Our vision is a world in which Jewish college students find supportive community, self-confidence, happiness, and a meaningful Jewish connection as a rite of passage. Hunter Hillel is for every Jew, of every color, from every country, of every sexual orientation, speaking every language, and studying every subject. At Hunter Hillel students forge significant friendships, meet dedicated mentors, have the opportunity to celebrate the Jewish calendar and engage in Jewish learning. Time spent at Hunter Hillel gives students experiences and exposure to a community of friends and mentors. The culture of this environment provides our students the room they need to explore life, find meaning, and develop a sense of purpose.
Culture:
חברותא/Jewish friends. Asking big questions in the context of community is a powerful experience. ֵExploring what being Jewish means and could mean to us is best done in partnership with others.
חונכות/Mentorship. College is a time of reckoning. Who do we want to be? What do we want to do with our lives? We’re here to be with you as you figure that out, and to provide spirit fingers as needed.
זה לזה/Diversity. For many of us, college is the only venue in which we will have the time, space, and resources to interact with people of radically different backgrounds from our own. Jewish community looks and feels differently for everyone—and we want to be able to share that with one another.
סיפור/Shared Narrative. One of the most exciting parts of being Jewish means that we get to have a stake in the next chapter of our people’s narrative. Together, we’ll engage with big questions and see what Jewish text and practice can offer us in navigating our everyday lives.
זמנים/The Jewish calendar. Anchoring us in a unique way of life, the calendar tells the story of the Jewish people through collective experience and ritual. We pay attention to our calendar and use it to mark milestones, world changes, and joyful experiences! אהבה/Service. Our tradition beseeches us to lead with love, serve others, and make our impact on our world. Whether it be through communal leadership, social action work, or religious practice, we focus on service together.
This Hillel serves: Hunter College; Lehman College; Marymount Manhattan College; Silberman School of Social Work
Hunter Hillel offers cohort learning (Jewish Learning Fellowship) with jewish texts at least twice a week. We support individual chevrutot, a club dedicated to Israeli culture and experience, and one of the most diverse Jewish student bodies in the country. Our rabbinic interns and Israel Fellow support cohort learning about Israel with our students every week. We have active Mizrahi and Russian Speaking Jewish communities with programs that support our students cultural needs and interests through speakers, projects, and learning opportunities.
Kosher food is NOT available for purchase in the Hunter College Cafeteria; however, kosher food IS available for purchase at Hunter Hillel.
Hunter Hillel hosts Shabbat dinner on Thursday evenings (Not Shabbat Shabbat) to accommodate students commuting long distances. We also support students in hosting their own Shabbat dinners in their homes with friends. Hunter Hillel works in partnership with local synagogues to ensure that any student seeking a minyan has access to it when they need it. Hunter Hillel provides ritual programming for holidays that occur while school is open (Chol Ha Moed Sukkot, Purim), and scaffolding programming for all other holidays (Tashlich during the Days of Awe, Pesach cleaning kits, New Year goal setting, etc.)
Frequency: Contact this Hillel
Hunter Hillel hosts 2 graduate social work interns and one full time Campus Social Worker. Together, our wellness team leads our grocery pick up program, our Kosher food initiatives, our student wellness events, and cultivate our resource guides for student success on an emotional, professional, and financial level.
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Heading into Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about a Jewish text I turn to over and over again. “Without bread, there is no Torah; without Torah, there is no bread.”
Check out some of the scholarships available for Hunter College Jewish students.
Ellen B. Fuhr is committed to empowering young Jewish women by helping them navigate challenges she knows firsthand. In honor of this mission, she has established this scholarship with Hillel International to support and uplift future leaders. Eligible applicants must self-identify as Jewish women and attend Hunter College, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a proven record of leadership, entrepreneurship, or volunteerism within their campus or local community.
This is a two year scholarship that provides qualified candidates opportunities to explore careers in public policy. Upon acceptance, scholars receive tuition assistance, mentorship, and a paid summer internship in New York. Applicants must be a sophomore at Hunter College and demonstrate financial need.
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].
