This is a difficult question to answer since not all students self-identify as being Jewish, and we do not receive self-identification statistics from the University. Right now, we estimate the total Jewish population on campus is around 1,300 students, or about 16% of the undergraduate population.

Hillel has Shabbat services and dinner every week of the school year at the Schulman Center for Jewish Life. We also have a free kosher dinner that is widely attended each week. We do not require an RSVP for either!

We offer both Conservative and Reform services on campus for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as meals. For Passover, we host a number of student led Seders, and we provide kosher for Passover meals. Our Jewish Life Committee makes minor holidays, such as Purim, Sukkot, and Hanukkah feel major with both social programs and opportunities for traditional observance- enabling every student to connect during each holiday season.

Vanderbilt Hillel has a fantastic Israel advocacy program run through ‘Dores for Israel (DFI). DFI sponsors the highly popular Falafel at Midnight events throughout the year, in addition to activities geared towards raising political awareness. Each summer, we sponsor a Birthright and Onward trip with a full bus of Vanderbilt students!

Vanderbilt Hillel is wholly funded through the generosity of our parents, alumni, and the Nashville Jewish community and is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. In addition, we receive grants from organizations such as Hillel International, Maccabee Task Force, National Council of Jewish Women, and endowments housed at the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashvhille. We do not receive funding from Vanderbilt University.

The Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life houses Vanderbilt Hillel. The center is located at the corner of Vanderbilt Place and 25th Avenue South.

Absolutely! The Hillel staff and student leadership can provide tours of our building, the Schulman Center for Jewish Life, all-year long. Our open tour hours are 12 pm-2 pm Monday- Friday. Please feel free to stop by at any point during these hours. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Vandyhillel@gmail.com.

Yes, all of the campus convenience stores have a variety of Kosher options. Vanderbilt Hillel houses West End Bagels, a Kosher Dairy bagel shop, on the Vanderbilt Meal Plan. There is also a Kosher Meat dining hall, Zeppos. Vanderbilt Chabad provides meat options with their Kosher Food Truck, Holy Smokes, and there are several kosher vegetarian restaurants in Nashville as well.

Hillel doesn’t have members- all Vanderbilt students are welcome to attend our programs and activities. The Schulman Center is one of the main areas where students congregate on campus, whether they are eating at West End Bagel Co., studying, or just relaxing with friends. Hundreds of students regularly participate in Hillel activities, and about 150 hold at least one leadership position in one of over 25 Hillel student micro-communities.

Nashville is home to over 11,000 Jews and a thriving Jewish community with hundreds more joining the community every year.

In addition to Vanderbilt Hillel and Vanderbilt Chabad, there are 2 Reform congregations, 1 Conservative congregation, 1 Orthodox congregation, and 1 Chabad that serve the Jewish Community of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. In addition, there is a Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, and Jewish Day School among many other Jewish groups. Learn more at www.jewishnashville.org.