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Philly Hillel
 

Highlights in the History of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia

1919 A Jewish student house at the University of Pennsylvania is started by the Women's Council of the Conservative movement; this later becomes the Louis Marshall House

1923 The first "Hillel" is founded at the University of Illinois. Hillel is adopted by B'nai B'rith in 1927. In 1930 there are Hillel Foundations on seven campuses; in 1994 Hillel of Moscow joins more than 100 Hillel Foundations in North America, Europe, Australia, and Israel

1928 A Jewish student house is opened at Temple University

1934 The Philadelphia Jewish community assumes responsibility for supporting Jewish student life at Philadelphia-area campuses and The Jewish Student House Fund is created with private donations; in 1938 the new Philadelphia Allied Jewish Appeal assumes responsibility for the fund

1944 The Philadelphia Allied Jewish Appeal and the B'nai B'rith Council join to fund the Louis Marshall Hillel House at the University of Pennsylvania, the Ellis Memorial House at Temple University, and Hillel counsellorships at Drexel Institute (today Drexel University), Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathy; an Advisory Board is created with I. Jerome Stern at its chair

1948 The Louis Marshall House at the University of Pennsylvania moves into new quarters on 36th Street

1972 B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundations and the Federation of Jewish Agencies create the Jewish Campus Activities Board to provide Hillel programs at Philadelphia-area campuses, including Drexel University, Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania

1982 JCAB announces a million dollar campaign to expand the Hillel facilities at the University of Pennsylvania; an expanded Fanny and Samuel Korman Hillel House is dedicated in 1985

1989 JCAB initiates an innovative approach to serving commuter students. In time, this model becomes the standard for Hillel commuter centers around the country

1990 JCAB commits itself to engaging Jewish graduate students in Jewish life and creates the Hillel Center for Graduate and Professional School Students

1991 Jewish Campus Activities Board becomes "Hillel of Greater Philadelphia"

1995 Penn Hillel opens the Jewish Activities Center, its satellite facility in the Quad as the platform for cutting-edge engagement programs

1998 Hillel of Greater Philadelphia completes its strategic plan that calls for doubling its operating budget and building new Hillel facilities at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania

2001 Hillel of Greater Philadelphia formally affiliates with Hillel: The Foundation For Jewish Campus Life and is recognized by Hillel's International Center as the entity uniquely responsible for Hillel activities on all Philadelphia area campuses

2002 The Israel Campus Initiative is started with a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia to focus resources on Israel education and advocacy at Philadelphia-area college campuses; the region's first Israeli representative to Philadelphia colleges and universities is introduced in 2004

2003 Steinhardt Hall is opened on 39th Street as the new home of Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania and the flagship of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia

2004 Hillel of Greater Philadelphia embarks on a project to the Edward H. Rosen Center for Jewish Life at Temple University, with completion anticipated in 2007

2006 A division of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia wins yet another Haber Award for Program Excellence, this time for engagement programming at the University of Pennsylvania

2007 Hillels in Philadelphia are re-accredited by the Hillel Schusterman International Center and commended for excellence in both program and administration

Philly Hillel is a program of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia,
a constituent agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
affiliated with Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.