How many Jewish students are there on campus?
The University of Pennsylvania, located in the city of Philadelphia, has a full-time undergraduate population of 10,000 with a Jewish population of approximately 2,500 (25%).
What kind of student programs and groups does Hillel sponsor at Penn?
Penn Hillel strives to create a vibrant Jewish presence on campus by providing opportunities for students to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity. With approximately 25 student-led groups ranging from community service and Jewish education to Jewish life and culture, social activities and Israeli political and cultural activities, students can find different ways to enhance their religious, spiritual and cultural identities.
How do students get involved with Hillel? Are there membership fees?
There are no membership fees to join Hillel. Come to an event that looks interesting by browsing through our calendar or contact a staff person to see what is going on around campus.
Is there kosher dining on campus?
Penn Dining provides kosher dining to Penn's campus during the school year. Click here for more information about kosher dining at Penn.
Every week hundreds of students take a break and celebrate Shabbat in many different ways. Student enjoy Shabbat meals, attend a variety of services, sing together after meals, listen to interesting speakers or just hang out.
Friday Night: On average, almost 500 people pray together in Steinhardt Hall. All services begin about 5 minutes after Candle Lighting. See the latest Shabbat Shalom Weekly for this week's times.
Conservative: Third Floor Lipman Beit Midrash
Orthodox: Second Floor Auditorium
Reform: Second Floor Dr. Lynne B. Harrison Library
Sephardic: First Floor Berkowitz Living RoomAfter services, there is always a large social scene followed by a community dinner in the Falk Dining Commons on the first floor. Look for other activities periodically planned for after dinner.
Saturday Services begin at 9 AM.
Conservative: Third Floor Lipman Beit Midrash
Orthodox: Second Floor AuditoriumAfter services, join us for a large kiddush followed by a community lunch in the dining hall. See the latest Shabbat Shalom Weekly newsletter for the times for Mincha and Maariv (Conservative and Orthodox, same locations). There is a light Third Meal (Seudah Shlishit) between Mincha and Maariv. Click here for more information about Shabbat and Holidays.
What are holiday observances and celebrations like at Penn?
There are many different opportunities to observe and celebrate the Jewish Holidays at Penn.
There are Conservative, Orthodox and Reform Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur High Holiday services on Penn's Campus, as well as explanatory services. Leading up to the High Holidays there are many different opportunities to learn more about the meaning of the holidays. Holiday meals are served in the Falk Dining Commons at Steinhardt Hall. On Yom Kippur there is a large student-run program called "Yom Kippur Across Penn" where different students, professors and rabbis offer small sessions around campus relating in many different ways to the holiday and Jewish community. After Yom Kippur there are many different Break-fast gatherings on campus. To celebrate Sukkot there are many Sukkot on campus--at Steinhardt Hall and in the Quad--for students to eat and gather inside. Fun Sukkot programs include "A Shake Break" and "S'mores Under the Stars." Student groups organize a yearly sale of the Lulav and Etrog delivered to Penn Hillel. Students celebrate Simhat Torah, the holiday during which we finish reading the Torah each year, with festive services and dancing inside Steinhardt Hall--the dancing often spills out onto Locust Walk!
Hanukkah brings candle-lighting events around campus. Students celebrate with latkes, dreidels, jelly doughnuts, and parties.
Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish new year for the trees, gives students the opportunity to think about the environment and their connection to Israel. Student organize Tu B'Shvat Seders and enjoy eating fruits and nuts from Israel.
Purim is an incredibly fun holiday at Penn with Megillah Readings, parties, and costumes.
During Passover there are Seders in Steinhardt Hall and also all around campus with students hosting their friends. There is often a big Seder on campus for Freshmen.
Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, is recognized with a twenty-four hour vigil on College Green with a continuous reading of names of those who perished in the Holocaust. There are also other events including speakers and performances remembering the Holocaust.
Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day, and Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, are important days on our calendar marked with vigils for Israel's fallen soldiers and celebrations for Israel's independence.
Can prospective students visit Penn and stay overnight with a Jewish student?
We will do our best to find a good match for prospective students to come experience life at Penn by staying with a student. Please email our Jewish Life Coordinator Lauren Brody-Hyett and letting us know about yourself and what type of student you might be interested in visiting. Many prospective students come for a Shabbat. Each fall there is a Shabbat program especially for prospective students.
Is there a Rabbi at Hillel or on campus?
Hillel has both Conservative and Orthodox Rabbis on staff as well as a Reconstructionist rabbinical student intern.
What social justice opportunities does Hillel have?
Hillel has a Tzedek Committee that focuses on Social Justice and Community Service projects. There is an annual Mitzvah Day with projects around Philadelphia, a weekly soup kitchen that students organize on Sunday nights at Steinhardt Hall, and a variety of Alternative Spring Break trips for students to volunteer in the United States and also internationally.
Click here for information about Penn Hillel's Tzedek student groups.