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Frequently Asked Questions Does Hillel have social events? Can I do community service at Hillel? I can't go home for the High Holidays. Are there services and meals? I'm interested in going to Israel. Can Hillel help get me there? I’m Shomer Shabbat. How do I deal with this on campus? I'm not observant. Can I be involved in Hillel? Can I bring my non-Jewish friend with me? Does UAlbany offer classes in Jewish Studies or Hebrew? There is no group for what I want to do. Can I start one?
Hillel’s goal is to “enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.” Hillel provides…
Does Hillel have social events? Jewish college students love to party. Hillel sponsors all sorts of social events, including semi-formals, parties, movie nights, and celebrations, as well as educational, social action, and religious events. Interested in meeting new people and having a blast, while getting involved in the campus community? Hillel is for you!
UAlbany has a wonderful Shabbat community, and we pride ourselves on providing quality religious experiences for our students: Shabbos House (Traditional) – every Friday evening, Saturday morning Koach (Conservative) and RUACH! (Reform) – every Friday evening There are services and Shabbat Dinner each Friday night that school is in session, hosted by Hillel and Shabbos House. Come as you are, for services and/or dinner, or for whatever you can, when you can!
Can I do community service at Hillel? Absolutely! We are committed to tzedek, or justice, and do lots of community programs, including alternative spring breaks, fundraisers, and direct aid programs.
I can't go home for the High Holidays. Are there services and meals? Local synagogues provide free High Holiday tickets for all students. There are no services available on campus when school is closed. Many families in the community delight in “hosting” new students for the holidays. Call or e-mail the Hillel office to arrange home hospitality, High Holiday tickets, and/or transportation information. We will have Yom Kippur meals and services on campus. There is a communal pre-fast meal followed by Kol Nidre services, a traditional as well as an egalitarian service during the day in the Campus Center, followed by a communal break fast. We also offer special services, how-to sessions, and informal learning centered around Sukkot and Simchat Torah as well as for Purim, Hanukkah, Passover, Yom Haatzmaut and other holidays. Please see our calendar for details.
I'm interested in going to Israel. Can Hillel help get me there? Not only can we help you, we can take you for free! Hillel sponsors a ten-day Israel trip through Taglit-birthright Israel both on campus-based as well as through national trips. Find out more online at www.israel.hillel.org. We traditionally take a campus trip in the winter, so contact Aviva if you’d like to participate! Registration for winter trips opens in September. Hillel can also help you find information and funding for many other trips as well. Stop by or give us a call.
Yes! In fact, many UAlbany students spend either a semester or a year at an Israeli university. In the past, UAlbany students have studied at Hebrew University, Haifa, Tel-Aviv, and Ben Gurion University. Contact the Study Abroad Office at 442-3525 for information.
I’m Shomer Shabbat. How do I deal with this on campus? Residential Life is aware that there are many students that do not want to use SUNYCards on Shabbat. Contact them at 442-5875 to discuss specific issues you have. Discuss this with your RA, so that he or she will be able to assist you. Shabbos House, Chapel House, and Campus Center are all within walking distance of the uptown campus quads.
I'm not observant. Can I be involved in Hillel? Can I bring my non-jewish friend with me? Definitely! Hillel is for all Jewish students. In fact, we have many students who come to Hillel simply for our cultural, social, or political programs. We have thousands of students involved in Hillel, and most are not necessarily ‘observant’ – some are, some aren’t - but the community is richer for each and every person involved. Every student is important at Hillel and has a place here. Bring your friends, your suitemates, everyone!
Dutch Quad dining hall provides Kosher (meat) lunch and dinner, and you may sign up at SUNYcard for a Kosher meal plan. This allows you to eat any meal at Dutch while retaining the right to eat at any other quad on campus. Dreidels in the Campus Center has sandwiches, bagels, pizza, and light meals - 7:30 AM – 3 PM. All Hillel and Shabbos House Shabbat dinners are Kosher. There is a kosher Price Chopper off campus. They can be reached at 456-2970. All Kosher facilities are run by University Dining Services -Chartwells and operate under the of Va'ad HaKashrut of the Capital District.
Does UAlbany offer classes in Jewish Studies or Hebrew? UAlbany actually has an entire department of Judaic Studies. Students can major or minor in Judaic Studies, or simply take one course on anything from introductions to Judaism to literature, modern and ancient history, Biblical texts, and several levels of Hebrew instruction. Contact the department at 442-4130, or at http://www.albany.edu/judaic_studies.
There is no group for what I want to do. Can I start one? Absolutely! We start new groups all the time. If you have a passion, just let us know and we will help you start a new group. We can make it happen!
There’s no formal membership for Hillel on campus. If you’re a student, you can be involved! To get more information, just drop us an e-mail at asnyder@uamail.albany.edu and we’ll get you on the weekly listserv and connect you to what interests you! We look forward to seeing you on campus!
The Program Office: Campus Center 335 - the JCSC Fellow works here. Phone: 518-591-8605 The Student Office: Campus Center 320 - where students meet and hang out. Phone: 518-442-5670 Chapel House - the Director of Jewish Student Life and administrative offices are located here. Phone: 518-489-8573 ext. 24 Fax: 518-489-8975
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