Miami University: A Jewish Student Hub?

The University of Miami is home to a significant Jewish student population, with around 2,000 Jewish undergraduates, comprising 16% of the student body, and 1,500 Jewish graduate students, making up 22% of the graduate student population. This large Jewish community on campus has led to the perception that the majority of students at the University of Miami are Jewish. However, while the University certainly attracts a substantial number of Jewish students, it also welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions. The University promotes an atmosphere of respect and understanding and offers a range of resources and organizations for Jewish students to explore and celebrate their cultural and religious identity.

Jewish student population at the University of Miami

The University of Miami is home to a significant Jewish student population, with Jewish students making up a notable proportion of both the undergraduate and graduate student bodies. According to one source, the University of Miami has around 2,000 Jewish undergraduate students, comprising about 16% of the undergraduate population, and 1,500 Jewish graduate students, making up about 22% of graduate students. However, another source provides slightly different figures, stating that there are approximately 2,100 Jewish undergraduates (around 16.7%) and 1,500 Jewish graduate students (around 22.4%).

The University of Miami Hillel, housed in the Braman Miller Center for Jewish Student Life, serves as the main gateway for Jewish students to engage with Jewish life on campus and in the greater Miami area. Hillel at the University of Miami offers a range of services and resources for Jewish students, including religious services, kosher dining, mental health and wellness support, and social justice programs. The University also offers a Jewish studies major or minor, and students can receive credit for studying abroad in Israel.

While Jewish students make up a significant portion of the student body at the University of Miami, they do not constitute a majority. The university welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, and its high tuition fees attract students from wealthy families. However, the university also offers a strong merit program and provides substantial scholarship opportunities for academically accomplished students from a range of backgrounds.

In terms of other universities with notable Jewish student populations, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, is also worth mentioning. With a smaller Jewish student population of around 800 to 1,000 students, Miami University's Hillel chapter promotes exploration and discovery of Jewish identity. They offer a range of programs, internships, cultural experiences, educational opportunities, and social justice initiatives. Miami University's Hillel chapter also provides kosher dining options and conducts weekly Shabbat services.

Jewish student life on campus

The University of Miami is home to a vibrant Jewish community, with a range of organizations and resources dedicated to fostering Jewish student life on campus. The University's Hillel chapter, housed in the Braman Miller Center for Jewish Student Life, is at the forefront of these efforts, offering a wide array of cultural, educational, and social programming. With a significant Jewish student population, comprising around 16-17% of undergraduates and 22% of graduate students, the University of Miami is recognized as one of the top 60 universities in terms of Jewish population.

Hillel at the University of Miami serves as the main gateway for students to engage with Jewish life on campus and in the greater Miami area. It welcomes students from all backgrounds and beliefs, providing community service opportunities, Jewish holiday services, and facilitating work and internship connections. Hillel also offers religious services, kosher dining options, and a variety of student groups, including Jewish Greek life organizations. The University's commitment to inclusivity and respect is evident in its support for Hillel's initiatives, fostering a broadly defined Jewish campus culture that intertwines with the University's overall culture.

Chabad at the University of Miami is another vital organization that caters to Jewish students, creating a community regardless of their Jewish affiliation. Led by Rabbi Mendy Fellig and his wife, Henchi Fellig, Chabad provides a space for Jewish students to connect and engage with their faith. Additionally, the University offers a Judaic Studies Program, allowing students to academically explore Jewish culture and history, with the option to major or minor in this field.

The University also promotes interfaith initiatives and diversity, partnering with the Oxford Interfaith Center to foster an atmosphere of respect and understanding across different faiths. This includes the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation's Interfaith Outreach Microgrants, which support collaborative projects between Jewish students and those from other faith traditions, strengthening relationships and promoting inclusivity.

The University of Miami's Jewish student population is diverse, with students hailing from various places, denominations, and backgrounds. This community is actively engaged in shaping Jewish life on campus, with organizations like Hillel: Association of Jewish Students (Hillel: AJS) and Students for Israel at Miami, among others. These groups encourage exploration and discovery, fostering a sense of belonging and empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Antisemitism at the University of Miami

Antisemitism has been a concern at the University of Miami, with a few incidents occurring on campus. In October 2023, a student made antisemitic comments related to the war between Israel and Hamas to a Jewish student. In the same month, University President Julio Frenk issued a statement condemning an attack on Israeli civilians, emphasising the need to prevent a "space of silence [being] filled by other voices".

The University has taken steps to ensure the safety of its Jewish students and maintain a climate of open, respectful dialogue. Frenk reiterated the University's commitment to policies that promote respect and civility on campus. The University has a very low rate of antisemitic incidents, and Frenk has hosted discussions to address rising antisemitism on campuses nationwide.

Jewish organisations such as Hillel and Chabad provide support for Jewish students at the University of Miami. They offer social events, educational sessions, and weekly Shabbat dinners. These organisations also help students reschedule classes that conflict with Jewish holidays. The University has created a Religious Observances and Inclusive Scheduling Guide to avoid scheduling important events on Jewish holidays.

Despite these efforts, some Jewish students still face challenges. Jewish students may encounter difficulties when discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and there have been incidents of vandalism targeting Jewish organisations on campus. However, the University of Miami continues to work towards creating an inclusive and safe environment for its Jewish students.

Diversity and inclusion at the University of Miami

The University of Miami is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for all its students and staff. The university recognises the importance of diversity and strives to create an atmosphere of respect and understanding across the entire campus. With a wide range of academic programs and a diverse student body, the University of Miami offers a rich and engaging cultural experience.

Jewish Life on Campus

The University of Miami is home to a significant Jewish student population, with approximately 2,000-2,100 Jewish undergraduates, comprising 16-16.7% of the undergraduate student body. The university offers a range of resources and organisations to support Jewish life on campus. These include Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organisations, and the Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Judaic Studies. Kosher dining is also available on campus, with a dairy kosher restaurant included in the regular university meal plan. The University of Miami Hillel, housed in the Braman Miller Center for Jewish Student Life, serves as the main gateway for students to engage with Jewish life on campus and in the greater Miami area.

In addition to religious services and kosher dining options, the University of Miami also offers a variety of academic and cultural programs related to Jewish studies. Students can participate in interfaith initiatives, explore birthright Israel programs, and even major or minor in Jewish studies. The university promotes awareness of Jewish holidays and provides celebratory meals for students.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

The University of Miami offers a range of diversity and inclusion initiatives to create a culture of belonging for all members of its community. The university provides diversity training programs, employee resource groups, and gender-neutral and inclusive restrooms. The Miller School of Medicine also has its own Office of Diversity and Inclusion, reflecting the university's commitment to embedding these values across its institutions.

The University of Miami's commitment to diversity and inclusion extends beyond its immediate community. The university works closely with organisations like Hillel International, which promotes interfaith outreach microgrants to support projects that strengthen relationships among students from different faith traditions. This partnership reflects the university's dedication to fostering an inclusive environment that values and celebrates religious diversity.

While the University of Miami has experienced a very low rate of incidents, there have been a few occurrences of antisemitic comments and discussions related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The university has responded to these incidents by reiterating its commitment to maintaining a climate of respect and civility on campus. President Julio Frenk has released statements in solidarity with the Jewish community and hosted campus discussions to address spikes in antisemitic activity nationwide.

Jewish studies at the University of Miami

The University of Miami is home to a vibrant Jewish community, with around 2,000 Jewish undergraduate students, comprising 16% of the student body, and 1,500 Jewish graduate students, representing 22% of the graduate student population. The university offers a range of resources and organisations to support Jewish life on campus, including Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organisations, and the Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Judaic Studies.

The University of Miami offers a broad and flexible interdisciplinary program in Judaic Studies, officially named the George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies. The program is designed to provide undergraduates with an understanding of Jewish civilisation and its diverse cultural experiences. It is non-theological in orientation and offers an academic exploration of the multifaceted, socio-historical, 4,000-year record of the Jewish people. The program combines courses taught by faculty with the experiences of Jews in different times and places, highlighting the variety of cultural, political, social, and religious perspectives.

The Judaic Studies program offers both major and minor degrees, providing students with a foundation for advanced academic study, professional careers in various fields, and a richer understanding of the Jewish world. Students can choose from a range of courses, including "Jewish Civilization: Society, Culture, and Religion", "Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus", "The Holocaust Through Film, Memoir, and Testimony", "The Rise of Judaism", "The History of Zionism", and "Israel: The Making of a State", among others. These courses cover a diverse range of topics, from the early history of Judaism to modern representations of the Jewish experience in film and literature.

In addition to the Judaic Studies program, the University of Miami is also home to the Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies. This centre provides an objective, in-depth exploration of the issues and trends that have affected the Jewish people over the last 100 years. It supports initiatives such as the publication of "Hungarian Patchwork", which features the story of Holocaust survivor Peter Tarjan, and the development of a comprehensive database on Sephardi Jewish migration routes by Dr Shai Cohen.

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