Are you a Hillel?
We are a Hillel-affiliated campus organization, through Hillel’s Soref initiative. At Williams, we don’t use the Hillel “brand name.” We stick with Williams College Jewish Association, WCJA [wick-djuh]
How many Jewish students are there at Williams?
Who knows? Approximately 225, that’s just over 10% of the 2000 undergraduates.
What is the JRC?
The Jewish Religious Center is a place for the Jewish community at Williams College to come together for religious observances and social events. It is located on Stetson Court (across the street from the Admissions office). Although we welcome members of the greater community to our services and events, the Jewish Religious Center is a space designed to serve the needs of Jewish students at Williams College.
What is Shabbat like at Williams?
Every Friday, students gather to cook Shabbat dinner. There are student-led services each week. We welcome the Williams community to our home-cooked Shabbat dinner where we typically serve 60-80 people each week.
Is there kosher food on campus?
Yes. The JRC kitchen is a kosher kitchen and is under the supervision of the Jewish Chaplain. Meals are prepared there to stock the “Kosher/Hallal Corner” in the Greylock and Mission dining halls. Also, weekly Shabbat dinners are prepared in the kitchen by students trained in kashrut. The kitchen is also available for more regular use to those who would like to do so.
What happens on Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Passover?
We have student-led services for two days of Rosh Hashana as well as Yom Kippur. Each year, we are invited to President Schapiro’s home for break-the-fast. On Passover, we host seders on each of the first two nights. Our kitchen at the JRC is kashered for Passover and many students cook all their meals there over the course of the holiday. Also, “Passover friendly food” is available in all the dining halls for that week.
Megamenu Social