Jewish Life on Campus: Connecting

A banner celebrating 130 years of Jewish life at Brown University, with trees and university buildings in the background, and people walking nearby.

Most colleges will have resources and opportunities for Jewish students to connect.

From free trips to Europe and Israel to chicken soup when you’re sick, BBQs and football games, classes, game nights, and intriguing lectures - there’s something for everyone!

Campus courtyard with students sitting or lying on the grass and walking on the path, surrounded by modern brick and glass residential buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

Living on Campus: Location Matters

Freshman typically live in a designated part of campus. But, if you plan on engaging with Hillel or Chabad fairly often, you may want to live closer to the hub of Jewish life.

If you keep kosher, you will want to live close to where you’ll be getting your food. That may not be the freshmen dorms!

Koshier Meat counter in a grocery store with a woman shopping

Kosher on Campus: Consider This

If keeping kosher is important to you, it’s important to ask specific questions.

Is your school serving fresh kosher food or airplane meals? Not all Hillels serve kosher food or maintain a certification.

Chabad programming is a great place for frequent and free food. Some schools provide kosher grab & go sandwiches and salads in a central location.

If you are an observant Jew, we’ll review how to navigate these factors on specific campuses, including which schools have Shabbat and daily minyanim.