Yavneh House of Princeton

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Jewish community like?
  2. How many Jews/orthodox/observant Jews are there? How many keep kosher?
  3. Is there a minyan?
  4. Is there a local Jewish community besides the college?
  5. Is there a Hillel at Princeton?
  6. Is there kosher food?
  7. Can I get kosher food besides the dining hall?
  8. Is there a rabbi?
  9. Are there any learning opportunities/shiurim?
  10. Are there opportunities for community service?
  11. What is Shabbat like?
  12. What is the social environment like within the Princeton Jewish Community?

Princeton

  1. What are classes like
  2. Is it difficult miss class on chagim?
  3. Will Princeton grant deferrals/credit for Israel study?
  4. Is the University culturally diverse?
  5. What is housing like? Can I get single-sex housing?
  6. Is there anti-Semitism?
  7. How will I pay for Princeton?

Visiting

  1. Who do I contact if I want to visit Princeton?


The Community

  1. What's the Jewish community like?
    The Jewish community is a diverse community of students coming from all different backgrounds. The community spans across all sects of Judaism and all different levels of observance. All of the smaller communities within the greater Princeton Jewish community get along, creating a wonderful, warm, friendly environment conducive to open-mindedness and learning from each other.

  2. How many Jews are there on campus? How many are Orthodox/observant? How many keep kosher?
    The undergraduate student body is made up of 12% Jews. There are roughly 30 Orthodox undergraduates and 10 Orthodox graduate students and post-docs. The community also includes people who live in town. There are 30 observant Jewish students who eat at the Kosher Dining Hall daily.

  3. Is there a minyan?
    There is an Orthodox minyan three times a day, seven days a week. A Conservative minyan is held on Friday night, Shabbat Morning and other chaggim. Reform services take place Friday night and chaggim.

  4. Is there a local Jewish community besides the college?
    There is a Chabad located within walking distance of campus and a large Conservative community off campus as well.

  5. Is there a Hillel at Princeton?
    The Center for Jewish Life was built by the University as a dedication to its Jewish community. It houses the campus's Kosher Dining Hall (with OU certification), rooms for minyanim, a library, a beit midrash, a computer cluster, a classroom and recreational facilities, such as a TV room and pool room. The University provides half of the Administration and Hillel provides the other half.

  6. Is there kosher food?
    There are three meals a day served in the Center for Jewish Life. The dining hall is one of the University's network of dining halls and students don't need to be on a kosher meal plan or pay extra to eat there. The Kosher Dining Hall (under OU supervision) is also said to be one of the best on campus.

  7. Can I get kosher food besides the dining hall?
    There is kosher food available in all the local supermarkets. In fact, a local supermarket that carries kosher meat has just started making free deliveries on campus for all purchases over $25.

  8. Is there a rabbi?
    Yavneh has an Orthodox rabbi and his wife on campus through the Jewish Learning Initiative. For more information, see the JLI page. The Hillel Director is a Conservative rabbi, though her affiliation with the Orthodox community is mostly administrative.

  9. Are there any learning opportunities/shiurim?
    There are weekly shiurim given by the JLI couple, as well as many chavrutote studying regularly in the beit midrash. Check out Torah in Town for more details about various shiurim and programs.

  10. Are there opportunities for community service?
    The Center for Jewish Life also runs seasonal "packaging" initiatives (such as mishloach manot and Rosh Hashanah bags). In addition, the largest student organization on campus is the Student Volunteers Council, which coordinates volunteer opportunities for almost every imaginable need.

  11. What is Shabbat like?
    Every Friday night there Conservative, Orthodox and Reform services in the CJL. After minyan all students eat together in the dining hall and when the meal is over students sing zmirot (songs for Shabbat). Shabbat morning there are two minyanim, Orthodox and Conservative followed by Kiddush and lunch. Throughout Shabbat there are different opportunities to learn and relax. Many take advantage of the pool and foosball tables and board games.

  12. What is the social environment like within the Princeton Jewish Community?
    The community hosts many different events from Rosh Chodesh study breaks to Tu B'Shvat seders. Occasionally trips are organized to go ice-skating or to Dougie's. And of course when special occasions arise so do special events such as "Emergency Snowman Builds."


Princeton

  1. What are classes like?
    Classes tend to be small. No lecture has more than 400 students. Lectures with forty or more students have precepts (discussion groups) once a week to make sure that students really understand the material being covered. In addition professors are really accessible and enjoy hearing from students. The Faculty:Student ratio is 6:1.

  2. Is it difficult miss class on chagim?
    Teachers tend to be very understanding as long as you notify them in advance. In fact, some non-Jewish teachers even cancel class in anticipation of the High Holidays.

  3. Will Princeton grant deferrals/credit for Israel study?
    Princeton is pretty lenient with deferrals and will grant almost anyone a one-year deferral and in many cases will extend the deferral for a second year if requested. Princeton does not accept credit from yeshivot in Israel.

  4. Is the University culturally diverse?
    The University has people from all walks of life and believes in a diversified, open community. Freshman year roommates often come from entirely different places and observe different religions. Through your roommates and various other programming the University offers tons of valuable opportunities to meet and learn from people whom you might otherwise never know.

  5. What is housing like? Can I get single-sex housing?
    The majority of freshman students live in four-person or two-person suites. Each residential college has areas allocated as male only and female only and requests for such housing are granted.

  6. Is there anti-Semitism?
    There have been no major incidents of anti-Semitism on campus. The student body is created of very diverse individuals and there is no acceptance for intolerance of any kind.

  7. How will I pay for Princeton?
    Princeton provides financial aid on a need basis. After estimating your need Princeton will make sure to fill that need. In addition Princeton has just eliminated student loans to make sure students graduate debt free. The money that was formerly coming to students through loans will now be provided through grants. About 52% of students receive some form of financial aid. If you are interested in your financial aid eligibility check out the Early Estimator.


Visiting

  1. Who do I contact if I want to visit Princeton?
    Visiting Princeton is highly recommended. If you would like to stay at Princeton, during the week or over Shabbat, please contact Avital Hazony (ahazony@princeton.edu).



Questions? Comments? Let us know.

Center for Jewish Life
70 Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
yavneh@princeton.edu