Jewish Student Organizations

Jewish communal organizations are a major part of American Jewish life. Often, however, general organizations do not reflect the needs, desires, and interests of Jewish young adults. In both the past and present, Jewish youth have formed their own student organizations to help meet their particular needs as young-adult, student Jews. These organizations have provided students not only with opportunities to practice Judaism on campus but with opportunities to explore their Jewish identity in the wider world. Many organizations produced publications both for their membership and to publicize organizational activities to the wider campus (both Jewish and gentile). In these publications, students explored what being a Jew meant to them; discussed politics and current events, often from a Jewish ethical perspective; organized events; and raised funds. 1

In the 1960s, student organizations grew significantly in number and scope as students found themselves highly dissatisfied with existing Jewish organizational life. Jewish student publications took on a strong counter-culture stance in these years and often espoused liberal and radical viewpoints, mirroring the shifts in larger student culture. 2

Many of the student organizations were associated with university Hillel chapters (The B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation). Hillel was founded in 1923 to connect Jewish college youth to Jewish tradition, develop future Jewish leaders, and help students deal with anti-Semitism. Hillel publications helped the chapters reach out to Jewish students not involved in the organization to encourage them to re-discover their Jewish heritage through Hillel activities. B’nai B’rith is a Jewish service organization that managed and funded the national Hillel organization until a reorganization in 1994. 3 Most student publications funded by B’nai B’rith were produced by local Hillel chapters.

From the guide to the Jewish Student Organizations Collection, undated, 1907-1995, 2003-2006, (American Jewish Historical Society)