Prospective Students
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 200 of the 2000 students are Jewish, most coming from Reform Judaism tradition, but we also have Conservative, Reconstructionist and quite a few who self-identify as culturally but not religiously Jewish. Around 30-35 students usually attend Shabbat Services and Dinner on Friday nights, and many more people for holiday celebrations and social events.
Every Friday, we share a kosher or kosher-style Shabbat dinner from restaurants in the area. All dining options also have a vegetarian/vegan menu. During the Passover holiday, we have a large community kosher Seder for two nights, and Kosher for Passover meals are available during the entire week of Passover.
Every Friday, Hillel holds Shabbat at the Azel Backus house. We have a short, student-led service at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Shabbat dinner is usually from local restaurants or kosher caterers, including a Middle Eastern Restaurant and a kosher caterer from Rochester or Albany. All Shabbat food is kosher or kosher style. Although we normally serve meat meals, vegetarian and vegan options are always available.
We hold services on campus throughout both of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur led by a visiting rabbinical student or cantor. All High Holy Day meals are kosher.
Hillel holds a variety of cultural events throughout the academic year. These events include tie-dye, movie nights, game nights, challah baking, Purim parties, Hamantaschen baking, Sukkah decorating, Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties, Chanukah parties with latke cooking, and many others.
