Community Leaders - Rabbi Yossi, Chabad

Rabbi Yossi, Mushka, and their family

Rabbi Yossi and Chabad

Rabbi Yossi Greenburg has been the co-director of the Chabad house on Miami University’s campus. He, along with his wife Mushka Greenburg have been working hard to create a tight, well-rounded Jewish community on campus.

Hailing from the East coast, Rabbi Yossi was originally introduced to Miami University while volunteering in Cincinnati. After learning that Chabad didn’t have a chapter at Miami University, Yossi and his family moved to campus in 2013. Within a week of being on campus, Chabad and AEPi held their first joint event, a Shabbat dinner at the AEPi house on campus. Since then, AEPi and Chabad have had an extremely tight bond on campus, partnering together for numerous leadership and learning opportunities while Chabad continues to expand its influence and presence in the Jewish community on campus.

COVID and the Jewish community

COVID was a critical time in Chabad’s history, especially on Miami University’s campus. Throughout the pandemic, Rabbi Yossi and his family sought to continue to keep the Jewish community alive and connected, despite strict rules and regulations that limited social gatherings. From the pandemic, he says that it helped people realize that Chabad doesn’t close, and that it will always be a place for Jewish students to engage with.

Building a Jewish community on campus - the right way

As an organization, Chabad seeks to provide Jewish students with a safe space to interact with fellow members of the community. Rabbi Yossi says that it’s critically important to build meaningful relationships with members of the community, and he seeks to connect with students on campus on more of an individual level rather than as a representative of an organization. He considers the campus of Miami University his office, as he seeks to be a consistently present figure in the community, and an anchor for Jewish students to rely on. The positive impact Chabad has on the community is clear, especially in recent years, where Chabad saw record-breaking attendance at its high holiday events. Yossi says that he seeks to make Judaism fun, and something that individuals want to be a part of, regardless of their religious upbringing. Every aspect of Chabad’s programming schedule seeks to cater to different aspects of Judaism, and creates an opportunity for anyone on campus to engage with Chabad.

Overcoming antisemitism and leading proud Jewish lives

In order to combat antisemitism, Rabbi Yossi believes that students must stand strong and think positively. They must continue to be proud of their ideals and community, and engage with the Jewish aspects of their life consistently. Furthermore, he applauds Miami University’s support for the Jewish community, which enables organizations like Chabad and AEPi to operate without fear of discrimination. Chabad has built a community where individuals are able to grow alongside each other and grow culturally, partially due to the Jewish values and habits it seeks to instill in Jewish students.

Rabbi Yossi states that Judaism is something that requires consistency and dedication, and that individuals should continue to engage with it purposefully, even if it just means acknowledging Shabbat on Friday for a few hours. Chabad is a place that Jewish students can build lifelong friendships in the Jewish community, and lay foundations for living proud Jewish lives long after students have moved on from Miami University.

Chabad and AEPi

As a chapter, we pride ourselves on involving ourselves in Jewish organizations on campus, and Chabad is no different. Since Yossi and his family first moved to Miami University’s campus, AEPi and Chabad have had a special connection. As an honorary brother of AEPi, Yossi states that it is an absolute privilege to be able to work alongside Jewish members of the Greek community, and that the natural connection our organizations have with each other is an incredible tool for fostering growth. Every year, Chabad and AE

Pi host a joint Chanukah party, and our brothers take active roles in helping Chabad prepare for and run their high holiday programs.

Every year, we urge our members to get involved with other student organizations on campus, especially Chabad. Josh Kotzin, a sophomore in AEPi, states that being on Chabad’s leadership team has been an impactful experience, and that it's a special thing to be able to work alongside Chabad as a member of the Greek community.

On an organizational level, AEPi is privileged to have Chabad on campus, and we look forward to our continued partnership in building a strong community and guiding the Jewish leaders of tomorrow.

Written and edited by Aaron Mallinger