Jewish college students heading back to campus this fall can get a free meal and practical guidance at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills on Monday, Aug. 10, when the synagogue's Men's Club hosts a back-to-campus event with breakout sessions, speakers from national advocacy organizations and a glatt kosher barbecue.

The program, titled "Back to Campus: Empower, Connect and Prepare for the Year Ahead," runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 29901 Middlebelt Road. It's open to students and their families. Registration is free at jlive.app/events/16150.

Farmington Hills resident Stefanie Bloch plans to bring her sons Noah, a rising 10th grader, and Jacob, a rising sophomore at Miami University in Ohio. She expects Jacob's Jewish friends from high school will tag along.

"I hope they will learn from it that they do have a voice, and that if they do ever come across antisemitism affecting them directly or somebody they are super close with, that they know where to go to ask for help or to report it so that it won't get out of hand for them," Bloch told The Jewish News.

The evening will feature comments from the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, along with breakout sessions tailored to students heading to different campuses. One goal: helping attendees distinguish between classroom bias, anti-Zionism and antisemitism, and know who to contact in each case.

Adat Shalom Men's Club programming vice president Larry Tepman originated the idea about three years ago. His niece's struggles on campus after Oct. 7, 2023, sharpened his resolve. He took on the programming role in May 2026 and partnered with club president Larry Kirshner to bring the event together. Kirshner recruited community partners including the Jewish Federation of Detroit, and a group of congregations and organizations across Metro Detroit signed on.

The event carries local weight.

In October 2024, Farmington Hills police recovered more than 100 bags of antisemitic materials scattered on residential lawns near 14 Mile Road and Farmington Road, according to a department press release. Kirshner said the club wants students to feel comfortable being openly Jewish on campus and to know where families can turn if problems arise.

Alan Gallatin, a past president of the Men's Club who has three college students in his household, is volunteering at the event and hopes his stepson, a freshman at Oakland Community College, will attend. Erin Cavataro, director of community relations for the Jewish Federation of Detroit, said families don't need to navigate the transition to college life alone and called the event a chance to share key resources.

Rabbi Blair Nosanwisch of Adat Shalom is helping shape the program's content. The synagogue serves more than 1,000 member families across Metro Detroit.