Brandeis Hillel Breaks Ground on First Center for Jewish Student Life
For nearly eight decades, Hillel at Brandeis University has been at the center of Jewish life on campus, bringing generations of students together to celebrate traditions, explore their identities, and build lasting friendships. Now, for the first time in Brandeis history, its Hillel community will have its own dedicated home.
On Nov. 5, Brandeis Hillel broke ground on the Robert K. Kraft Family Center for Jewish Life and Leadership, a 28,000-square-foot building that will bring Jewish programming, learning, and community under one roof. The community was joined by notable guests including Josh Kraft, president of Kraft Family Philanthropies and son of Robert Kraft, founder, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group; Arthur Levine, president of Brandeis University; Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International; Jim Shane, board chair of Hillel at Brandeis; and Cindy Shapira, Brandeis trustee.
“The Jewish community is showing up for Brandeis right now, and it shows,” said Rabbi Seth Winberg, executive director of Brandeis Hillel. “I’m grateful to the group of donors, colleagues, and partners who have launched a campaign giving Hillel a home to carry and strengthen Jewish life at Brandeis, and its leaders, into the future. Their legacy will impact generations.”
The groundbreaking is a significant milestone for Brandeis Hillel, which has raised more than $22 million to build the new center, expand staffing and programming, and support leadership development. Made possible by a transformational $10 million gift from philanthropist Robert Kraft, along with nine other leadership-level donors, the center is expected to open in 2028, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Brandeis University.
“Brandeis University’s longstanding commitment to excellence, belonging, and Jewish traditions and values has shaped generations of leaders,” Robert Kraft said ahead of the groundbreaking. “The Kraft family has always been proud to support Brandeis, and I am pleased to strengthen the work of the university and create a Hillel on campus to help educate and inspire students to carry forward the university’s mission.”
The project will transform the former Kutz Hall, a three-story building constructed in 1959, into a modern center for Jewish life. Inside, students will have access to a Beit Midrash for Jewish learning, a kosher café, meeting rooms, and student lounges. The center will also feature a 180-seat multipurpose room, a kitchen, and dedicated areas for art and music. With these additions, Brandeis Hillel will be able to host larger Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, educational programs, and community gatherings.
“I’m so excited for the new Hillel building so that Jewish life can finally have an expansive hub on campus,” said Ollie Small, a third-year student and the president of the Brandeis Hillel student board. “I love the magic of all of our Jewish spaces on campus, and it will be so fulfilling to have one central place where everyone can stop by, grab a nosh, and share our dreams for what our community will look like.”
Right now, Brandeis Hillel operates out of several different on-campus spaces to serve a large population of Jewish students, approximately 30% of the student body. Each week, Small and hundreds of others participate in Hillel programming, from Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations to events focused on Israel, Jewish learning, civic action, music, wellness, and community service. With more than 20 student-led committees, boards, and initiatives, Hillel also supports students as they develop leadership skills and build connections across Jewish backgrounds and traditions.
The new center will bring all of these activities into one permanent home, creating more opportunities for students to gather and grow. And beyond serving undergraduate students, the Kraft Center will also strengthen Hillel’s role as a place for Jewish scholars, educators, and community leaders.
For Jonathan D. Sarna, a Brandeis alum and globally recognized professor of American Jewish history, the center reflects the importance of bringing Jewish students together across backgrounds and perspectives. Sarna said, “If we want to foster one Judaism, one community, then creating a space where a wide range of Jews can interact, learn about one another, exchange ideas, and debate respectfully is essential.”
With construction underway, Brandeis Hillel is preparing for a new chapter that will ensure future generations of Jewish students have a place to make memories, become leaders, and build a community of their own.
“I want future students of Brandeis Hillel to have a space where they feel comfortable and safe, and can create long-lasting memories just like I have done in our current Hillel spaces,” said Coco Trentalancia, a fourth-year student and the vice president of the Brandeis Hillel student board. “I am thrilled and excited to see the progress that will be made in the upcoming years.”