
Jewish Life at Georgetown
The Office of Jewish Life seeks to support students in their growth and development as they pursue lives of meaning, purpose, and belonging. We are committed to building a welcoming community, inspiring a love for Torah and tradition, and fostering Ahavat Yisrael (love of the Jewish people). Jewish Life at Georgetown University works to honor and celebrate authentic forms of Jewish expression ranging from traditional to secular, promote gender equality, and further the inclusion of all Jewish students on campus, including Jews of Color, LGBTQ+ Jews, and students from multi-faith backgrounds. The Jewish Life team partners with students to organize and lead learning, social events, shabbatons, holiday celebrations, and weekly Shabbat dinners and services. We oversee the GU-ish engagement program, Bayit, the Jewish Living Learning Community (LLC), the kosher food program on campus, and offer one-on-one rabbinic support for coping with personal life challenges and engaging life’s big questions. Jewish Life works with other faith leaders to encourage interreligious dialogue and understanding on campus and advocates for the needs and concerns of Jewish students within the university. You can find us online, in Makom, or at our office, Healy 111.
FAQ’s:
How can I get involved in Jewish student life?
- The Jewish Student Association (JSA) builds community among undergraduate Jewish students through a wide array of social, cultural, and holiday programming and offerings.
- The GUish Student Engagement Internship creates interpersonal relationships among Jewish students. New and yet-to-be-involved students can meet student interns for an introduction to Jewish Life, and one day apply to be an intern themselves. If you’d like an intern to reach out to you to grab coffee, please let us know!
- Bayit, our Jewish Living Learning Community, located in a residence hall on campus, helps bring home-based Judaism to our campus, which have kosher kitchens and Shabbat-friendly environments for those who seek to foster them.
- Off-campus Shabbaton retreats twice a year in the Blue Ridge Mountains so students enjoy time in nature, pause from everyday campus life, experience a full 25 hours of Shabbat, and immerse themselves in Jewish community, spirituality and wisdom.
- LJewBTQ, our student club for Jewish and Jew-curious LGBTQ+ students and allies, offers an array of social, religious and interfaith programs with other queer groups on campus.
What are Shabbat and Jewish holidays like on campus?
- We are a small and diverse community on campus, so we provide services that are a mix of Reform and Conservative, there’s something for everyone within that range, as well as for those who are secular. We’d love to foster a traditional and/or Orthodox space, so if you fit into this category, please reach out to us!
- Weekly Shabbat services are held in the Jewish Life sanctuary and event space, Makom, every Friday at 5:30 pm, followed by Shabbat dinner at 6:30 pm when school is in session
- Regular Shabbat lunches hosted by our Jewish Residential Minister and students
- Holiday offerings, including services and meals on campus for all major Jewish holidays
What are the kosher food options at Georgetown?
- The Kosher on Campus program provides Glatt Kosher and Cholov Yisrael daily meals from Signature Caterers and Char Bar. You can find breakfast and lunch items in the Kosher on Campus refrigerators in the dining halls around campus and the hot food station in Leo’s serving dinner Monday through Thursday.
- All food served by the Office of Jewish Life at Shabbat, holidays and events are served from local kosher restaurants and caterers.
What is Jewish studies and learning like at Georgetown?
- The Center for Jewish Civilization offers students a wide range of academic classes to learn more about Jewish culture and religion, history, Israel and the Middle East, and the Holocaust.
- Our Rabbi offers Jewish learning and text study opportunities for beginners to advanced students throughout the year and through various cohorts and fellowships. Please reach out to her if you have any particular interests!
What are the Jewish graduate student offerings at Georgetown?
- We have several active Jewish graduate student organizations you can get involved in as a Georgetown student. We have the Jewish Graduate Student Association, the Jewish Business Alliance, the GUSOM Maimonides Society, and the Jewish Law Students Association.
I’m a prospective or incoming student. Can I reach out to learn more?
We hope you do! Please reach out to Jewishlife@georgetown.edu and introduce yourself!
Support Jewish Life
You can support Jewish Life at Georgetown University by clicking the ‘Donate now’ link below.
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