Brandeis Hillel

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Brandeis Hillel Hillel provides a rich and vibrant Jewish life on campus. Hillel cultivates multiple venues for participation and involvement.

At Brandeis Hillel, students forge new friendships, meet dedicated mentors, celebrate the Jewish calendar, engage in service to others, and are inspired by Jewish texts and traditions. Students develop a sense of commitment and responsibility to others through experiences that foster leadership, social action, and artistic and cultural expression. Brandeis Universityโ€™s reputation for the involvement and activism of its students, its strong, student-led campus life, and its excellence as a center for teaching and research make this campus, which includes 2,000 Jewish students, one of the most dynamic and influential Jewish campus communities in the world. Hillel is the nerve center of that Jewish community, and its mission is to promote individual student growth as well as enrich the life of the campus as a whole. Hillelโ€™s vast array of programs take place every day in various locations across the Brandeis campus. Hillelโ€™s student lounge, located in the Usdan Student Center, is the focal point of Hillelโ€™s activities on campus and serves as the central location for Hillelโ€™s formal student meetings and informal gatherings. Hillelโ€™s religious services take place in Brandeisโ€™ Mendel and Leah Berlin Chapel and in other locations on campus. The Beit Midrash (space devoted to Jewish study) is located on the lower level of the Shapiro Residence Hall. Hillelโ€™s professional and administrative offices are located in Usdan near the student lounge.

This week, we came together to commemorate the third anniversary of October 7th ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐ŸŽ—๏ธ. We honored our collective grief an...
10/09/2026

This week, we came together to commemorate the third anniversary of October 7th ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐ŸŽ—๏ธ. We honored our collective grief and also united as a community to maintain a sense of normalcy. It was a bittersweet week, as we grieved and supported each other.ย 

On October 7th, Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis created a meaningful memorial to honor the women of the war. We also came together for a memorial service โœก๏ธThe next day, Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud shared their story, imparting messages of survival, faith, and resilience.ย 

While this week was very difficult, we also enjoyed some moments of joy amidst the sadness.ย 

We canโ€™t wait to welcome prospective students to campus this Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom Hillel ๐Ÿฉตโœก๏ธ

Today marks the three-year anniversary of the October 7th terror attacks. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of 1...
10/07/2026

Today marks the three-year anniversary of the October 7th terror attacks. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of 1,200 innocent peopleโ€”men, women, children, and babiesโ€”who were brutally murdered by Hamas. We are grateful that all of the hostages are finally free this year, and keep those who are gone in our minds and hearts.

Now more than ever, it is essential that we stay strong and support each other. With that in mind, Hillel is offering the following opportunities for community, reflection, and prayer:

From 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, please join Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis for a tribute to the women who were murdered on and after October 7th.

At 5:15 pm, there will be a memorial service dedicated to the memory of the victims and survivors of 10/7.

On October 8th, join us at 11:30 to hear the testimony of Nova survivors Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud.

More information on timing and locations for events can be found on Hello Hillel, after registration.

With love,
Team Hillel๐ŸŽ—๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑโค๏ธโ€๐Ÿฉน

This week we celebrated Sukkot together ๐Ÿ‹๐ŸŒพ! Despite all the rain, we still found ways to enjoy the holiday. We spent the...
10/02/2026

This week we celebrated Sukkot together ๐Ÿ‹๐ŸŒพ! Despite all the rain, we still found ways to enjoy the holiday. We spent the holiday having communal meals ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ, praying together ๐Ÿ“–, and singing festive songs with Shira Chadasha at Brandeis , Masorti at Brandeis University , and Brandeis Orthodox Organization ๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽผ!

held a lovely sukkah-dallah event!ย 

On Sunday night, Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis and First Year Students of Brandeis Hillel collabed for a fun Little Mermaid movie night ๐Ÿงœโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿฟ๐ŸŽฌ!

On Tuesday, OU-JLIC at Brandeis hosted a Simchas Beis Hashoeva with singing ๐ŸŽถ, crafts ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽจ, and snacks ๐Ÿฅจ๐Ÿฐ!

On Wednesday, OU-JLIC at Brandeis hosted Pizza in the Hut with Yachad ๐Ÿ•.

On Thursday night QJAB hosted a movie night ๐ŸŽฅ๐Ÿฟ where they watched โ€œAron Hakodesh.โ€

Join us for Shemini Atzeret/ Shabbat dinner tonight! We canโ€™t wait to spend another holiday together. Shabbat Shalom Hillel ๐Ÿฉต๐Ÿซ‚

We had a meaningful and reflective Yom Kippur together. We also spent the week building Sukkot for the upcoming holiday ...
09/25/2026

We had a meaningful and reflective Yom Kippur together. We also spent the week building Sukkot for the upcoming holiday ๐Ÿ‹๐ŸŒพ

On Wednesday, OU-JLIC at Brandeis hosted origami in the sukkah.

On Thursday, Hillel Organization of Gaming and First Year Students of Brandeis Hillel collaborated on a first year meet and game event ๐ŸŽฎ๐Ÿงฉ๐Ÿ€„๏ธ!

We canโ€™t wait to celebrate Sukkot together! Donโ€™t forget to join Shira Chadasha at Brandeis for slow Shira and board games in the sukkah tomorrow at 3:00, and Brandeis Orthodox Organization and Masorti at Brandeis University for slow Shira later that night. Also join Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis and First Year Students of Brandeis Hillel on Sunday night for a movie night in the sukkah ๐ŸŸ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿฟ๐ŸŽฌ

Shabbat shalom Hillel! ๐Ÿฉตโœก๏ธ

Our sukkah is up! A special thank you to the students who spent last Friday morning building it:Aron A., Georgia B., Tov...
09/24/2026

Our sukkah is up! A special thank you to the students who spent last Friday morning building it:

Aron A., Georgia B., Tovah B., Judith B., Allison F., Adam G., Yehudah G., Aiden J., Avery J., Lee-El M., Samson M., Justin R., Meirav S., Coco T., Frankie W., Nathaniel W., and Bryan W.

And thank you to the men's basketball team, who once again put the schach on the roof. It's become one of our favorite traditions.

Shabbat shalom and chag sameach.

With sadness, I share the news that Rabbi Al Axelrad died on Shabbat, the evening of September 18, at the age of 87.Rabb...
09/20/2026

With sadness, I share the news that Rabbi Al Axelrad died on Shabbat, the evening of September 18, at the age of 87.

Rabbi Al served as executive director of Hillel at Brandeis and as the university's Jewish chaplain from 1965 to 1999. He continued to lead High Holiday services on campus for many years after that, drawing a community well beyond the university. He was also a chaplain and adjunct professor at Emerson College in Boston.

His tenure at Brandeis was marked by his work to build an engaged Jewish community on campus and by his activism around the war in Vietnam, civil rights, and the movement to free Soviet Jewry.

The funeral will be private. Notes of condolence can be sent to [email protected] and we will share them with the family.

Rabbi Al was married for 63 years to Berta, of blessed memory.

May the Omnipresent comfort their four children, Marcy, Robin, David, and Tamar, their partners and grandchildren, and the extended Axelrad family.

ื”ืžืงื•ื ื™ื ื—ื ืืชื›ื ื‘ืชื•ืš ืฉืืจ ืื‘ืœื™ ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื

Gmar hatimah tovah,

Seth Winberg

A special thank you to the students who organized, set up, and led all three Rosh Hashanah minyanim and will do so again...
09/20/2026

A special thank you to the students who organized, set up, and led all three Rosh Hashanah minyanim and will do so again this Yom Kippur, guiding our community in tefillah this season:

Golan A.S., Avital A., Aron A., Ezra B., Lior B., Lauren B., Yochanan C., Lucas D., Jesse D., Eitan G.S., Miriam G., Akiva G., Miriam H., Isaac H., Alon H., Sage I., Aiden J., Danielle J., Rachel L., Mateo L., Julie L., Abby L., Adam M., Samantha P., Justin R., Meirav S., Samuel S., Julia S., Alex S., Noam S., Abi S., Chava T., Nathaniel W., Alon W., and Aviv W.

Thank you to our rabbinic interns, Morgan F**a, Aviva Nahar Welber, and Josh Swatez.

Thank you as well to our campus partners: Brandeis Public Safety, University Events, Harvest Table, and Facilities.

G'mar hatimah tovah.

Check out some of the upcoming Israel programs this semester! Swipe through to learn more about a few of these events.
09/18/2026

Check out some of the upcoming Israel programs this semester! Swipe through to learn more about a few of these events.

We had a wonderful time celebrating Rosh Hashanah together, as a community, this week ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿฏ! We enjoyed some lovely service...
09/18/2026

We had a wonderful time celebrating Rosh Hashanah together, as a community, this week ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿฏ! We enjoyed some lovely services ๐Ÿ“–and festive meals ๐Ÿฝ๏ธtogether over the holiday.ย 

spent the day before Rosh Hashanah delivering breakfast to officers in commemoration of 9/11.

On Monday, hosted a break-fast social ๐Ÿฅฏ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ๐Ÿ’—๐ŸŒธ๐Ÿ’œ!

On Tuesday, hosted another installment of Tuesday Night Torah.

On Wednesday, &j kicked off the semester with a โ€œPortuรฑol Hangout,โ€ where students had a chance to try dishes from Latin American cultures, including Argentinian Alfajores ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท, Brazilian Tapiocas ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท, and Mexican Tortilla Chips with Salsa Picante y Guacamole ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝThey were also able to choose whether to speak English, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Spanish, allowing students to connect with people from shared cultural backgrounds ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡น

On Thursday, masorti held the annual Masibling Reveal, where students got to find out their lineages ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿง’โ€๐Ÿง’ and do some crafting ๐ŸŽจโœ‚๏ธ๐Ÿ–Œ๏ธ

This Shabbat, weโ€™re unwinding with โ€œShabbat Your Way,โ€ where students are able to host their own meals with support from Hillel! Information for Yom Kippur services and Breakfast has been sent out to those who signed up. We canโ€™t wait to see you all there!

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