Your Guide to Jewish Yale
JEWISH YALE A Brief History of
Organized Jewish life at Yale began in 1913, when the Yale chapter of the Menorah Society was founded. Hillel at Yale was established by B’nai B’rith in July 1941. While there have been Jewish students, faculty, and administrators at Yale since the 1800s and Hebrew had been a requirement of study for all students since the University’s founding, Jewish life at Yale thrives today in unprecedented ways built on its illustrious past.
Alongside Hillel, the Kosher Kitchen was originally founded in 1959 off-campus as the Young Israel Diners’ Club. The Kosher Kitchen moved into the Hotel Taft in 1964 When the Friends of Yale Hillel purchased the 35 High Street home for the Hillel rabbi, the Kosher Kitchen was established in its basement.
In 1973, the Kosher Kitchen moved to a larger basement on Crown Street By the mid 1980s, Friday night dinners at Crown Street had become a large weekly event attracting hundreds of students to taste the food and conviviality of Shabbat.
For a decade and a half, Rabbi James Ponet ‘68 and Professor Donald J. Cohen, MD ‘66 led the effort to build a center on campus. September 10, 1995 - the day of Slifka Center’s dedication ceremony – was a watershed moment for Jewish life at Yale
Slifka Center is the product of a collaboration among generations of Yale College students and alumni, the New Haven Jewish community, and Yale University
A book entitled Joining the Club: A History of Jews and Yale by Professor Dan Oren ’79, MD ’83 provides a thorough account of our story.
JOSEPH SLIFKA CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE AT YALE
Since 1995, Slifka Center has provided a home for Jewish life in the heart of the Yale Campus. Located at 80 Wall Street between College and Temple Streets, Slifka houses Yale Hillel and numerous other student, university, and community programs
A recent renovation to our award-winning building created an all new dining hall and kosher kitchen, and provided important security upgrades Slifka Center features indoor and outdoor spaces for student use, with gathering spaces for meals, services, study, creative arts, and social events.
Slifka is led by a dedicated and caring team of full-time professionals who both oversee student programming and wellbeing, and help represent Jewish interests to the University.
Each year, undergraduates elect the Hillel Student Board. The HSB shapes Slifka programming and activities. Positions include chairs in communications, culture, Shabbat, holidays, social justice, the arts, and more Slifka Center is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of alumni, parents, and friends. Each year, undergraduate and graduate students are selected to serve oneyear terms
In addition, Slifka names select University professors and administrators, and local leaders to serve as Slifka Fellows to advise students and staff, and strengthen our community
The Home of Jewish Life at Yale
SLIFKA
Magevet: Yale’s Jewish, Hebrew, and Israeli a cappella group
OUR VALUES
A
student-centered,
student-led community
At Slifka Center, students create a community of meaning with and for one another Transcending our dynamic programming, all Slifka Center initiatives are developed out of student needs and interests to ultimately serve the student body.
A portal to transformative ideas and conversations
A hundred generations of Jewish wisdom come alive in open-hearted conversations guided by teachers who care as deeply as students do In classes, trips, and conversations, intellectual partnership and spiritual seeking fuse with, and elevate, one another as we write the next chapter of the Jewish tradition together.
A convener across difference
Slifka Center welcomes and values all students across diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. We are as deep and diverse as the Yale student body. Opportunities for self expression and interpersonal growth abound across an unlimited spectrum of Jewish interests, passions, and ideas
A
comfortable place
to eat and spend time
During weekday lunch and Shabbat dinner alike, food and friendship go hand-inhand in Slifka Center’s dining hall. Grab a sandwich to go, or stay for hours.
A point of contact with caring mentors
Profound, heartfelt conversations with students are the core of our staff’s work no concern is too weighty or too trivial. Our doors are always open, literally and figuratively, to accompany students on their journeys across all starting points and destinations
A representative of and advocate for the Jewish community at Yale
We represent the Jewish community to the Yale faculty and administration, advocating for students, professors, and alumni including confronting every manifestation of antisemitism.
FOOD AND CELEBRATIONS
At Slifka Center food nurtures our community and brings students of diverse backgrounds and beliefs together. Slifka Center’s kosher food service provides daily meals and catering, Shabbat and holiday meals, bagel brunches, and snacks for study breaks that bring students together to build friendships, exchange ideas, and grow - and share - their Jewish identities.
Check out Slifka’s weekly menu at the Dining Tab on the Slifka Center website
KOSHER DINING AT SLIFKA
Slifka Center is home to Yale’s kosher dining hall, Kikar Schusterman, and the Lindenbaum Kosher Kitchen Newly renovated, these facilities offer healthy kosher food under Star-K (Meat) and Star-D (Dairy) supervision during the academic year
We offer vegetarian, vegan, and allergenaware options daily and are part of Yale’s meal plan, at no extra cost to students.
Shabbat dinners are open to all students During the holiday of Sukkot, meals are eaten in Slifka’s Weiss Family Sukkah onsite.
slifkacenter edu/menu
Dining at
Hundreds of Yalies - Jews and non-Jews alike - enjoy Sunday Bagel Brunch, a campus tradition And, our student-run Not Your Bubbe’s Bakery provides challah that is not to be missed!
JOIN US FOR A MEAL ON CAMPUS
SLIFKA
The Slifka
EXPERIENCE
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Each year, Slifka hosts an array of speakers, cultural offerings, art exhibits, and more on site.
SHABBAT AND SERVICES
The Shabbat experience at Slifka is a special one, with a warm and welcoming environment and programming every week of the academic year On Friday nights, we have Reform, Egalitarian, and Orthodox services followed by a lively community Shabbat dinner attended by Jewish students and their friends On Saturdays we have services, learning opportunities, and lunch, as well as se’udah shelishit - a seasonably appropriate dinner before Shabbat ends.
JEWISH HOLIDAYS
Slifka holds services and programming for all Jewish holidays during the academic year. Detailed holiday information is posted seasonally on our website. As with dining and weekly religious services, families and friends are warmly invited to join these special holiday events.
NOAH WELLNESS CENTER
Established in 2021, the Noah Wellness Center supports the well-being of our students. The Center provides mindfulness and reflective programming anchored in Susman Hall, also known as the Purple Couch Room Doris & Melanie’s Place - a pantry with kitchenette located off the lobby - also offers free, nutritious snacks
COMBATING ANTISEMITISM
While Slifka Center focuses on nurturing Jewish life on campus, we have also prioritized identifying, educating about, and combating antisemitism at Yale and in New Haven, especially since October 7th. We maintain a strong and multifaceted partnership with the Yale administration in service of this work, and we are called upon regularly to teach, inform, and advise We encourage anyone who experiences discrimination or feels uncomfortable to share this information with a member of Slifka’s staff right away
Jewish Resources at
YALE
Our students benefit from Yale’s Jewish resources in scholarship and the arts.
Yale Program in Jewish Studies - this university department offers courses that explore the various ways Jews and Judaism have both intersected with and shaped the world
Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism (YPSA) - brings the resources of Yale and its faculty to study antisemitism. YPSA sponsors talks and lectures by leading scholars, and annually hosts a conference focused on a specific theme
LUX: Yale Collections Discovery - type “’Judaica’ or related key words in the LUX search engine to gain access to Yale’s digital archive of Jewish books, art, music, and more.
Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies - has been dedicated to recording, preserving, and protecting the stories of those who were there for 45 years. This fall, and through January 28, 2025, Yale’s Beinecke Library will host a special exhibit “In the First Person: The Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies” with these videos alongside related documents and materials.
Beinecke Library Rare Book & Manuscript Library - above, houses one of the world’s largest collections of rare volumes and documents, including the Mishneh Torah. The Beinecke was designed by Jewish-American architect Gordon Bunshaft (1909-1990) and is a campus landmark, an example of the International Style celebrated for both its marble exterior allowing in only filtered light and its soaring interior glass tower.
Yale University Library Judaica Collectionthe social, religious, and cultural lives of the Jewish people throughout the ages are reflected in the university’s collections of books and manuscripts, including Talmud, Kehtubot, and Jewish history, philosophy, and literature.
Brodie Center for Jewish and Israeli Lawlaunched in 2024 at Yale Law School, supports research and engagement with Jewish law, Israeli law, and their intersection and influence.
Rose Judaica Suite - above left, is one of the largest contemporary suites of Jewish ritual objects, made of silver and precious stones, and on display year-round in Slifka’ Center s Susman Hall.
NEW HAVEN
Slifka Center works to support Jewish life in greater New Haven.
New Haven and Yale Eruvim
For detailed maps, visit nheruv.org. Write slifka.center@yale.edu to be added to the mailing list for weekly eruv updates.
Community Resources
Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven - jewishnewhaven.org. Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven - jccnh.org.
New Haven Synagogues
Congregation Mishkan Israel (Reform) cmihamden.org (203) 288-3877. Temple Emanuel (Reform) tegnh.org (203) 397-3000.
Beth El Keser Israel (Egalitarian) beki org (20) 389-2108
Chabad at Yale (Orthodox) chabadyale org (203) 498-9770
Bikur Cholim Sheveth Achim (Orthodox) (203) 387-4699
Orchard Street Shul (Orthodox) orchardstreetshul.org (203) 776- 1468 (pictured above). Westville Synagogue (Orthodox) westvilleshul.org (203) 389-9513.
Kosher Restaurants and Grocers
Under certification of the Vaad Hakashrus (KVH) of Fairfield County, New Haven, or Boston Claire’s Corner Copia - 1000 Chapel Street - (203) 562-3888. Birthday cakes and more.
Edge of the Woods - 379 Whalley Avenue - (203) 787-1055. Healthy kosher groceries.
Ladle and Loaf - 357 Whalley Avenue - (203) 553-5553 Kosher take-out options
Ricotta and Fin and Scale - 1203 Chapel Street - (203) 745-4181 Kosher pasta and sushi
Sweet Seidner’s - 2565 Whitney Avenue, Hamden - sweetseidners.com. Kosher bake shop.
Jewish or Kosher “Style” Restaurants:
Olmo Bagels - 93 Whitney Ave - (203) 624-3373
Katz’s Deli - 1658 Litchfield Turnpike, Woodbridge - (203) 389-5301
FALL SEMESTER
SPRING SEMESTER
Tu B’Shvat rituals to reconnect with friends, connect with the earth, and do tikkun olam
Annual alumni gathering in NYC to hear from thought leaders in the Jewish world
Purim festivities including Megillah readings and hamantaschen baking Hillel Formal and Hillel Retreat
Passover Seders at Slifka and “to go” hosted all across campus and beyond
Meaningful and engaging programming for Yom HaSho’ah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Israel’s Memorial and Independence Days)
Many opportunities to celebrate, honor, and say goodbye to our graduating seniors
Opportunities to travel all over the world during spring and summer breaks
Quality time with Handsome Dan, ice cream, art, and MORE!
The Slifka Year
d Coffee Reception to welcome and parents
(Back) Shabbat dinners to being in community
t Carnival to kick off the school le
meals, social justice opportunities, to celebrate the High Holidays
eals and overnight programming in Family Sukkah
nd learning opportunities to engage ism meaningfully atherings and celebrations for The e v Harvard football) every year
Hanukkah candle lighting, parties, latkefrying, etc
Yoga, study breaks, Klezmer concerts, and MORE!
Throughout the year, Slifka offers Reform, Egalitarian, and Orthodox Shabbat and holiday services and meals.
HIGHLIGHTS
BE INVOLVED SUPPORT SLIFKA CENTER
Slifka welcomes student families and their participation
Did you know?
slifkacenter.edu/giftinstructions
Slifka Center provides diverse programming and strong advocacy that serves the Yale Jewish community Slifka Center is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and does not receive direct funding from Yale
We rely on the generous support of current families, along with alumni and friends, to fund our vital mission. Contributions are fully tax deductible and can be securely made by check, wire transfer, or at slifkacenter.org/donate (See QR code above). Our EIN is 06-1257354.
Slifka Family Circle
The Slifka Family Circle recognizes family members who make an annual gift in support of Slifka Center. All contributions are welcome!
Urim v’Tumim Fellows Society
Slifka’s leadership donors become members of the Urim v’Tumim Fellows Society, named for the Hebrew letters on the Yale crest representing Light and Truth See our website for more information
Show your Slifka Pride
Visit the Slifka Swag Shop at slifkacenter org/swag for a great selection of branded merchandise. Slifka’s own bulldog mascot “Menschy Dave” is featured on many items.
Follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletter, and stop by any time! See our accounts @slifkacenter, check out slifkacenter.org/newsletter-signups. When on campus come in for a meal, to recharge your phone, or just to say hi!
Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors, Slifka Center Lobby Mural Collage by Niki de Saint Phalle 1930-2002