History of Hillel
Founded in 1951 and renamed in 2001 as The Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University Center, the Hillel JUC of Pittsburgh is the foundation for Jewish campus life for students from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and other area colleges and universities. Serving an estimated 3,000 Jewish undergraduates, the Hillel JUC provides a nurturing environment where students can both explore and participate in the vibrant world of Jewish campus life. The Hillel JUC was reaccredited by Hillel International in 2005.
The Hillel JUC is conveniently situated between the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University — just a five minute walk from each... in the spacious 12,500 square foot Joseph Stern Building that opened in 2001. With an active physical presence came a renewal of Jewish campus life and an enhanced vibrancy that had not existed in recent memory. Earlier decades saw dozens of involved students, whereas now, literally hundreds of students pass through our doors regularly each week.
Our mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. In pursuit of this mission, Hillel is committed to:
- Creating a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment.
- Fostering student growth and a balance between being “distinctively” Jewish and “universally” human.
- Tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repairing the world) and Jewish learning.
- Israel and global Jewish life.
- Excellence, innovation, accountability and results
Based on the premise that college life involves much more than attending classes, the Hillel JUC provides the environment and tools that empower students to help shape their future as Jewish young adults. Our student-designed and student-led programs challenge them to learn and grow, choosing from an array of religious, cultural, political and social options based on individual interests.
By engaging and empowering students to help create their own center for Jewish life on campus, the Hillel JUC serves as a training ground for future Jewish leaders and committed members of the community. We provide leadership training workshops that assist students in developing and sharpening their leadership skills.
As you’ll see throughout our site, we approach our work very creatively! Two elected student boards (one each for University of Pittsburgh Hillel and Carnegie Mellon University Hillel) take ownership of our programs by identifying and implementing many of our events. Together with our excellent board of governors, parents, alumni and the wider Pittsburgh Jewish community, the Hillel JUC strives to inspire every Jewish student to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life.
In the summer of 2007, the Hillel JUC, in cooperation with the UJF’s Shalom Pittsburgh program, will launch a new project called J-TAG (Jewish Twenty-Somethings and Grads) to provide social, educational and professional networking opportunities for the approximately 2,500 Jewish graduate students and young professionals under 30 in Pittsburgh.