About Us
Our Mission
Union College Hillel, or UHillel, is dedicated to maximizing the number of Jewish students actively involved on campus. We seek new and innovative ways to engage the large percentage of Jewish students at Union by providing opportunities that are meaningful and appealing. We aim to strenggthen connections among Jewish students through a diverse and stimulating range of programming that emphasizes religious, ethnic and social aspects of Judaism.
Any program that brings Jewish students together -- in the Kosher Kitchen, Minerva Houses or at a local restaurant -- is part of the Hillel experience. A number of programs occur regularly throughout the academic year, while others are one-time events, responding to changing demands from the campus community.
Our Programs
Hillel is the prime destination for Union students who are interested in getting involved in Jewish life on campus. Because the programming is student-driven, it reflects the current interest of the students who participate. We currently have a lively board that meets numerous times each week with members who represent every student on campus.
Union Hillel is also proud of our kosher Shabbat dinners, which are cooked in a cooperative and social fashion on Friday afternoons on campus at Hillel's private, Kashrut-supervised Kosher Kitchen. We feel that we have the best Friday night dinners in the country!
In addition, UHillel organizes an annual December trip to Israel via the Taglit-Birthright Program. This creates a ripple effect of interest in Israel. In the past we have had soldiers and shlichim visit campus.
What is Hillel?
The largest Jewish campus organization in the world, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, provides opportunities for Jewish students at more than 500 colleges and universities to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity through its global network of regional centers, campus foundations and Hillel student organizations. Hillel is working to provoke a renaissance of Jewish life.
Hillel's mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. Hillel student leaders, professionals and lay leaders are dedicated to creating a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish college students, where they are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially. Hillel helps students find a balance in being distinctively Jewish and universally human by encouraging them to pursue tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Jewish learning, and to support Israel and global Jewish peoplehood. Hillel is committed to excellence, innovation, accountability and results.
For more information about Hillel International, please visit www.hillel.org