Information for Prospective Students
We are so glad that you are considering Rutgers University!
Many prospective students like to spend a Shabbat at Rutgers to get a feel for the Jewish life here.
Go to the "contact us"page to set up Shabbat hospitality or to ask questions. We look forward to meeting you!
For information on general visitor tours of Rutgers University, click here.
There are many resources at Rutgers for the Orthodox college student, including:
Many prospective students like to spend a Shabbat at Rutgers to get a feel for the Jewish life here.
Go to the "contact us"page to set up Shabbat hospitality or to ask questions. We look forward to meeting you!
For information on general visitor tours of Rutgers University, click here.
There are many resources at Rutgers for the Orthodox college student, including:
Minyanim:
Mesorah has shacharit every weekday at 8:15 AM and Mincha-Maariv 15 minutes before sunset, all at the Rutgers Hillel building! Please see the Davening page for more details. A free hot breakfast from Bistro 70 is served after weekday shacharit!
Shabbat:
Shabbat at Rutgers is the highlight of many students' weeks. Lively minyanim, engaging shiurim, and fun onegs and social events make up a typical Shabbat at Rutgers. For more information about Shabbat services, meals, and social events, please check out our Shabbat Page.
Shiurim/Learning:
There are many shiurim offered through Rutgers Mesorah! Please see our calendar for more information. Additionally, Rabbi Tzvi & Tali Wohlgelernter are available for learning. Many students also maintain chavrutot with their peers.
Eating:
Free food is available at many Mesorah events. Each Shabbat, over 300 students come together at Hillel's free Shabbat Dinner, For Lunch many students attend the free one at Chabad or make their own. The Hillel House has an in house full-service kosher dairy cafe (and meat sandwiches to go), in addition to the meal plan that the Chabad house has available for purchase. A number of kosher restaurants are located just across the Raritan River in Highland Park, and many supermarkets with large kosher sections are within short driving distance.
Facility:
Most Mesorah events take place in the brand new Eva and Arie Halpern Hillel House, the largest Hillel building in the country, located in the historic heart of campus. Minyanim and shiurim are held in the Beit Midrash, which seats over 150 people and features a large selection of sefarim from which students may learn whenever Hillel is open.
Eruv:
The New Brunswick Eruv surrounds the College Avenue Campus and sections of downtown New Brunswick, and it connects to the Highland Park Eruv. If you would like to learn more or to confirm the status of the Eruv, please contact Rabbi Schwartz.
Holidays:
Rutgers University does not close for the holidays of any religion, but it requires instructors to excuse without penalty any student who misses class for religious observance. Students are encouraged to inform their instructors of these absences well in advance, and Rabbi Schwartz may provide a letter for instructors who request one. In the unusual event that a professor does not understand this policy, Hillel staff may assist students in ensuring that they are not penalized for missing these classes.
Living:
If you wish to live in Rutgers Housing, request a room on the College Avenue Campus to be in walking distance to Hillel. Students considering the Honors College may choose to speak directly with the Schwartz's about more specific halachic considerations. Chabad has its own dormitory for guaranteed College Avenue housing. Additionally, many Orthodox students choose to live in off-campus houses and apartments in later years.
Come Visit Us!
Many prospective students like to spend a Shabbat at Rutgers to get a feel for the Jewish life here. Go to the "contact us" page to set up Shabbat hospitality or to ask questions. For information on general Rutgers campus tours, click here.
Mesorah has shacharit every weekday at 8:15 AM and Mincha-Maariv 15 minutes before sunset, all at the Rutgers Hillel building! Please see the Davening page for more details. A free hot breakfast from Bistro 70 is served after weekday shacharit!
Shabbat:
Shabbat at Rutgers is the highlight of many students' weeks. Lively minyanim, engaging shiurim, and fun onegs and social events make up a typical Shabbat at Rutgers. For more information about Shabbat services, meals, and social events, please check out our Shabbat Page.
Shiurim/Learning:
There are many shiurim offered through Rutgers Mesorah! Please see our calendar for more information. Additionally, Rabbi Tzvi & Tali Wohlgelernter are available for learning. Many students also maintain chavrutot with their peers.
Eating:
Free food is available at many Mesorah events. Each Shabbat, over 300 students come together at Hillel's free Shabbat Dinner, For Lunch many students attend the free one at Chabad or make their own. The Hillel House has an in house full-service kosher dairy cafe (and meat sandwiches to go), in addition to the meal plan that the Chabad house has available for purchase. A number of kosher restaurants are located just across the Raritan River in Highland Park, and many supermarkets with large kosher sections are within short driving distance.
Facility:
Most Mesorah events take place in the brand new Eva and Arie Halpern Hillel House, the largest Hillel building in the country, located in the historic heart of campus. Minyanim and shiurim are held in the Beit Midrash, which seats over 150 people and features a large selection of sefarim from which students may learn whenever Hillel is open.
Eruv:
The New Brunswick Eruv surrounds the College Avenue Campus and sections of downtown New Brunswick, and it connects to the Highland Park Eruv. If you would like to learn more or to confirm the status of the Eruv, please contact Rabbi Schwartz.
Holidays:
Rutgers University does not close for the holidays of any religion, but it requires instructors to excuse without penalty any student who misses class for religious observance. Students are encouraged to inform their instructors of these absences well in advance, and Rabbi Schwartz may provide a letter for instructors who request one. In the unusual event that a professor does not understand this policy, Hillel staff may assist students in ensuring that they are not penalized for missing these classes.
Living:
If you wish to live in Rutgers Housing, request a room on the College Avenue Campus to be in walking distance to Hillel. Students considering the Honors College may choose to speak directly with the Schwartz's about more specific halachic considerations. Chabad has its own dormitory for guaranteed College Avenue housing. Additionally, many Orthodox students choose to live in off-campus houses and apartments in later years.
Come Visit Us!
Many prospective students like to spend a Shabbat at Rutgers to get a feel for the Jewish life here. Go to the "contact us" page to set up Shabbat hospitality or to ask questions. For information on general Rutgers campus tours, click here.