The Jewish Experience

At Hillel, students forge new friendships, meet dedicated mentors, celebrate the Jewish calendar, engage in service to others, and are inspired by Jewish texts and traditions. Hillel is for students of every color, from every country, studying every subject, and welcomes students of any sexual orientation, gender identity and physical ability, as well as those affected by mental illness, trauma and abuse. Students take a leading role in all aspects of the organization, from religious services to cultural programs, trips to Israel and fun social events.

But don't take our word for it. Ask our students.

How Hillel Helped Me Discover My Judaism

Also, Meet Hillel's executive director, Seth Winberg

Concerts, gaming nights, crafting groups, challah bakes, ice cream socials, "Cake Wars" (a baking competition to raise awareness of cancers and genetic diseases impacting the Jewish community) and many others. Students are also always welcome to hang out in the Hillel lounge. 

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The Beit Midrash (Hebrew for house of study) is a dedicated space for Jewish text study located in Shapiro Hall. Students and Hillel staff offer a variety of Torah learning options during the week. Many students study Jewish texts together in pairs (havrutot). Hillel and its student groups also host guest educators and rabbis.

JLF is an eight-week discussion seminar led by Hillel staff for students of all backgrounds looking to deepen their connection to Judaism. Students are encouraged to ask the big questions: Who am I? What communities am I part of? What is worth committing myself to and why?

At the start of the year, Hillel hosts the First Year Retreat, a weekend away filled with fun, friends, learning and community. There are also several on-campus social events, including First Years & FroYo. New students can also create their own gatherings through the student group First-Year Students of Hillel (FYSH). Many Hillel student groups also offer leadership positions for first-year students.

Hillel has more than 20 student-led groups and activities, including:

• Manginah, an a cappella group.
• Brandeis Klezmer Band, playing traditional Jewish music and modern songs.
• Hillel Organization of Gamers (HOG), playing everything from Mario Kart to Minecraft.
• Challah for Hunger, the Brandeis chapter of a national Jewish food insecurity organization. 
• The Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis (JFAB). JFAB is committed to uplifting the voices of Jewish women on the Brandeis campus and to starting more nuanced conversations about the intersection of gender and Jewish identity and experience. 
• Queer Jews at Brandeis (QJAB): An affinity group for Queer/LGBTQIA2S+ Jewish students on campus. Created to provide community, friends and peer support from Jewish Queer students for Jewish Queer students.
• Generations at Brandeis: Students visit socially with local elderly residents.
• Brandeis Orthodox Organization (BOO): BOO exists to fulfill and further the religious, social and cultural needs of the Orthodox Jewish population at Brandeis University and is dedicated to the principles of Torah-Halakhic Judaism.

Several! Hillel’s executive director Seth Winberg and associate director Stephanie Max are both rabbis. Hillel also has several rabbinic interns who connect with students one-on-one and lead student discussion groups.

Brandeis Hillel was the first college selected to launch OU-JLIC, a partnership between Hillel and the Orthodox Union that places rabbinic educator couples on select campuses. It is now one of only 20 colleges across the country that offers this unique program. The JLIC house is located near campus and serves as a gathering space for Shabbat and holiday meals, Torah learning and other events. 

The educators at the OU-JLIC are Rabbi Ariel Cohen and Dorit Cohen.