Religious Services
Union College offers weekly Kabbalat Shabbat services at 5:30 pm in the Hillel lounge adjacent to the Kosher Kitchen. The services are both compiled and led by students. They are pluralistic in nature with considerable singing and are fully transliterated. Kiddush and a kosher Shabbat dinner follow services. Occasionally a professor will join the students for dinner and a discussion on a topic of Jewish interest..
Although students prefer to celebrate the High Holidays with their families, when the holidays do not fall on or adjacent to a weekend, this becomes difficult. On those occasions, Hillel hires a student rabbi to conduct services on campus and provides appropriate festive meals for the holiday. Students are also welcome to attend Schenectady synagogues.
The campus Passover seder has also become increasingly popular celebration. Other Pesach accommodations for students include a full week kosher-for-Passover dinner plan in the Kosher Kitchen and an array of kosher-for-Passover options in the dining halls.