Jewish Program
A Message from the Jewish Chaplain
A Message from the Jewish Chaplain: At the present time, approximately 17 % of the undergraduates at Union College identify themselves as Jewish. The plentiful resources for Jewish students at Union include several academic courses of Jewish interest, activities sponsored by Hillel, AEPi, the multifaith council, and other groups on campus, and educational and cultural events in the dynamic Capital District Jewish community. The Schenectady Jewish community is home to Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox synagogues as well as a beautiful Jewish Community Center. Chapters of many national Jewish organizations are also found in Schenectady. The headquarters of the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern NY, whose region extends from the tri-city area up to Saratoga and Glens Falls, is located in Albany.
Hillel is the official organization of the Jewish students on campus. Like the other religious organizations on campus, it depends entirely on outside sources to sustain itself. Donations from alumni, parents and friends relieve the staff and students of spending their time fund-raising and enable them to concentrate on bringing meaningful Jewish programming to the Union College campus.
In recent years Hillel has undertaken a commitment to provide more comprehensively for students' religious needs while away from home. Student rabbis have been hired to conduct Rosh Hashana and/or Yom Kippur services on campus. A large sukkah embraces visitors in Jackson's Garden in the fall. The campus Passover seder has become a popular event, and the Kosher Kitchen provides kosher-for-Passover dinners for the entire weekof Pesach. Regular Hillel Friday night Shabbat services frequently attract new faces and are followed by an opportunity to socialize at Shabbat dinner in the Kosher Kitchen.