learning and growth opportunity that, as one parent described, provides "a concierge experience." For students not yet ready for this type of learning experience and seeking a basic Jewish experience, we will continue to be a place for them to expand their connection to Judaism.

For some, Chabad Brandeis 360° will require a shift in perspective: to view Chabad at Brandeis as an educational institution for personal and Jewish growth—where students grow their relationship with Judaism and learn life skills, not simply receive Jewish services. For parents, that means viewing us as partners in their student's development.

Our dedication to every student means that any student who desires Chabad Brandeis 360° will be able to join.

We welcome students and parents who would like to have a conversation with us to reach out.

Warmly,
Chanie and Peretz

Preparing Students for Life Beyond College

For over two decades, Chabad of Brandeis has made it its mission to focus on the day after graduation—what type of adults will our students become? Rather than simply providing a positive Jewish experience in college, all our programs are designed with this future focus in mind.

Now we're taking this mission to the next level. College equips students with knowledge and credentials, but many still graduate without essential life skills to navigate uncertainty, build meaningful relationships, and nourish ongoing integration of Judaism and meaning into life. We're addressing this gap by combining Jewish wisdom with practical personal development tools.

We call this Chabad Brandeis 360°—a comprehensive learning and growth experience for Jewish college students. This is the first of its kind on any college campus.

What is Chabad Brandeis 360°?

Chabad Brandeis 360° combines our established Chabad of Brandeis experiences with the Soular System™ and enhanced one-on-one mentorship.

The Soular System™ is a system for adult inner work and personal growth that was developed by M54: The Institute for Insourcing - עבודה פנימית, founded by Chanie and Peretz Chein in 2021. Over the past few years, M54 has successfully led 10 cohorts of adults ranging from their mid-thirties to sixties through an 8-month program which includes a 4-day retreat, helping them live with greater clarity, agency and overall vibrancy.

The Soular System™ teaches three core skills: noticing without judging, unpacking what situations are really about, and experimenting with change. This cyclical process helps people move from reactive patterns to intentional responses in their relationships, decisions, and personal growth.

The Soular System™ is rooted in the Chabad Chassidic teaching of Avoda Pnimit - Inner Work, which teaches that putting ideas into practice is more important than the ideas themselves.

Building on Proven Success

For three years, we've experimented with transforming traditional Chabad Shabbat dinners into educational experiences. During the spring semester, students' RSVP for Shabbat dinner includes a reflection of at least 100 words on topics ranging from G‑d and Kosher to Comparing and Parenting. Each Shabbat dinner is full to capacity, and to date we've explored 24 topics with over 2,000 student reflections submitted - demonstrating genuine engagement with deep learning.

What students are saying:

"The reflections offered during Shabbat dinners deeply influenced my experience and transformed the way I approached both the evening itself and my broader journey of personal growth... Shabbat dinner became a place where vulnerability was welcomed, and where reflection helped build empathy and stronger bonds among us." - Student '28

“The Shabbat reflections are mine. I must formulate my own thoughts before bouncing off of others, and I feel more connected to my opinions as they are solid prior to our discussion of the topic at the meal... Over the past three years of reflections I have come to value the writing experience. I am grateful for the Cheins’ and their space to learn and reflect on my Jewish values.” - Student '25

Now we're taking this foundation to the next level by teaching how to bring these ideas into practice.

The Chabad Brandeis 360° Experience

What You'll Learn

Students develop skills and tools to:

  • Navigate post-college uncertainty with greater agency and resilience

  • Create deeper connections and understanding of themselves, Judaism, and the world around them

  • Nourish ongoing integration of Judaism and meaning into life

  • Thrive as confident Jewish adults who will positively shape their families and communities

How It Works

Over the course of each semester various topics related to Judaism and life are explored. Students learn the Soular System™ and how to apply these topics in their routine. Students explore and dive deeper into these concepts in three settings.

Weekly 4 Course Gourmet Shabbat Dinners: In the signature warmth, joy, and energy of the Chabad House, all participants gather with their peers to unwind from a long week. In this home environment, they connect with each other and the spirit of Shabbat while engaging in meaningful conversations around their week and diving deeper into the week's theme. 

Learning Sessions: During the week, participants are invited to learning sessions led by Chanie or Peretz in smaller cohorts. These sessions explore the Soular System™, its ideas and skills, and participants' personal findings in greater depth. They also learn integration skills in a relational setting, at times using Let’s Farbreng!™️ — the Chabad Chassidic Farbrengen-based learning method. Students can note if they would like to participate in weekly or every-other-week sessions.

One-on-One Mentoring: Throughout the semester, participants meet with Chanie or Peretz to discuss their personal learning and growth, during which they receive personalized support for their overall wellbeing. The frequency of this will be determined by both the participant's preferences and Chanie or Peretz's recommendations.

Time Commitment: We understand that college life is busy with many commitments to classes and extracurricular activities. We will ensure that Chabad Brandeis 360° fits with participants’ schedules and preferences, while our expectation is that participants join in these opportunities to the best of their ability.

All experiences take place in the intimate setting of the Chabad House, guided by Chanie and Peretz's 24 years of campus leadership, their signature warmth and wisdom, and their extraordinary dedication to the overall well-being of each student.

Parent Learning: Zoom programming to learn about the Soular System™ with Chanie and Peretz will be available for parents of participants.

Weekly Shabbat Dinners

Chabad's weekly Shabbat dinners are designed for Chabad Brandeis 360° participants, who are also welcome to bring friends to share in the Shabbat dinner experience.

In addition, students for whom Chabad Shabbat dinners are a place to begin expanding their relationship with Judaism and the Jewish community, but aren't yet ready for the 360° experience, are invited to continue their growth through participation in Shabbat dinners.

First years, in their first-semester, are welcome at Shabbat dinners without participating in the 360° program, giving them time to adjust to college life and become acquainted with Chabad, Chanie, and Peretz.

Visiting guests are always welcome.

Partnership & Scholarship

Cost and Value: Our cost to offer this experience is $5,000 per student for the full academic year ($2,500 per semester). This reflects the value students receive in 30 gourmet Shabbat and holiday dinner experiences, weekly learning sessions, personal mentorship, and ongoing support and care.

Family Partnership

We ask families to partner with us to underwrite this experience, as their child is the direct beneficiary of it.

We offer three options:

  1. Full partnership: $5,000 per student for the full academic year ($2,500 per semester).

  2. Reduced partnership for families who find the full amount challenging: $3,000 for the full year or $1,500 per semester. Chabad of Brandeis will fundraise the difference.

  3. For families who find both options challenging—and we completely understand that—partial and full scholarships are readily available. Continue reading for more info.

Scholarship

Receiving a scholarship (partial or full, depending on personal circumstances) simply requires students to communicate their sincere desire for the learning and growth that Chabad Brandeis 360° offers during their conversation with Chanie and Peretz. There are no hoops to jump through.

Thanks to generous alumni and alumni parents who recognize the importance of Chabad Brandeis 360°, thirty full scholarships are currently available for students seeking this growth opportunity.

Every student who desires the Chabad Brandeis 360° experience will be able to join—this is a core value of ours. If we need to raise funds for additional scholarships, it will be our joy to do so.

Making It Work for Your Family

We structure the contribution as a membership fee, which is typically tax-deductible for a religious organization like Chabad of Brandeis. We encourage you to check with your accountant for confirmation. We're happy to work with any payment plans that fit your family's needs.

General Brandeis Community 

All students remain welcome at Chabad of Brandeis. There will be occasional Brandeis community wide Shabbat and holiday dinners, beginning with Mega Shabbat, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. A student who wants to expand their relationship with Judaism and the Jewish community is always welcome. See above for more details.

Weekly open house Shabbat afternoons featuring socializing and learning with Peretz's famous cholent are open to all. Campus-wide social and holiday events and educational programming hosted by the Chabad Student Club will continue for all - and Chanie and Peretz remain accessible to every student.

How to Join 

Once you submit your form, Chanie or Peretz will reach out to schedule a personal Zoom conversation to understand what draws you to the program and how it might fit into your college experience.

Fall '26 Enrollment will open on May 18th, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: This doesn't seem like Chabad - isn't Chabad supposed to be free and welcoming to all? Why is there a cost for Chabad Brandeis 360°? A: Absolutely! Being welcoming to all has been a core value at Chabad of Brandeis since 2001, and it only grows stronger each year. 

At the same time, there is a financial cost to create this experience, and we are inviting parents to partner with us in this comprehensive educational experience, as they are direct beneficiaries.

While a Jewish college campus organization like this - let alone a campus Chabad - is the first of its kind and may be hard to conceptualize, it follows the same organizational approach as other Chabad educational institutions, like Day Schools and Hebrew Schools, that have families partnership in the educational experience. 

Most importantly, financial support ensures that no student is denied this opportunity due to financial constraints.

Q: How does the scholarship process work? A: We approach scholarships through a personal conversation. We'll sit down with you and your family to understand your interest in the program and discuss what works financially for your situation.  If a family conversation isn't possible, we're happy to work directly with the student to understand their circumstances. We offer both partial and full scholarships based on individual need. Our goal is always to find a way to make this experience accessible.

Q: Can I participate if I'm not Jewish? A: Chabad Brandeis 360° is designed specifically for Jewish students exploring their identity and growth within a Jewish framework. If you're not Jewish but are drawn to this experience, we'd love to have a conversation with you to learn more about your interests and see how we might support your journey.

Have More Questions? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Chanie at [email protected] or Peretz at [email protected].

JOIN HERE

Chabad of Brandeis has been nurturing Jewish student life under Chanie and Peretz's leadership for over two decades. This innovative 360° model represents the culmination of our commitment to making college a time that prepares students for meaningful lives, not just careers.