Upwards of 850 Jewish collegians will spend this weekend in Brooklyn at an annual Chabad on Campus Jewish Student Shabbaton and Conference.

 In 1961, Jewish students were invited to Crown Heights for an immersive experience in the observant Jewish community. The 2011 Jewish Student Shabbaton marks fifty years since students first began encountering Chabad at Shabbaton weekends and periodical visits throughout the year.

According to Rabbi Yossy Gordon, Executive Vice President of Chabad on Campus International, the Shabbaton is a unique experience for students who live in a “secular environment, where being Jewish can be a challenging way of life.”

“Over the weekend, students gain perspective when they meet with hundreds of other like-minded Jewish students.”

All told, ninety schools will participate in the Shabbaton, with several delegations hailing from countries abroad, including Canada and the UK.