Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell Breaks Ground on New Jewish Student Center
This past weekend, the Steven K. and Winifred A. Grinspoon Hillel Center for Jewish Community at Cornell broke ground on its new state-of-the-art Jewish student center, Harkavy Hall.
“This building is decades in the making, but what it represents goes far beyond bricks and mortar,” said Rabbi Ari Weiss, CEO of Grinspoon Hillel. “At a moment when Jewish students across the country are looking for places to belong, we’re building a home that will stand for generations.”
Though there has been an active Hillel at Cornell since 1929, they are currently the only Ivy League university without a designated Hillel building. After raising more than $37 million from nearly 1,300 donors toward a capital campaign goal of $54 million, Grinspoon Hillel will finally have an official home on campus. Once complete, Harkavy Hall will be a 24,000-square-foot hub of Jewish life and community.
“I’ve seen how much our community can accomplish even without a standalone space,” said Noah Bodner, Grinspoon Hillel Student President. “Breaking ground on a building that future Cornell students will call home is a testament that Jewish life at Cornell matters, and it’s here to stay.”
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff echoed the sentiment. “Cornell has long been home to a vibrant and engaged Jewish community,” he said. “This new center will ensure that tradition continues for generations to come.”
In addition to a Beit Midrash for Torah study and classroom space, a lounge, and a communal kosher kitchen, Harkavy Hall will feature Herb’s (a kosher café), a large multi-purpose events hall with space to host Shabbat dinners for 230 students, study rooms, and a rooftop deck. Grinspoon Hillel hopes to engage 1,800 donors in their fundraising campaign for the project, in part to establish an endowment to support ongoing programming and staffing.
“We’re honored to support this campaign and even prouder of what this building will mean for every Jewish student who walks through its doors,” said Steven K. Grinspoon. “This Center will provide a beautiful new home for Jewish community, celebration and learning for decades to come.”
Every year, Grinspoon Hillel brings together over 3,000 Jewish and non-Jewish students for Jewish learning, Israel education, Shabbat and holiday programming, and the cultivation of a vibrant and engaging Jewish student community. With this new building, Grinspoon Hillel will be able to host challah baking and cooking classes, bigger Shabbat dinners, and a diverse array of programs.
“Hillel makes such a difference in students’ lives, and I wanted to invest in a space that reflects the warmth and depth of that community,” said Grinspoon Hillel Co-Chair Bonnie Altman. “Cornell deserves a Hillel building that truly matches its greatness, and I am honored to help make that a reality.”
“This groundbreaking demonstrates a commitment to a thriving Jewish life at Cornell,” added Grinspoon Hillel Co-Chair Len Feldman. “This new home will ensure that future generations of Jewish students thrive on campus.”
“For nearly a century, Hillel at Cornell has been building incredibly vibrant Jewish life on campus even without a permanent home.” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “This amazing new center will give Jewish Cornellians a special place to gather, grow, and build relationships that last long after graduation. This groundbreaking is a testament to the dedication of supporters, staff, and students who believe in the critical importance of ensuring strong, visible and vibrant Jewish life at Cornell for decades to come.”