Situated in Western Massachusetts, University of Massachusetts at Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres. The campus provides a rich cultural environment in a peaceful, rural setting. UMass enrolls 23,000 undergraduate students.
There are thousands of Jewish students on campus, including approximately 100 students who attended Modern or Centrist Orthodox day schools. Most Orthodox students live in the Central Residential area, Orchard Hill Residential area, or the Jewish Living and Learning Community on the third floor of the Hillel House. All of these dorms are close to the Franklin Dining Commons where Kosher Dining is located. UMass is very accommodating to Orthodox students: they understand when students miss class because of the Chagim and will work with students to pair Orthodox students as roommates, upon request.
OU-JLIC supports Degel, the Orthodox student group at UMASS Amherst’s Hillel House, and they work together to provide creative, engaging programming for all Jewish students on campus. OU-JLIC coordinates a variety of learning, social, and religious activities for students. For students who are interested in maintaining the kosher kitchen on campus and at Hillel, there is a Student Mashgichim group where you learn the laws of kashrut and supervise the kosher kitchens. OU-JLIC also ensures there is davening and meals for all holidays when school is in session.
Orthodox Students experience Shabbat and Chagim at UMASS Amherst as active members of a warm, cohesive community. Each Shabbat, students daven and enjoy Shabbat meals together. On Friday nights, Orthodox, Conservative and Reform students sing Yedid Nefesh together before joining their respective services. The Friday night Orthodox minyan has around 30 students who each enjoy the singing and energy of the uplifting Kabbalat Shabbat services. Following services, Hillel provides a free catered Shabbat dinner attended by 90-110 students. At the beginning and end of each semester there is a student-led Friday night oneg. Each week, around 25 students daven at the Shabbat morning minyan that is followed by a kiddush, Torah reading and Musaf. After services, there is a free student-cooked lunch for the community at Hillel; once a month the OU-JLIC Directors host students in their home for Shabbat meals. On Shabbat afternoons at Hillel, students hang out, take walks, play games, read, sing and learn. Prospective students are encouraged to visit for Shabbat at UMass where they can fully immersive themselves in the inviting UMass community.
KOSHER FOOD
Kosher lunches and dinners are available in the Franklin Dining Commons through the award-winning UMass Dining Services. Friday night, Shabbat lunch, third meal, and Yom Tov meals are all available at UMass Hillel (free for members of the UMass Amherst community), Kosher Dining on Campus or at the OU-JLIC Directors home. Kosher Dining and Hillel are both under the Vaad of Springfield, Massachusetts. Off-campus, the local grocery stores carry a variety of kosher options.
SERVICES, STUDY & AMENITIES:
UMass Amherst offers a daily morning minyan during the week, and minyanim on Shabbat. Throughout the week, students can enjoy shiurim, chaburot, student chavrutot, niggunim, and opportunities to learn one-on-one and connect with the OU-JLIC Directors. Several distinguished Rabbis and professors visit campus to teach. Our campus, as well as the neighboring Amherst College campus is equipped with an eruv and a mikvah.
ERUV: Yes
Mikvah: Yes
ORGANIZATIONS & GROUPS:
OU-JLIC, UMass Hillel Student Groups: Degel, Mizmor, Ruach, JewMass, Kehilah, Jewish Leaders in Business and Entrepreneurship, Student Alliance for Israel, Challah For Hunger, FreshFest Orientation, Mishelanu, JewTalk. Chabad House at UMass Amherst.