Hillel raising money to build a Center for Jewish Life
By Jessica Shaw
The current home of W&L's Human Resources office will be the site of Hillel's
Center for Jewish Life.
Photo by Jessica Shaw
Hillel, a student-run organization at Washington and Lee University, has raised almost one fourth of the funding needed to build a Center for Jewish Life.
It is now seeking a gift of about $2 million as a naming opportunity, according to Hillel Director Joan Robins. She hopes to raise a total of $4 million by the end of 2007.
“We are seeing people who may be leaders in giving major gifts in this campaign,” she said.
Robins is eager to begin construction, because she believes a new facility will boost the university’s recruitment of Jewish students. Jewish enrollment was at a 10-year low of 1 percent in 2001. It has grown to 3.3 percent for the 2007-08 academic year.
The new center will occupy the site of Howard House, next door to R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church on Washington Street. There is currently a debate around whether the university should renovate the building or tear it down to start anew, said Robins.
Hillel meets at several locations on campus now, including the Alumni House and room 345 in the Elrod University Commons. Robins emphasized the importance of the new center’s location. It needs to be visible and accessible to students. It also needs to establish a presence for Hillel on campus.
Because Rockbridge County lacks a synagogue, the new building would be a place for Jewish worship services for the county, but it would meet other needs as well.
“It would allow us to have a place to go,” said Hillel Co-President Arie George, a senior at W&L. He said there are plans to include a kosher-style deli that would offer an alternative to campus dining.
Robins said the building would contain a large multi-purpose room where students could congregate and cultural events open to the community could be held. Hillel sponsors several events throughout the year, including Holocaust Remembrance Week.
“[The] goal of Hillel, besides providing activities for Jewish students, [is] to build Jewish community,” Robins said.
George said he believes the Jewish presence has increased since he was a freshman. The new center would give Jewish students a central place to hang out, he said.
For Robins, it would also offer a “visible presence of commitment. We do, I think, have a very active, vibrant Hillel here. We may have a small community, but [Hillel] is very supported.”
For more information, contact Joan Robins, 540-458-8443.
Washington and Lee's Hillel
Hillel-The Foundation for Jewish Campus life
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