Orthodox Life at Princeton
Princeton has a warm, inviting, and close-knit community that is fully integrated into the broader Jewish and university communities.
Yavneh, the Orthodox Organization at Princeton
Yavneh is the Orthodox Jewish group on campus, committed to Torah, Judaism and Jewish practice, the university, education, friendship, and open discussion. Yavneh students and community members span the Orthodox spectrum, and at the same time are very much integrated into the larger Jewish community. Yavneh holds three daily minyanim and various learning programs, and runs many social events such as study breaks, guest speakers, and holiday programs.
Find out more at the Yavneh website.
The Center for Jewish Life/Hillel at Princeton
The Center for Jewish Life/Hillel at Princeton University is the central source for all things Jewish at Princeton. The Center for Jewish Life (or CJL) believes in creating a community where all students, faculty, staff and even the larger community can come together to take part in the rich tapestry of Jewish Life at Princeton. It is located in the center of campus, 70 Washington Rd. The Center for Jewish Life building is owned and maintained by Princeton University through the Office of Religious Life in order to serve the Jewish needs of the Princeton University community. The University also runs the kosher dining hall. The building houses two auditoriums which are also used for prayer services, lectures, and other events, a kosher dining hall, library, Beit Midrash, computer cluster, lounge, offices, pool room and TV lounge. The building is handicapped accessible. Outside groups wishing to use the space are referred to Conference and Event Services.
Shabbat
Shabbat on campus is warm and welcoming with meals offered at the Center for Jewish Life. After Orthodox services, the CJL/Hillel at Princeton hosts one lunch for all members of the Jewish community. Some students will be hosted by the Horvitchs or eat at Chabad, and there is also an oneg in a students’ residence hall or a tisch. After Shacharit, there is a kiddush and shiur, and then lunch. In the afternoon students can be found at the CJL, talking, learning and enjoying a robust seudah shelishit.
Kosher Dining
Kosher food is served three meals a day in the CJL Dinning Hall, which is operated by university dining services and supervised by the Orthodox Union. The Kosher Dining Hall is open to all Princeton students and is part of the university’s meal plan.
Find out more information on the CJL website.
Housing at Princeton
All students live on campus for all four years of college and in cannot choose their roommates in the first year.