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Brown RISD Hillel, the center for Jewish life at both Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design, is an integral part of campus religious, social, cultural, educational, and political life. Brown RISD Hillel encourages and supports a diversity of students as they explore, develop, and deepen their Jewish identities. We are committed to having Judaism serve as a source of meaning and growth during students' time on College Hill and in their lives after graduation. Brown RISD Hillel operates from the award-winning Glenn and Darcy Weiner Center, a 25,000 square foot facility in the heart of Brown's campus.
Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat at Brown RISD Hillel is vibrant and welcoming. Our services are entirely student-led. We host multiple minyanim, or services. Currently, we have the following three service options Friday Nights: - Based on the Hebrew word for friend, the Havurah service at Brown RISD Hillel is a moving, melodic way to welcome the Sabbath. Havurah is pluralistic and open to everyone: our liturgy hues most closely to Orthodox or Conservative, our siddur (prayer book) hues most closely to Reconstructionist and our tunes are usually Carlebach style - and if you don't know what any of the terms in this sentence mean, please just ask us - we welcome you and we welcome questions! This service focuses on creating a room full of ruach, meaning spirit or energy. Please join us in the Beit Midrash (room of learning), sitting on chairs or comfy cushions; whatever makes you comfortable! - The Reform service at Brown RISD Hillel is held in the tradition of Reform Judaism, which values diversity of participants and beliefs, and emphasizes exploring and reinterpreting Jewish texts. The Reform service at Brown is a relaxed, open atmosphere with a focus on learning prayers, songs, and more related to Jewish thought and practice. We invite you to join us in the Student Lounge at Hillel to check it out. - The Orthodox minyan is a welcoming Friday night musical space and spiritual community. Our Orthodox minyan includes use of a mechitzah and adherence to the traditional prayer sequence. Saturday (Shabbat Day) Services There is at least one Saturday service offered each Shabbat; some weeks there are multiple Shabbat morning options and some weeks there is an afternoon (Minha) service offered in addition or as an alternative to morning services. Services leadership is a collaboration between students and staff led and include Contemplative, Renewal, Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Orthodox. To find out what service is on tap each week, check out our Facebook.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,700 Jewish Students (23.9%*) 7,125 Students
*Percent of population
Graduate Enrollment
139 Jewish Students (4.2%*) 3,347 Students
*Percent of population
Study Abroad in Israel
University approved programs, Accepts credit for Israel study abroad
Israel Fellow
No
Kosher Dining
Brown University's Dining Services offers a Kosher Meal Plan. Meals are served daily for lunch and dinner in the Sharpe Refectory. Provided by a Glatt Kosher caterer, students on a Kosher meal plan can access a separate blessed room to obtain their food and then rejoin their friends in the main seating area.
Participating students can also eat from the regular daily menu and will enjoy all the benefits of the regular meal plan, including credit, guest meals, and FlexPlus points. For more information, please visit the Brown University Dining Services website (https://dining.brown.edu/meal-plans/#meal-plan-dining) or call 401-863-3343.
Options:
University meal plan-no extra cost;Kosher food available nearby
Religious Services
Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat at Brown RISD Hillel is vibrant and welcoming. Our services are entirely student-led. We host multiple minyanim, or services. Currently, we have the following three service options Friday Nights: - Based on the Hebrew word for friend, the Havurah service at Brown RISD Hillel is a moving, melodic way to welcome the Sabbath. Havurah is pluralistic and open to everyone: our liturgy hues most closely to Orthodox or Conservative, our siddur (prayer book) hues most closely to Reconstructionist and our tunes are usually Carlebach style - and if you don't know what any of the terms in this sentence mean, please just ask us - we welcome you and we welcome questions! This service focuses on creating a room full of ruach, meaning spirit or energy. Please join us in the Beit Midrash (room of learning), sitting on chairs or comfy cushions; whatever makes you comfortable!
Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, today announced the selection of Jillian Lederman, a rising senior at Brown University, to serve as chair of the Israel Leadership Network.
As Hillel, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, marks 100 years since its founding, a global centennial fundraising effort has now eclipsed $100M raised to enhance the lives of Jewish college students well into the future.
RootOne is an organization that helps thousands of Jewish teens travel to Israel during their high school years. Many of those students go on to become leaders in their campus Hillels. The stories of these transformative trips are a snapshot into what inspires students to become leaders who are proud of their Jewish identities. Stay tuned as we share more of their stories.
The Hillel College Guide aims to provide you with a snapshot of each local Hillel’s makeup and offerings. We recognize that there may be more information you need in order to better understand the campus reality, particularly around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. If you would like additional information about a given campus’ offerings or action steps in those areas, please reach out to us at [email protected].
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