Prospective and Incoming Students
Welcome to Columbia/Barnard Hillel!
We’re so glad you’re exploring Jewish life at Columbia and Barnard, home to the richest, most diverse Jewish community of any Ivy — in the world’s largest Jewish city.
What Makes Columbia/Barnard Hillel Special?
What Makes Columbia/Barnard Hillel Special?Columbia/Barnard Hillel is a warm, welcoming home for Jewish students of all backgrounds and identities. We are proudly pluralistic—deeply committed to honoring each student’s unique Jewish journey. Whether you’re looking for meaningful conversations, cultural celebrations, learning opportunities, daily prayer services, or just a place to be yourself, you’ll find a community here that supports and celebrates you.
Students connect through:
- Cultural programs, holidays, and social events
- Jewish learning and fellowships
- Daily Orthodox prayer services and weekly Conservative and Reform Shabbat prayer services
- A diverse Jewish student community from around the world (including the largest Israeli student body in the United States)
- Domestic and International travel opportunities
Cultural programs, holidays, and social events
Daily Orthodox prayer services and weekly Conservative and Reform Shabbat prayer services
A diverse Jewish student community from around the world (including the largest Israeli student body in the United States)
Domestic and International travel opportunities Our goal is to help students build strong Jewish identities, meaningful relationships, and a sense of belonging—not just on campus, but for life beyond graduation.
Visit the Kraft Center
Visit the Kraft CenterThe best way to experience Jewish life on campus is to visit.
Schedule a tour of the Kraft Center or set up a virtual conversation with our team.
Contact Mimi (she/her): mimi@hillel.columbia.edu
Follow Us to See Jewish Life in Action
Follow Us to See Jewish Life in ActionCatch a glimpse of the energy, connection, and joy that fill our building and campus every day.
Follow us on Instagram @cbhillel
Join us for Seders next week ➡️➡️➡️ and swipe to see what else is happening at Hillel!
Alternative Spring Break 2026 🇧🇷🇬🇷🇵🇱 Students spent the week exploring, learning, and connecting across Brazil, Greece, and Poland!
On campus for Passover? Join CBHillel for seders!
🔗 Check out the links in our bio to sign up
Last week, we celebrated Purim with Megillah readings, festive meals, and hamantaschen baking. In the spirit of giving back, Yavneh hosted a Celebration of the Arts, featuring student performances and a Purim auction supporting Masbia Soup Kitchen.
We’re getting ready for MEGA Shabbat in the sweetest way possible — by making LOTS of challah 💛 Want to be part of the magic? Come help us bake on Thursday + make sure you’re signed up for the biggest Shabbat of the year 😊
Can’t believe the semester went by so quickly! Have the best winter break; we can’t wait to make more memories together in the spring
Thanks for celebrating with CBHillel! Drop how you spell the holiday that started last night in the comments below ⬇️
The Early Decision deadline is almost here! Check out what current Jewish Barnard and Columbia students have to say about life on campus, and check out their full interviews in our “why go here?” highlight. Good luck to all those applying!
Rosh Hashanah starts tonight - find us all around campus for meals, services, and more (link in bio). Ready to ~ring~ in the new year with wishes from the community? Just pick up the phone on the 2nd floor of Kraft. From all of us at CBHillel, Shanah Tovah U’Metukah — wishing you a sweet, full, and meaningful 5786 🍎🍯
Welcome to the Hillel Activities Fair! Come learn about all of our wonderful Hillel groups! #cbhillel #kraftcenter #columbiauniversity #barnardcollege #here4you
Welcome Weekend is finally here! Check the link in bio for more info, and stop by the Kraft Center today for bagel brunch and and Shabbat dinner!
It’s Hillel Global Giving Week! We asked a few students to share what Columbia/Barnard Hillel means to them.
Thanks to a generous match from Hillel International and our matching donors, every gift will be doubled this week, allowing your impact on Jewish life at Columbia and Barnard to go twice as far. Link in bio to donate!
Admitted/Incoming Students
Admitted/Incoming StudentsMazel Tov on your acceptance!
We’re thrilled to welcome you to the Columbia/Barnard Hillel community.
Before classes even start, you can start connecting with other students through:
Get your Free Columbia/Barnard Swag!
Get your Free Columbia/Barnard Swag!Fill out the form below and we’ll send you a free t-shirt to welcome you to the CBH Community.
Explore More
Explore MoreWe invite you to take a closer look at what Jewish life looks like here.
Check out our online guidebook for high school students and families
Click around our website or start with these popular pages:
Immersive Travel Opportunities
Jewish Learning – Judaism & You Fellowships
See what’s coming up at the Kraft Center. Check out our Calendar
Prospective Families
Prospective FamiliesChoosing a college is a big decision for the whole family. Visit our Prospective Parents page made just for you!
Prospective and Incoming Student FAQs
Prospective and Incoming Student FAQsYes — and it’s one of the most vibrant in the country. Columbia and Barnard are home to approximately 1,400 Jewish undergraduate students, along with a significant Jewish graduate student population across Columbia’s schools. Together, they form one of the largest and most active Jewish student communities in the Ivy League.
Students connect through weekly Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, Jewish learning fellowships, student-led groups, and travel experiences. The Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life serves as the community’s home base — open seven days a week and buzzing with activity throughout the year. And because Columbia is the only Ivy League school in New York City, the world’s largest Jewish city, students have access to a broader Jewish cultural and religious life that extends well beyond campus.
Yes. Jewish students at Columbia and Barnard are an active, visible, and proud presence on campus. You’ll find students wearing kippot and Magen David necklaces, leading Shabbat services, organizing Jewish cultural events, and building community openly every day of the week.
Like many universities, Columbia faced significant challenges related to antisemitism in recent years. Those challenges were real, and we have never minimized them. What they made clear is that a strong, well-resourced Hillel matters more than ever. Today, Columbia/Barnard Hillel works in close, ongoing partnership with the presidents of Columbia and Barnard, senior administrators, faculty leadership, and the board of trustees to ensure Jewish students feel safe, supported, and celebrated on campus. Our Here4You initiative means that every student has a trusted adult on staff they can turn to — for community, for advocacy, or just for support. If you have specific questions or want to speak with a current student about their experience, we’d love to connect you. Reach out at welcome@hillel.columbia.edu.
Not at all. Students who engage with Columbia/Barnard Hillel run the full spectrum — from deeply observant to culturally Jewish to still figuring it out. You don’t need to keep Shabbat, know the prayers, or have any particular level of observance to feel at home here. Our community is proudly pluralistic — meaning students of every background, denomination, and Jewish identity are genuinely welcome. Whether you’re looking for Friday night Shabbat dinner, a Jewish a cappella group, a social justice initiative, or just a warm space to be yourself, there’s a place for you.
Check out our wide range of student groups here.
Columbia/Barnard Hillel offers a full range of religious prayer services to support students of every denomination and level of observance. On Friday nights, students can attend Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform Shabbat evening services. Saturday mornings include both Orthodox and Conservative services, and Orthodox daily minyanim are held throughout the week. Columbia/Barnard Hillel is also the only Hillel in the country with two full-time OU-JLIC educators supporting Orthodox student life. High Holiday services are offered free of charge each year, with multiple denominational options.
Yes. Barnard’s Hewitt Dining Hall offers hot kosher meals three times a day, available to all students with a Barnard or Columbia meal plan. Columbia’s dining program offers grab-and-go kosher options at John Jay Dining Hall. The Jewish Theological Seminary’s kosher dining hall is also nearby and accepts Flex dollars. Beyond campus, the surrounding Upper West Side neighborhood has a wide selection of kosher restaurants, grocery stores, and bakeries — making it one of the most kosher-friendly neighborhoods in the country.
We start welcoming new students long before move-in day! Admitted students can connect with our community through Summer Welcomes held in cities across the country, Move-In Day meetups at the Kraft Center, and Welcome Weekend events at the start of the fall semester. Fill out our incoming student form to get on our list, and we’ll send you a free CBH t-shirt to officially kick things off.
Learn more!
Still Have Questions? Want to Connect?
Still Have Questions? Want to Connect?Our full FAQ page covers everything from student groups and travel to religious accommodations and academic Jewish studies. You can also reach us directly at info@columbiabarnardhillel.org or sign up below (in the footer) to receive updates.
