Student Groups & Initiatives

Brandeis Hillel supports over twenty student groups and initiatives, ranging from the Brandeis Orthodox Organization and the Brandeis Reform Chavurah, to Manginah Jewish a cappella, and the Jewish Feminists Association of Brandeis.

Hillel is committed to empowering every Jewish student to engage with their Jewish identity in as many ways as possible.

Denominationally Affiliated Social and Prayer Groups

The Brandeis Orthodox Organization serves the Orthodox community of Brandeis University. As one of the most vibrant observant communities on any college campus, BOO exists to fulfill and further the religious, social, and cultural needs of the Orthodox Jewish population at Brandeis University and is dedicated to the principles of Torah-Halakhic Judaism. BOO offers social events, educational events, chesed opportunities, minyan 3 times a day, 7 days a week including on holidays, and a multitude of ways to get involved in the community!

President: Matt Shapiro ‘24, Gabbais: Yoni Bench ‘26, Noam Storm ‘27, Bailey Reum ‘27

BaRuCh is Brandeis’ Reform Chavurah, the oldest Hillel group on campus. BaRuCh is a warm, welcoming, and inclusive community built on reform values. We bond through our devotion to Tikkun Olam and education, our love for song and prayer, and our passion to uphold an open and inviting space. Together, we create the loving, determined, and goofy group of people who are lucky to call BaRuCh home.

President: Rachel Weiss ‘26, T’filah Coordinators: Zac Gondelman ‘26 and Morgan Collens ‘26

Masorti Social Group is the Conservative Jewish/Traditional-Egalitarian social group on campus. MSG strives to create a welcoming community in which members of the Brandeis community can participate in religious, educational, social justice, and social events in a Conservative Jewish setting. Our community transcends beyond a physical space joining together for fun social events on Shabbat, Holidays, and throughout the week.

President: James Brosgol ‘25, Gabbais: Nili Fish-Bieler ‘26, Mateo Levin ‘27, Avital Aaron ‘27

Founded in 2006, Shira Chadasha is one of the first partnership minyanim on a college campus, maximizing female involvement under halachic parameters. This means that while we have a mechitza (partition), women can lead services such as Kabbalat Shabbat and Hallel and read from the Torah. We meet for a Shabbat service every other week, with attendees from multiple religious denominations coming together for a nice and meaningful experience.

Leadership: Maya Ungar ‘25, Oneg Kaufman-Grob ‘27

BaRuCh
Social events, learning, services, and much more for Reform students.

Brandeis Orthodox Org.

Social events, learning, speakers, and much more for Orthodox students.

Masorti

Social events, learning, speakers, and more for Conservative students.

Brandeis Orthodox Minyan

Orthodox services

BIPAC

Brandeis University's bipartisan pro-Israel lobby.

J Street U @ Brandeis
The student organizing arm of J Street.

IAC Mishelanu

First and second generation Israeli-Americans who bring the spirit of Israel to campus.

Generations
Visits the elderly at the JCHE Coleman House once a month.

Brandeis Organization of Sephardic Students
Culture, Services, food, social events and more for Sephardic students.

HOG
Jewish gamers who play everything from Mario Kart to Minecraft.

Masorti Minyan

Conservative services

Shira Chadasha

Partnership services

Sharsheret
Supporting Jewish women and their families facing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or at increased genetic risk.

Challah for Hunger

Builds communities inspired and equipped to fight hunger.

HRC
Dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, memorialization and education.

JFAB

Dedicated to the intersection of Judaism and feminism.

QJAB

A social and community space at Brandeis by and for Queer Jews.

Manginah

Brandeis’ premiere Jewish a cappella group.

B’Yachad

The B’Yachad Israeli dance group performs traditional Israeli folk dances on camps and at community shows.

Klezmer

The Brandeis Klezmer band is a group of students who use their musical talents to play Jewish music as well as modern sounds.

Ongoing Student Initiatives

Mitzvote & Civc Engagement
Voter registration, civic engagement.

Eruv Committee
Checking and maintaing the Eruv around Brandeis.

First Year Students of Hillel
Programming and social events for first year students.

Sukkah Builders Squad
Building, decorating and taking down the Hillel sukkah every year.

Brandeis Beit Midrash
With over 1,000 volumes, the Beit Midrash is a great place to learn about Judaism. Guest speakers frequently teach in the Beit Midrash.