STUDENT LIFE

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Shabbat at BU

Shabbat at BU Hillel is an amazing experience! Every Friday night, 200 or more students from BU and surrounding universities (including MIT, Emerson, Northeastern, Berklee and Simmons) gather to celebrate Shabbat together! There are Conservative, Reform and Orthodox services, a Friday night festive dinner (registration required), special programs and speakers and lots of beautiful, awesome and friendly people.

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Shabbat Meals

We have a gorgeous Hillel dining facility overlooking the Charles River that is packed with people on Shabbat and features a gourmet dining experience, including wait-staff and real china, glasses and silverware.

For Shabbat, holiday and Passover meals, resevations are required. You can register up to a month in advance for Shabbat and holiday meals or in person at the Florence & Chafetz Hillel House. Students and guest may pay for meals via cash, checks, points, a meal plan or credit card. Shabbat dinner is always at 7:30pm during daylight savings and at 7:00pm during the winter. Check ahead on the website to confirm. All meals are strictly Kosher and under the supervision of Rabbi Joseph Polak.

Shabbat Services

Orthodox, Conservative and Reform services are held simultaneously on Friday nights. All services are held on the fourth floor and meet at 6:00pm during daylight savings and 5:30pm during the winter. The community joins together after services for the singing of Kiddush in the 4th floor foyer.

There are also Orthodox services every Shabbat morning at 9:30 am and Conservative services most Shabbat mornings at 10:00am.

Reform Minyan

For more information, contact Rachel Elkin and Benji Michaels.

The KESHER/Reform Minyan at Boston University Hillel is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and its on-campus program, KESHER. The Minyan holds weekly Shabbat evening services and monthly Shabbat morning services.

Our dynamic services provide a sense of community and celebration through music and minyan participation. Prayers and songs during services are largely in Hebrew (transliterations are provided) and/or responsive readings that can be found in our siddur, the Gates of Prayer. Additionally, we host several social action, educational, and social events that are open to the entire BU community. Overall, the aim of the Reform Minyan is to be an accepting community that is open to all.

Conservative Minyan

For more information, contact Rachel Udwin and Josh Mellits.

The Conservative Minyan at Boston University Hillel is affiliated with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and its college outreach program, Koach. The minyan holds weekly Shabbat evening and morning services as well as holiday services.

The atmosphere at the Conservative minyan is one of joyous song and meaningful prayer where all members of the group are encouraged to take a leading role. This traditional service is primarily conducted in Hebrew from our siddur, Sim Shalom. The conservative minyan offers students an opportunity to learn several of the important skills required for leading a service including Torah and Haftorah chanting as well as honors such as aliyot and hazzan.

The conservative minyan and Koach hold several educational and social events throughout the year including a large Shabbaton in February.

Orthodox Minyan

For more information, contact Deirdre Willner and Seth Polaner.

The Orthodox Minyan at Boston University is affiliated with the Orthodox Union and takes pride in a service which has been passed for many generations. The minyan holds all weekly Shabbat services, holiday services, as well as a daily morning minyan.

With a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere, the minyan invites all Jews to join in and explore their connection to Judaism and to God. These predominantly Hebrew services are student-led from the Artscroll Siddur. Many of the prayers are sung to traditional, Carlebach and other popular Jewish tunes and all students are encouraged to participate sing along.

If you are interested in being involved in religious life at Hillel, please contact Rabbi Polak.

Special Shabbat programs:

Gala Shabbat

Once or twice a year, we host a special gala Shabbat that draws as many as 500 students for a special Friday night featuring a lavish Shabbat night meal as well as entertainment and special programming, such a comedians, a capella groups, improv groups and more.

Check our website calendar or sign up for our weekly e-bulletin, Hillel Happenings, for scheduled dates. Stay tuned for more details!

Friday Night Lights

At least once a month, Hillel hosts a scholar-in-residence or special speaker on various topics. Previous topics have included Judaism and the environment, Kosher food and ethical treatment of animals, combating evil in the world, and the role of Israel for the American Jew.

Tisches

After Friday night dinner, Hillel students occasionally plan and host these social get-togethers, which include lights snacks, socializing and sometimes singing and student-given Dvar Torahs.

Shabbat Frequently Asked Questions

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