Arizona U to Offer Kosher Meals

Arizona State University, one of the largest universities in the USA, will launch a Kosher meal plan for the first time. The meal plan, which will become available in the beginning of this academic year, is a boon to the 3,500 Jewish students at ASU and is expected to make Arizona State a top destination for Jewish students in the coming years.

ASU will be introducing Kosher lunches and dinners at the Hassayampa Academic Village Dining Hall on the Tempe campus, allowing Jewish students to easily follow the kosher dietary laws.

With the support of ASU President Michael Crow, Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel, director of Chabad at ASU, brought together students from the Jewish community at ASU, along with administrators within University Housing and Dining, to discuss plans to introduce expanded kosher meal options at ASU.

“For a long time kosher food was only accessible by car, unless I went to Chabad for food,” said Hanna Widawer, a senior majoring in Tourism Development and Management at ASU.

As the result of the student-led initiative, the new kosher dining options at ASU’s Tempe campus will include lunch and dinner every day, featuring a variety of dishes such as buffalo chicken wraps, fajitas, Matza ball soup, and pulled meat burgers.

“It’s great that we’ll have another dining option while I’m at school,” Widawer said. “I think that the kosher meals on campus will allow many Jews to consider applying to Arizona State when they couldn’t before. It’s a huge step for the growth of the Jewish student community.”

The expanded kosher meal options strengthen the university’s efforts to provide the best experience possible for all students, said Jennifer Hightower, vice president of student services at ASU.

“Whether students are having a meal or taking time out for a quick bite in a Sun Devil Dining location, dining on campus plays an integral role in their college experience,” Hightower said.

In successfully bringing kosher dining options to ASU, students keeping kosher can dine on campus with other ASU students with ease.

“When Rabbi Shmuel told me about (the kosher meal options) I was excited to find out that I wouldn’t have to keep cooking at home while my friends are at dining halls,” said Neta Galili, a junior double majoring in accounting and finance at ASU. “It’s so meaningful to me to see that people help me keep my identity and my way of life even when it comes to food. I am so thankful to have Chabad at ASU and I am thankful for amazing university leaders that made this dream a reality.”

“Thousands of Jewish students come to Arizona State, and find a welcoming, positive Jewish community experience here,” said Rabbi Tiechtel. “But a kosher meal plan takes our Jewish provision to another level, making ASU truly one of the best places in America to be a Jewish student. I particularly want to thank the university administration for their strong support. I’m looking forward to meeting next year’s freshmen and seeing Jewish life at ASU go from strength to strength.”