FAQ
How many Jewish students are enrolled at Mizzou?
There are approximately 700 undergraduate students at Mizzou and about a dozen Jewish Students attend either Stephens College or Columbia College. In addition, there are about 50 students in graduate or professional studies.
What does Hillel do for Shabbat?
Student-led services are held at 6 p.m. every Friday evening of the academic calendar. Services may follow Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist or creative formats. Following services, a free kosher Shabbat dinner is served. Special dietary requests are honored where possible and when made in advance.
What kinds of programs are available at Hillel?
We have everything and anything that students can create and implement, including weekly Shabbat dinners, the annual fall opening barbecue, the annual fall hayride, Mizzou-zah making, Hookah in the Sookah, Jew-shi (sushi) making, movie screenings, Taglit Birthright Israel groups, breaking the fast at Yom Kippur, and an interfaith break fast when Ramadan coincides with Yom Kippur, Passover sedarim, Shakespeare’s Pizza at Sundown at the end of Passover, Israel celebrations, Holocaust/genocide remembrance week, Social Justice Seder, rec sports (flag football, volleyball, basketball), joint programming with the Muslim Student Organization, cheering on the Tigers AND MUCH MUCH MORE! To see a current list of events, check out our calendar in the top-left corner.
What does Hillel provide for students on Holidays?
All religious services are led by students, with the occasional visit of a student rabbi. Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hannukah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Passover and Yom HaShoah and Israel’s Independence Day are celebrated creatively on campus or at Hillel.
How can I communicate with other Jewish students on campus?
Get on our mailing list so you can receive information about our events via weekly emails, our monthly calendar, and other mass mailings. Also, keep an eye out for postings in the residence halls, advertisements in The Maneater and around campus.
As a prospective student, how do I get involved?
If you are a high school student trying to make a decision for college next year, or a college student thinking about transferring, let us show you why we chose the University of Missouri! If you have any specific questions about Mizzou Hillel and the Jewish Student Organization, Jewish life on campus or anything about Mizzou, please call or email kerry@mizzouhillel.org your name, hometown, current year in school and academic interests. Also, if you are planning a visit to Mizzou, let us know and we will be more than happy to say hello and show you around the building!
My son/daughter was very involved in youth group/synagogue in high school but doesn't seem to want to get involved in Jewish life at college. What can we do to get him/her connected with Hillel?
Let us know who they are - and we'll take care of connecting them. We have a great staff, student board and so many compelling social, networking, spiritual and recreational opportunities that they are sure to find something meaningful and relevant to them.
The Jewish Student Organization (JSO) and Hillel, the Jewish Campus Center, serve the University of Missouri-Columbia, Stephens College, Columbia College and other Mid-Missouri area institutes of higher education. Together the two groups seek to provide an on-campus center for students to express and further explore their Judaism in meaningful ways.
The Hillel Board of Directors includes representatives from the local and state Jewish communities, faculty, and student representatives. The Board provides funding and support for JSO programs.
