Jewish Life at Vassar

Jewish Life at Vassar is made up of students from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you come from a background of day school, youth group, Jewish camping, or have never engaged in Jewish community until coming to Vassar or fall somewhere in between, there is a place for you here!

So much of our programming is planned and implemented by our students. From Shabbat services and dinners to Vassar Jewish Union’s Thursday Night Dinners, Chabad Jewish Community’s Taste of Judaism, Jews of Color Caucus’s hangouts, or Nazun’s Challah baking you have ample opportunity to engage in Jewish holidays and rituals, learn something new, or simply hang out with friends old and new.

No matter where you are on your Jewish journey, whether it is your first time engaging with Jewish Life or you’ve been coming regularly during your time at Vassar feel free to drop by any of our events, reach out to any of our student leaders, or find a time to chat with Rabbi Bryan to learn more.

Hanukkah on Campus!

We are so excited to celebrate Hanukkah on campus. Each night of Chanukah December 7th - 14th from 5:30 - 8:30 PM, you can go to the second floor of Gordon Commons to light your candles. Menorot and candles provided by Jewish Life. Below is a full schedule of all Hanuka events

Thursday December 7th
5:00 - 6:00 PM Public Menorah Lighting outside of Gordon Commons.
Join us as we light our 9 foot menorah, enjoy donuts and hot chocolate, and Hanuka music.
5:30 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting second floor of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 2 candles, the shamash helper candle and one candle for the first night.
If you are lighting sccording to Beit Shammai, light 9 candles. the shamash helper candle and eight candles for the first night
8:00 PM Vassar Jewish Union (VJU) Hanukkah Party at the Bayit*
Join VJU for a fun night of Hannukkah games, music, food (including latkes and gelt of course), movies

Friday December 8th
3:00 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting on the second floor of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 3 candles: the shamash helper candle and two candles for the second night.
If you are lighting according to Beit Shammai, light 8 candles: the shamash helper candle and seven candles for the second night
***Shabbat candle lighting time is at 4:00 PM, if you would like to light Hanukkah candles before Shabbat, stop by from 3:00 - 4:00 PM***
6:00 PM VJU's Shabbat Hanukkah at the Bayit
Join VJU for our student led, participatory, Shabbat service. This will be our last Shabbat service before Winter Break.
7:00 PM VJU's Shabbat Hanukkah Dinner at the Bayit
Join VJU for our weekly Shabbat dinner with Hanukkah treats. This will be our last Shabbat dinner before Winter Break!
7:00 PM Chabad Jewish Community's (CJC) Shabbat Chanukah Dinner at Chabad House**
Join CJC for our Chanuka themed Shabbat dinner. This will be our last Shabbat dinner before winter break.

Saturday December 9th
5:30 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting on the second flood of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 4 candles: the shamash helper candle and three candles for the third night.
If you are lighting according to Beit Shammai, light 7 candles: the shamash helper candle and six candles for the third night
8:00 PM CJC's Hanukah Party in the Villard Room
Join CJC for our Chanukah party filled with Chanuka food, games, and fun!

Sunday December 10th
5:30 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting on the second flood of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 5 candles: the shamash helper candle and four candles for the fourth night.
If you are lighting according to Beit Shammai, light 6 candles: the shamash helper candle and five candles for the fourth night
5:30 PM CJC's Schnitzel and Latke Bar at Chabad House

Monday December 11th
5:30 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting on the second flood of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 6 candles: the shamash helper candle and five candles for the fifth night.
If you are lighting according to Beit Shammai, light 5 candles: the shamash helper candle and four candles for the fifth night
5:30 PM CJC's Dairy Pasta Bar and Lighting at Chabad House

Tuesday December 12th
5:30 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting on the second flood of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 7 candles: the shamash helper candle and six candles for the sixth night.
If you are lighting according to Beit Shammai, light 4 candles: the shamash helper candle and three candles for the sixth night

Wednesday December 13th
5:30 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting on the second flood of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 8 candles: the shamash helper candle and seven candles for the seventh night.
If you are lighting according to Beit Shammai, light 3 candles: the shamash helper candle and two candles for the seventh night

Thursday December 14th
5:30 - 8:30 PM Drop in personal candle lighting on the second flood of Gordon Commons
If you are lighting according to Beit Hillel light 9 candles: the shamash helper candle and eight candles for the eighth and final night.
If you are lighting according to Beit Shammai, light 2 candles: the shamash helper candle and one candles for the eight and final night
* The Bayit is located at 51 Collegeview Aveneu
** Chabad on Fulton is at 94 Fulton Ave