The Chabad of Brandeis Club, a Jewish campus organization, is scheduled to appear before the Union senate Sunday after having its request to become a recognized club deferred a week. Their request was deferred because senators said they felt that Chabad should speak to Hillel to see if they can fit under its umbrella as a religious club on campus.Jonathan Lubin '04 spoke on behalf of Chabad at the senate meeting, explaining its purpose, membership regulations, club officer positions, constitution and amendments, and election and meetings procedures.

Lubin emphasized the club's statement of non-exclusivity, which encourages members of all religions, genders, sexual preferences, classes, nationalities and physical abilities.

"Chabad is about bringing students together. Hillel has lobbied the senate and the administration against Chabad, spreading rumors and misinformation, in an attempt to run us off campus. Every group should be free to practice its religion and lifestyle without interference from other organizations," Chabad said in a written statement to the Justice late last night.

According to student Union President, Josh Brandfon '05, many members of the senate did not feel comfortable granting recognition to the club in light of not having enough time to look over and fully understand the Chabad of Brandeis Club's constitution.

"It wasn't a case of yes, we're in support of them or no, we're not in support of them," Brandfon said. "We just didn't have the time."

Until Sept. 28, Brandfon and senate members hope the club will approach Hillel and find out if it is possible to join Hillel's umbrella organization of other Jewish-related clubs.

Hillel's constitution, which states, "We recognize the indisputable right of the membership of Hillel at Brandeis to be meaningfully represented in the affairs of Brandeis University which affect the Jewish community. Hillel at Brandeis University is actively committed to the protection of Jewish rights and interests within the Brandeis Community" juxtaposes the Chabad Club of Brandeis' philosophy because Lubin and other potential members of the club maintain their club is not similar to Hillel.

"We don't see the gain getting with Hillel ... we didn't make the conscious decision to not be under Hillel," Lubin said.

According to Lubin, the Chabad of Brandeis Club does not fit in with Hillel's slogan since their club is not specifically about Jews.

"We're not 'Jews doing Jewish things with other Jews,'" Lubin said.

Much of the Senate's hesitancy to recognize the club last Sunday stems from the club's reluctance to approach Hillel first.

Nonetheless, Lubin said that going to the senate first rather than Hillel for recognition was "the best thing for us," citing other clubs like Students for Peace in Israel and Palestine (SPIP) that similarly went to the senate prior to approaching Hillel for recognition.

According to Hillel's president, Rachel Silverman '04, Hillel welcomes Chabad to become associated with the organization, which already includes 26 clubs.

"We are supportive of our elected representatives of the Student Union and whatever decisions they make," Silverman said. "The student club Chabad has not yet approached the Hillel student board for official recognition to become a member group under the Hillel umbrella. Should they do so, we will be happy to enter into a dialogue with them. Until such time, we have no intention of interfering with Student Union procedures."

Yoni Goodman '05, leader of the Brandeis Orthodox Organization (BOO), a Hillel member group, said Chabad's place on campus, and on an international level. is a point of concern. To better comply with Hillel and campus standards, Goodman believes that the Chabad of Brandeis Club should consider joining Hillel.

"The question of how Chabad fits into already existing infrastructures has been contemplated in places that Chabad has come to all over the world," Goodman said. "If Chabad wants to be recognized by union senate, they must agree to be accountable to Hillel. Without this accountability, they will be at liberty to create conflicting programming that will draw Brandeis students away from other senate clubs and potentially to the Chabad house off campus. These results would be undesirable.