Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach Opens Renovated Jewish Student Center at Florida Atlantic University
Jewish life at Florida Atlantic University has a new place to grow and thrive. On Oct. 27, more than 300 students, alumni, university leaders, and community supporters gathered to celebrate the opening of Newman Bernstein Hillel, an expanded and renovated space designed to bring Jewish students together and strengthen community on campus.
The ceremony recognized the donors, community leaders, and university partners who helped make the renovation possible, and included remarks by Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman; Florida Atlantic University President Adam Hasner; Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach Executive DirectorJason Harris; and Debbie Newman Bernstein, the lead capital donor of the project.
“Our beautiful new space is a reflection of the shared commitment between Hillel and the university to ensuring Jewish students have a home here,” said Harris. “I look forward to all of the Shabbat dinners, study sessions, and friendships that will form over the years. We are incredibly grateful to FAU’s leadership and our supporters for investing in a strong Jewish future.”
The center, located within the S.E. Wimberly Library, makes Jewish life a permanent and visible part of the FAU community. It includes modernized areas for studying, socializing, and Jewish programming, along with covered outdoor seating for gatherings and a new main entrance directly into Hillel. This large-scale transformation, which began in August 2024, was funded by a $2.6 million commitment from Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, with a lead gift from Boca Raton philanthropist Debbie Newman Bernstein, for whom the space is named.
“FAU Jewish students now have a Hillel with a front door of its own, and I can’t think of a better way to let students know just how welcome they are here,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “They can easily stop in between classes, sit down to study, or just spend a few minutes somewhere familiar. I can’t wait to see all of the community-building and Jewish joy this renovation brings.”
Newman Bernstein Hillel is part of the broader network of Jewish campus communities supported by Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, which serves more than 5,000 Jewish college students across five South Florida campuses, including FAU, Lynn University, Nova Southeastern University, Palm Beach State College, and Broward College.
The newly renovated center builds on nearly two decades of Jewish life at FAU. The original Hillel building opened in 2006 with support from Mildred and Abby Levine and Ruth and Saul Weinberger. Since then, the Levine Weinberger Center for Jewish Life has served as a gathering place for Jewish students, offering opportunities to connect with their peers and participate in Jewish campus life.
Now the Weinberger family and the Weinberger Family Foundation are continuing that legacy with a substantial contribution toward the renovation, joining other donors and community supporters in making the expanded facility possible.
For students, those improvements mean they have more room for everyday moments that make Hillel feel like home — studying with friends, attending an educational program, gathering around the table for Shabbat, and even stopping by to say a quick hello before class.
And as Jewish students navigate antisemitism and questions about their sense of belonging, the new center also represents a commitment from FAU and Hillel to ensuring Jewish students feel welcomed and supported on campus. “Florida Atlantic is committed to becoming the safest, most welcoming university for Jewish life in America,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “The opening of the Newman Bernstein Hillel on our campus is an important step forward in realizing that vision by ensuring Jewish students have an exceptional space to study, connect, and celebrate their heritage together.”
For current and future generations of Jewish students, the center offers something that extends far beyond its walls: a place to find community, build lasting relationships, and feel proud to be Jewish.