University of Delaware Hillel Breaks Ground on a Brand New Jewish Student Center
This week, Hillel at the University of Delaware (UD) broke ground on its new Jewish student center, an incredible milestone in the community’s mission of helping Jewish life on campus thrive.
“Breaking ground on this new facility is an incredibly meaningful moment for our community,” said Donna Schwartz, executive director of Hillel at UD. “This building represents our commitment to providing Jewish students with a welcoming home where they can explore their identity, build lasting friendships, and create meaningful connections to Jewish life.”
Hillel at UD has been part of the fabric of the University of Delaware since 1948. Their current home, the Kristol Center for Jewish Life, has been the center of Jewish life on campus since 1993. The new building will replace the Kristol Center, and will feature a large event hall for Shabbat dinner (with room for up to 250 students), small study rooms, lounge spaces — including a rooftop deck! — and a beit midrash, a space to explore Jewish ideas and texts. In total, it will include 18,000 square feet for the 2,250 Jewish students at University of Delaware to connect, learn, pray, and build community.
“With the new innovative study spaces, cozy lounges, and spaces designed for connection, learning, and celebration, students will find their home at Hillel, just like I did,” shared student leader Maya Taylor. “Hillel is my home away from home: there are always fun things to do, people to spend time with, and great food at Hillel. I can’t wait to see how the new building brings even more students together and strengthens the vibrant Jewish community on campus.”
Since the launch of the capital campaign, Hillel at UD has secured three lead gifts of over $1 million each from Stuart and Suzanne Grant, the Kristol Family, and the Book Family. In recognition of these transformational gifts, the new facility will be named the Stuart and Suzanne Grant Hillel at the Kristol Center for Jewish life.
“We are very excited to make this investment in the future of the Jewish people,” Stuart and Suzanne Grant shared in a statement. “This new Hillel building is not just a building. Rather, it is where the next generation of Jewish leaders will be trained. It is where those students with just a spark of Jewish identity will go to explore their Jewish journey. It is where Jewish students at UD will gather in times of joy and in times of crisis. The building will be beautiful. But the true beauty is what will go on inside these walls.”
The groundbreaking ceremony included remarks from Todd Kristol, president of the Hillel at UD board of directors; Dr. Laura Carlson, interim president of the University of Delaware; and donors Stuart Grant and Neil Book. Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman also shared words of encouragement.
“We’re thrilled to see this project quickly move from vision to reality,” Lehman said. “The Stuart and Suzanne Grant Hillel at the Kristol Center for Jewish life will provide Jewish students with the space and resources they need to thrive — not just during their college years, but as they build a lifelong sense of belonging in the Jewish community.”
Construction of the new building is expected to be completed by December 2026 — just in time for the start of the spring semester of that academic year. Congratulations to the entire Hillel at UD community!