Schedule for Family Weekend 2025
Welcome to Family Weekend! The full schedule is below and an interactive map is available to help you navigate campus.
In-person registration will be available for $50 per adult in the Shapiro Campus Center (SCC) on Friday and Saturday from 9am-5pm. Some events may have already reached capacity.
Please note that the schedule is subject to change. Events with an asterisk (*) require pre-registration and may include additional fees.
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Friday, October 31, 2025
- Registration Check In, SCC Atrium
9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Family Hospitality Center Open, SCC Lounge
9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Brandeis Bookstore Open, SCC 1st floor
9 a.m.-6 p.m. - Gosman Sports and Convocation Center Gym Hours
7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Check in at the front desk and mention you are part of Family Weekend to get your guest fees waived throughout the weekend! Minors must be accompanied by a parent and will need to have a waiver signed. - Current Exhibitions at the Rose Art Museum
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Visit the Rose! - Parents Leadership Council Luncheon
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
By invitation only. If you are interested in learning more about joining the Parents Leadership Council, visit brandeis.edu/plc. - Student Led Campus Tour, SCC Atrium
1 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Walk and talk with a student tour guide to hear about life at Brandeis. Tours depart from the SCC Atrium and will last approximately one hour. - Jum’ah Prayers, Muslim Prayer Space, Usdan Student Center
1:15 p.m.
Join Muslim Chaplain Harun Spevack and the Muslim campus community for prayer in the Muslim Prayer Space in Usdan. - Student Life Tabling, SCC 1st floor
1-3:30 p.m.
Meet come of the offices that support your students!- Academic Services
- Spiritual Life
- Intercultural Center (ICC)
- Hiatt Career Center
- Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC)
- Health and Wellness Promotion (HAWP)
- FACULTY TALK: A Master Class in Witchcraft: The real women behind Macbeth’s Weird Sisters with Professor Ramie Targoff, SCC Theater
2-3 p.m.
This Halloween talk will take us into the Scottish witchcraft archives to look at the women accused of-- and often killed for—witchcraft in the English Renaissance. - Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations Student Showcase, SCC Atrium
2-3:30p.m.
Brandeis students engage in innovative faculty-mentored research and creative projects in the Social Sciences and Social Policy; Arts, Humanities, and Culture; Business and Economics; Science, Engineering and Technology, and interdisciplinary areas. The Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations Office (URCC) provides research advising, funding, and presentation opportunities for students. We invite you to visit our table to learn more and view research poster presentations by student participants in the Summer 2025 Brandeis Undergraduate Research Network. - Groundbreaking Ceremony, Spingold Theater Center Parking Lot
2:45-3:15 p.m.
Join us for a groundbreaking at the site of our new residence hall that will add more than 600 beds and create vibrant spaces for living and community when it opens in 2027. - Welcome Reception*, Great Lawn Tent
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Join us under the tent on the Great Lawn to officially welcome families and the Brandeis community to a wonderful weekend. We will kick off the weekend with student performers, family photos, and refreshments. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with faculty, staff and administrators through meet and greet conversations. Welcome remarks will be at 4:30pm. - Reimagining Brandeis*, Great Lawn Tent
4:30 -5pm
President Arthur Levine and Jeffrey Lenowitz, Chair of the Faculty Senate and Associate Professor in the Politics Department, will give welcome remarks and an overview of the reimagining of the liberal arts, our academic realignment, and how these changes benefit current students and will strengthen the future of Brandeis. - Shabbat Services (Various Times and Locations)
- 5 p.m.
- Candle lighting available: Levin Ballroom in Usdan; Sherman Function Hall
- Reform Services: International Lounge in Usdan Student Center
- 5:15 p.m.
- Masorti/Conservative services: Berlin Chapel
- Sephardic services: Geller in Hassenfeld Conference Center
- Orthodox services: Sherman Function Hall
- Shira Chadasha services: Levine Ross in Hassenfeld Conference Center
- 5 p.m.
- Shabbat Dinner*, Levin Ballroom, Usdan Student Center
7- 9 p.m.
Join us for a Shabbat dinner with delicious food and a wonderful Brandeis community experience. Please note that this is the actual catering cost to Hillel per person for food. No charge for current undergraduate students thanks to the generosity of Hillel's board of directors. Space is limited, register early.
Adults (13+): $65.00
Children: Free
Students: Free
- Hotel Walk Back
9 p.m.
Levin Ballroom, Usdan Student Center
Volunteers will provide an escorted walk for families staying at the Newton Marriott.
Saturday, November 1, 2025
- Brandeis Bookstore Open, SCC 1st floor
8 a.m.-5 p.m. - Registration Check In, SCC Atrium
9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Family Hospitality Center, SCC Lounge
9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Shabbat Services (Various Times and Locations)
- 9:15 a.m., and 4:40 p.m: Orthodox services, Sherman Function Hall
- 9:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.: Masorti/Conservative services, Berlin Chapel
- Festive Family & Friends Lunch at the Farm Table, Sherman Dining Hall
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Join us for a festive “all-you-care-to-eat” lunch buffet at the Farm Table at Sherman Dining Hall. Includes allgood stations with dishes made without the top 9 allergens.- Adults (13+): $18.50
- Children (5-12): $9.99
- Children (under 5): Free
- Shabbat Lunch *, Sherman Dining Hall and Levine-Ross, Lurias, and Geller Conference Rooms
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Brandeis Hospitality now offers Shabbat meals! Pre-register for Shabbat lunch at the Kosher Table at Sherman. We will set up tables and chairs in the Levine-Ross, Lurias, and Geller Conference Rooms upstairs from Sherman Dining Hall for those who wish to eat as a community.- Adults (13+): $18.50
- Children (5-12): $9.99
- Children (under 5): Free
- Students: Included with meal plan, but requires pre-registration
- Gosman Sports and Convocation Center Gym Hours
10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Check in at the front desk and mention you are part of Family Weekend to get your guest fees for gym access waived throughout the weekend! Minors must be accompanied by a parent and will need to have a waiver signed. - FACULTY TALK: The Founders were not Cowards: Charlotte Whitney, Louis Brandeis and the Origins of the Modern First Amendment with Professor Dan Breen, SCC Theater
10-11 a.m.
In 1919, a 52-year old woman from a wealthy California family decided to sign her name to a document calling for factories to be turned over to the control of the men and women who worked there. For that she was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to spend one to fourteen years in San Quentin. She appealed. No one at the time thought the First Amendment was going to help her much, and sure enough, a majority of the Supreme Court voted to sustain her conviction; but Justice Louis Brandeis saw something in her case that triggered the most influential and eloquent "concurring opinion" in the annals of the federal courts. Given the complexion of the Court at the time, that opinion could not help Charlotte Whitney; but forty years later, a very different Court would finally catch up with Brandeis, adopting his reasoning in the Whitney case, and giving Americans what remains the freest political speech in the world. In this presentation, we will tell the fascinating story of Charlotte Whitney, and how her insistence on speaking her mind led to the most compelling justification for free speech ever given by an American judge. - Current Exhibitions at the Rose Art Museum
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Visit the Rose! - Study Abroad Information Session, SCC Theater
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Join us to hear from the Office of Study Abroad staff and Study Abroad Ambassadors on ways Brandeis students can expand their academic opportunities globally through studying abroad. Brandeis offers over 200 programs in 50 different countries with options for all majors and minors to study abroad. Students can study abroad for a semester, year, or during the summer. We'll talk through program options, finances including scholarship opportunities, ways to support your student through the process, and the application process. - Craft Market, Fellows Garden
12-5 p.m.
Shop for handmade jewelry, ceramics, knitwear and more, all made by Brandeisians. Hosted by Art Club. - Archeology Touch Cart and Epigraphy Activity, Fellows Garden
12-4 p.m.
Join the Department of Classical and Early Mediterranean Studies and CLARC (Classical Studies Artifact Research Collection) to examine ancient artifacts. At the same time, kids can excavate in our ‘department dig bins’ for 3D prints of antiquities from the CLARC collection. Decorate mini-flower pots with your favorite ancient Greek and Latin phrases. Faculty and CLARC Interns will be there to talk about department news, courses, field projects, and opportunities. -
FACULTY PROGRAM: Tree Walk: Get to know a few of the most extraordinary trees on the Brandeis campus with Professor Dan Perlman, SCC
1-2 p.m.
On this walk, you will meet two living fossils, present-day trees that look virtually identical to ancient fossils; one of them has recognizable ancestors over 200 million years old! You will also meet, and feel, a tree that has the fuzziest leaves you will ever experience (unless you have led a life full of extraordinary trees). Professor Dan Perlman and his knowledgeable "Tree Class" Teaching Assistants will be your guides on this gentle walk from the SCC to the Shapiro Admissions Building. -
MakerLab Open House, MakerLab, Goldfarb Library
1-3 p.m.
Meet Brandeis’ Design and Innovation team (BDI) during an interactive tour of the Brandeis MakerLab. Experience the latest emerging technology in Digital Fabrication (3D Printing, Laser Cutting, CNC), Digital Scholarship, 3D Scanning, XR/VR, and robotics prototyping. - FACULTY TALK: Sustainable Waste Systems and Pathways to a Circular Economy with Professor Jonathan Krones, SCC Theater
1-2 p.m.
Professor Krones' interdisciplinary research seeks to identify novel paths towards the sustainable use of materials in a more-circular economy. In this talk, he will share insights from his work across the waste system, from characterizing residual wastes from industry to developing approaches for making the electronic devices we all use last a bit longer. He will also try to answer any questions you have about how -- and why -- the waste system operates as well as information about Brandeis's new interdepartmental program in engineering science. - Division of Student Affairs - Recipe for Connections, Great Lawn Tent
2-3 p.m.
Come and connect with each office within the Student Affairs Division that supports students throughout the year. Meet leadership from each department and collect favorite fall recipes from each office. Apple cider and donuts provided!
SWAG ALERT: The first 250 guests at the Student Affairs Recipes for Connections event will receive a Brandeis Families mug! -
Shabbat Learning: When Values Compete: Redeeming the Living, Burying the Dead, and the Public Good, Berlin Chapel2:30-3:30 p.m.Join Rabbi Seth Winberg, Executive Director of Hillel, for an exploration of ethics in the face of impossible choices. Drawing on the 13th-century story of Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg - who died in captivity and whose body was held for ransom for many years - we'll examine how Jewish tradition navigates the tension between rescuing living hostages, honoring the deceased with proper burial, and protecting the broader community from exploitation. In light of the recent release of hostages from Gaza, with some bodies still unreturned, this historic debate offers profound wisdom for understanding our contemporary moment.
- Hiatt Career Center - New exciting things! SCC Theater
3-4 p.m.
Hiatt helps students discover who they are, what they want, and how to get there. Lauren Dropkin, Sr. Assistant Director of Career Development will cover how we do just that with your student! This session will share information about the transition to college and how your student can begin exploring and preparing for career paths of interest. - Shabbat Third Meal*, Sherman Dining Hall
3-5 p.m.
Brandeis Hospitality now offers Shabbat meals! Pre-register for Seudah Shlishit at the Kosher Table at Sherman.- Adults (13+): $19.75
- Children (5-12): $9.99
- Children (under 5): Free
- Students: Included with meal plan
- Family Bingo, Great Lawn Tent
4-5 p.m.
Bring the whole family for a chance to win a variety of prizes. Shabbat-friendly participation options available! Sponsored by the Campus Activities Board. -
Women's Rugby vs. Springfield, Gordon Field5 p.m. Start TimeCome out and support Brandeis's Women's Rugby Football Club as they take on Springfield College!
- Brandeis Got Talent: Student Performance Showcase, Spingold Theater - Mainstage Theater
8-10 p.m.
Come enjoy a variety of performances from student groups and individuals at Brandeis! Join us in celebrating the arts and all the amazing talent our students have to offer!
Sunday, November 2, 2025
- Brandeis Bookstore Open, Shapiro Campus Center first floor
9 a.m.-1 p.m. - Family Hospitality Center, SCC Tent
9 a.m.-12 p.m. - Legacy Family Breakfast
9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
By invitation only for Brandeis alumni families - Gosman Sports and Convocation Center Gym Hours
10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Check in at the front desk and mention you are part of Family Weekend to get your guest fees waived throughout the weekend! Minors must be accompanied by a parent and will need to have a waiver signed. - Various Chapel Services
Catholic Mass: 10 a.m., Bethlehem Chapel
Orthodox Jewish Service: 8-8:30 a.m. or 9a.m., Berlin Chapel - Pickleball Tournament, Shapiro Gym in Gosman
10 a.m.-12p.m.
On Sunday, November 2nd, Brandeis Intramural Sports and the Brandeis Pickleball Club will be hosting a parent / student doubles pickleball tournament in Shapiro Gym in Gosman. Each team of 2 must be made up of a Brandeis student and a parent (or friend / family member / alum). Free to participate and all equipment is provided.- Schedule:
- 9:30 a.m. - warm up / open play
- 10 a.m. - tournament begins
- Register online by Thursday, October 30 at 11:59 p.m.
- Schedule:
- Get ready for Trivia & Crafts with the Student Union!, Shapiro Campus Center Great Lawn
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Bring your family and friends for four exciting rounds of trivia, awesome prizes, and plenty of crafty fun. Don’t miss out on the laughs and friendly competition! - Understanding Antisemitism in a Post-10/7 World* (Ticket and ID required)
Spingold Theater - Mainstage Theater
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Join us for a panel discussion about how contemporary antisemitism shapes the Jewish-American experience, with a particular focus on how antisemitism has evolved post-10/7 and how American Jews understand antisemitism individually and in relation to their respective communities.
Panelists include:
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Jeremy Burton, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
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Eli Cohn-Postell M'15, VP of Research and Innovation at Project Shema
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Dr. Jennifer Gutsell, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Director of the Social Interaction and Motivation (SIM) lab at Brandeis University
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Dr. Laura Jockusch, Albert Abramson Associate Professor of Holocaust Studies at Brandeis University
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Meir Lakein, Co-Executive Director at JOIN for Justice
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Dr. Leonard Saxe, Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and Social Policy
Moderated by Dr. Samantha Pickette, Hillel Assistant Director, and Lecturer in Jewish Studies at Brandeis
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Quadball Open Practice, Gordon Field11 a.m.-2 p.m.Come and experience the game inspired by the functional game from Harry Potter. Brandeis has a very competitive club team and this sport is fun to watch.This open practice is a great way to see how the game works.
- Current Exhibitions at the Rose Art Museum
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Visit the Rose!
- Schedule for Family Weekend 2025
- Photos from Family Weekend 2024
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Questions or Concerns?
Contact Department of Student Engagement by email or call: 781-736-5065.
Monday–Friday
9 a.m.–5 p.m.