Five things to consider if you’re Jewish and facing the college search

Choosing a college is hard. There is so much to consider. And when you’re looking for an environment that meets your Jewish needs, whatever they may be, it can be even more complicated. 

Here are five specific aspects of Jewish life that you should consider in order to make the best choice possible

1. Organized Jewish community on campus

It may be important to you to have an active Jewish community on campus that offers a space to celebrate Shabbat and holidays. Many campuses have such a community, and some campuses don’t. 

Most often, if there is Jewish organization on campus, it will be a branch of Hillel International or Chabad. While Hillel is a pluralistic organization that embraces Jews of different denominations, Chabad welcomes Jews from all denominations but is a Hasidic organization. In your research, make sure to find out if either or both of these organizations are active on campus, and look into the programming and resources they offer.

Depending on the size of the campus Jewish community and the resources it has at its disposal, Hillel may have its own dedicated space on campus. Sometimes it even has its own building where students come to participate in Jewish programming and to hang out. Tufts Hillel is a great example of this. They have their own building, pictured below, and a robust staff, which included a chef at one point. As you research different campuses, you will find variation in this regard.

2. Relationships to Israel within the Jewish community

When it comes to organized Jewish life on campus, be aware that Hillel has a clear stance on Israel. “Hillel is steadfastly committed to the support of Israel,” and it “views Israel as a core element of Jewish life.” This may resonate with you, and it may not. Even if it does not resonate, you may still find a home at Hillel for participating in rituals and traditions. You may just have to sit out the Israel-related programming.

At some campuses, students have created Jewish communities that better align with their political values. These are grassroots communities created and led by students. JGAF at Clark University and Alt-J at Tufts University are two examples. They are part of a broader network of like-minded organizations. If this sort of community seems like a good fit for you, it is something to look for when you research schools.

3. Size of the Jewish community on campus

There are some campuses where at least a quarter of the undergraduate population is Jewish, such as Tulane and Brandeis. These are campuses where you will run into Jews almost everywhere you go. 

On the other hand, there are universities where you’re unlikely to run into Jewish students in your courses and extracurriculars, and you will have to seek out Jewish programming to connect with Jewish peers. 

You may want a campus where the Jewish community is small because participation in Jewish life may feel more meaningful that way, or you may want a campus where you can connect with Jewish peers without ever having to step into Hillel. It may not make a difference to you either way, but it’s something to think about.

4. Perspectives on Israel and Palestine across the student body

College campuses have long been hotbeds of political activism, and this has certainly remained the case when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are vibrant and vocal anti-Israel contingents on many campuses, and their rhetoric and behavior may veer into antisemitism. 

There has been a lot of conversation about campus antisemitism in the media, which reports on trends and can therefore oversimplify Jewish students’ responses to intensifying campus climates. We’ve heard a lot about how Jewish students feel unsafe on their campuses and how prospective students are reconsidering schools that previously appealed to them. 

This is true, and it is also true that different Jewish students respond in different ways. Some Jewish students might want to transfer after witnessing the behavior of their anti-Israel classmates, but other Jewish students might be involved in anti-Israel activism themselves. This is an extremely complicated issue with a wide number of ways to respond. 

When looking at colleges, it is important to be aware of your relationship with Israel and with Israel/Palestine as a political issue. What is your perspective? Are you looking for a community who shares your feelings about these issues? To what extent can you tolerate people who disagree with you? Can you stand to be around rhetoric that might make you uncomfortable? Having this self-awareness will help you find a campus environment that’s a good fit for you.

5. Antisemitism

In terms of antisemitism, I cannot tell you that X campus is safe and Y campus is not. There is no objective way to measure your level of comfort on any particular campus. There are no right or wrong choices. The most important thing is that you make an informed decision. 

Some helpful resources: the Forward’s reporting on campus antisemitism, the Hillel College Guide, and each campus’s student newspaper. Student newspapers are an excellent way to learn about events on campus and elements of campus climate that professional news outlets do not report. 

Even better than reading the student newspaper is visiting the campus and seeing how it feels. I especially recommend connecting with Jewish students and speaking with them about their experiences. While it is difficult to find a campus community that is completely free of antisemitism, it is easier to find a unified and resilient Jewish community.