Pace University’s Hillel club gathered for a special Shabbat dinner to interact with students and remember the life of Avi Schaefer on Friday night in Kessel Conference Room A/B.

The club informed non-Jewish students about the Jewish customs of Shabbat and showed a video detailing the life of Schaefer, as well as his efforts to help come to a peaceful two-state solution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine before he was fatally struck by a drunk driver on Feb. 12, 2010.

The event began with an introduction into who Schaefer was, as the group played a miniature documentary titled “Remembering Avi” detailing his life, including his military service and public outreach.

After the video, students read material from the Avi Schaefer Fund and an open letter Schaefer published when he was attending Brown University about the importance of interfaith dialogue.

The group used the subject as a way to open up a version of their own interfaith dialogue.

“Last year, one of the other Hillel staff members reached out to me and said ‘Why don’t you do this Avi Shabbat, it’ll be interfaith and we’ve never done it before,’” said Hillel Religious Chair Rebecca Newman.

After the video, Newman performed the traditional blessings of the wine -substituted with grape juice- and the challah, which is a traditional braided Jewish bread. Hillel explained the meaning of the prayers, while the juice and bread were passed down to attendees. Students freely tore pieces from the loaf, literally breaking bread with one another.

The majority of the students there were non-Jewish and came to learn about the customs of the religion.

“I think that’s what college is all about. You go to college away from home so you can meet people and experience new cultures,” freshman majoring in Business & Management Josh Francois said.

Students also appreciated Schaefer’s work towards a peaceful solution.

“I know there’s a lot of hostility so I thought it was really interesting that he was trying to build this bridge between the two communities,” Francois said.

Vice President Kenny Szeto wants the club to spread Schaefer’s ideas.

“In regards to Avi’s mission, we’re also looking to create an interfaith community. You don’t have to be Jewish to join Hillel. We’d be a stronger club if we got a more diverse membership. Hillel is open to everybody… Further, then that, I want the community to be established. I want people to have a place where they can go to have a good meal,” Szeto said.

The club is currently working with Martin and Alumni Hall councils to bring these kinds of events into the residence halls, to make it easier for students to attend in the future.