The Hillel at one of the country’s oldest technological universities will be getting a reboot as the new semester begins at Stevens Institute of Technology.
The Hoboken university’s chapter is now part of Hillel of Northern New Jersey (HNNJ) under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, joining Bergen County Community College in Paramus, Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, William Paterson University in Wayne and Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Teaneck campus.
“About 100 students were touched last year but now the number will continue to grow,“ said HNNJ Executive Director Rachel Waldorf. “We have everything from holiday celebrations to Shabbat meals to art projects, and we’re working on some interfaith programming for the winter.”
With the COVID pandemic restrictions for the most part history, Hillel was among the student clubs and organizations that participated August 31 in Stevens’ annual “flock party,” so named because the school’s mascot is the Ducks.
“We’re really excited and looking forward to giving this group a little more attention in the coming year,” said Waldorf, adding the university administration has been “incredibly open” to students and Federation “and has been a great partner” in helping Hillel to grow on campus.
She expects that with additional Federation support the chapter, launched at Stevens in 2019, will be able to broaden its programming at the school. It is now officially affiliated with Hillel International, and according to the organization’s website, the school has 3,659 undergraduate students, of whom 200 are Jewish, and 3,624 graduate students, 25 of whom are Jewish.
Sabrina Benayoun, who became Hillel board president during the last school year after previously serving as its event coordinator, said she knew coming into college she wanted to be part of an organized Jewish community. “I knew if there was going to be a club I was going to become involved,” said the senior environmental engineering major from Jericho, Long Island.
Hillel hosted regular Shabbat dinners at Stevens last year that drew about 40 students, which Benayoun expects will grow in numbers, and looks forward to having regular holiday programming as well as events and programs on Jewish subjects. A decision was previously made to allow non-Jewish students interested in learning more about the Jewish religion and its practices and beliefs to join, and Benayoun said she hopes there will be more interfaith events and discussions in the coming year. “We want it more student-driven,” she added. “We are going to listen to people and see what they want.”
Rabbi Robert Scheinberg of the United Synagogue of Hoboken said he had been advocating for years for a professional presence to support Stevens’ Hillel and to lead programs. “We have been welcoming students to our services and programs and allowing them to attend our High Holiday services for free,” he said. “I am so excited for them. I really think Hillel will benefit so much from a professional presence.”
Rabbi Scheinberg also put in a good word for Benayoun, who he said taught Hebrew school at his synagogue last year: “She is just wonderful.”
Federation CEO Jason Shames cited the importance of broadening outreach to Stevens: “I think what this is saying is that Jewish life exists at nontraditional campuses and there is a need for Jewish organizations to provide them with services so that everyone can feel connected. Quite frankly, there hasn’t been a motivation to do it at Stevens because until about seven or eight years ago there wasn’t a lot of Jewish community. Now Federation and Hillel are expanding the ability to engage in Jewish life.”
By Debra Rubin
