JEWISH LIFE AT GW
Jewish Life at GW
Jewish High Holidays at GW
GW is home to a large and vibrant Jewish community. The community is supported by several organizations including GW Hillel, Chabad GW, and a host of student organizations, all working to provide students with opportunities to lead meaningful Jewish lives and further explore Judaism. GW's Judaic Studies Program has offered robust curricula and research reflecting the complexities of the Jewish experience for more than four decades, and Judaism, Israel, and the Jewish people are topics in courses across the university. A diverse range of religious, cultural, academic and social programming ensures that Jewish students from all backgrounds can find their place within this thriving community.
This webpage outlines opportunities and resources supporting an authentic and meaningful connection within GW’s Jewish community.
Jewish Life on Campus
Housing
Jewish students living in GW’s residence halls can feel at home here with a variety of resources and housing options to live authentically within GW’s diverse and inclusive community.
Chabad GW offers mezuzahs for residence hall rooms upon request.
Dining
GW Dining’s Kosher program is under the supervision of OU Kosher and has a fulltime Mashgiach and Kosher chef on staff. In partnership with GW Hillel and the Center for Interfaith and Spiritual Life, GW Dining has expanded offerings for High Holidays and Passover, including Kosher-style and Kosher-for-Passover meals at various dining facilities.
Faith, Culture, and Beyond
GW students of Jewish faith and culture can find many resources for support, cultural and religious celebrations, learning opportunities, and genuine connections with other members of GW’s Jewish community through several national organizations affiliated with the university including GW Hillel.
Student Organizations
Of GW’s more than 600 student organizations, there are a wide variety of orgs centered on Jewish life, culture, faith, and values. Students looking to connect with Jewish peers, explore their interests, and build community have many choices to find their place here.
Greek Life
Joining a historically Jewish fraternity or sorority at GW allows students build lifelong relationships, develop leadership skills, participate in service projects, and connect with peers through shared values.
Jewish Life in D.C.
Go beyond GW’s campuses to explore the vibrant Jewish community in Washington, D.C. From cultural hubs and places to worship to an ever-growing list of exciting restaurants and cafes, students can live meaningfully Jewish lives in the nation’s capital.
Places to Eat
Places to Worship
- Temple Micah (Reform)
- Washington Hebrew (Reform)
- Adas Israel (Conservative)
- Kesher Israel (Orthodox)
Related Academic Offerings
- Columbian College of Arts & Sciences (CCAS)
- BA in Religion (includes Judaism)
- Minor in Religion (includes Judaism)
- BA, Minor in Peace Studies (includes Jewish topics)
- Several history faculty focused on Jewish topics
- Arie M. Dubnov - the Max Ticktin Chair of Israel Studies
- Daniel B. Schwartz specializes in modern European and American Jewish intellectual, cultural, and urban history
- Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit - Charles E. Smith Professor of Judaic Studies, Professor of History, Professor of Experiential Education and Jewish Cultural Arts (also associated with GSEHD)
- Judaic Studies Program
- BA in Judaic Studies
- Minor in Judaic Studies
- Bob Eisen, Professor of Religion and Judaic Studies
- Courses/Courses
- JSTD 2002.81: Antisemitism Origins-Present
- JSTD 6001.D80: Holocaust Education and Contemporary Antisemitism
- GW is home to the distinguished Kiev Collection, a comprehensive selection of more than 28,000 rare books and artifacts from Judaica
- The Judaic Studies Program maintains the Jewish Heritage Video Collection, which supports teaching about Jewish life, history and culture
- The Judaic Studies Program collaborates with the Mayberg Center, an educational laboratory that advances community-based scholarship in the field.
- GW Libraries provides a guide to general research materials and reference resources in Judaic Studies as well as materials and resources in Holocaust Studies.
- The Greater Washington Jewish History Colloquium (JHC), hosted by GW’s Judaic Studies Program, is a hub for faculty, postdoctoral students, independent researchers and graduate students working in the field of modern Jewish history (broadly defined) in the greater Washington, D.C., area.
- Dept. of Classical & Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
- Dr. Orian Zakai: Assistant Professor of Hebrew/Israeli Literature and Culture, Hebrew Program Coordinator
- Minor in Hebrew
- Minor in Arabic and Hebrew Languages and Cultures
- Hebrew Cafe: Once a month on Thursday evenings, the Hebrew Café brings together Hebrew speakers and learners to converse in the language.
- Graduate School of Education & Human Development
- Master's in Experiential Jewish Education
- Graduate certificate in Israel Education
- Dr. Benjamin Jacobs directs the graduate programs in Israel Education and Experiential Jewish Education and serves as Special Assistant to the Dean for Jewish Studies Programs
- Antisemitism and Jewish Inclusion summer program (currently for external attendees)
- Elliott School of International Affairs
- IAFF 3188 Identity, Politics, and Society in Israel
- Walter Reich & Holocaust Memory class
- Additional Academic Offerings
- Undergraduate exchange program with Reichman U.
- GW Study in Israel scholarship
- Program on Extremism
- Religious Observance Calendar & Policies
Explore Events
Events in the D.C. Area
Safety and Reporting Resources
- Reporting Mechanisms
- GW’s Office of Access and Opportunity: OAO provides central complaint intake, review, and referral for informal and investigative processes to address reports of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation. In collaboration with other university units, OAO aims to uphold and maintain a GW environment free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics, taking action to stop the conduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects.
- GW’s Conflict Education & Student Accountability (CESA) Incident Reporting System
- Equal Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment and Non-Retaliation Policy: Provides reporting options for faculty, staff, and students
- Personal Safety
GW works closely with District and federal partners to regularly assess our security and enhance safety measures on our campuses. For students, the Administrator On Call program remains available 24/7 to respond to, and offer guidance for, emergencies. The university also offers GW Safe Ride, which provides a free and safe ride to or from Foggy Bottom campus residence halls and academic buildings during late-night hours for students, faculty, and staff who prefer not to walk alone.
Access control measures are regularly assessed and changed as needed to protect the GW community. Additional information by building is available on the GWorld website.
