Lori Meadows
Auburn University, Alabama's land-grant agricultural and mechanical college, has a small but active Jewish community. Jewish students at Auburn University are brought together by the Hillel student group, which estimated that approximately 125 Jewish undergraduate and graduate students attend the university. Jewish life in Lee County has flourished in recent years with the growth of Auburn's Jewish population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Jewish students | 125 (estimated) |
| Year of estimation | 2023 |
| Jewish student organizations | Hillel, Tau Epsilon Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi |
| Jewish holidays | Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah |
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What You'll Learn
- Auburn University's Jewish student population is estimated to be 125
- The Hillel Jewish student group at Auburn University brings together graduates and undergraduates
- Jewish students at Auburn University have family in Israel
- Jewish life in Lee County has flourished with the growth of Auburn University
- Jewish students at Auburn University celebrate the Jewish Holy Days
Auburn University's Jewish student population is estimated to be 125
The Jewish community at Auburn University has a long history, with campus Jewish organizations in place early on, including the Jewish Student Organization (now Hillel), Tau Epsilon Phi, a social fraternity founded in 1937, and Alpha Epsilon Pi, which started at Auburn in 1966. The building of a synagogue in Auburn had a positive effect on the Jewish community, as it provided a public face and a permanent address. The synagogue, Beth Shalom, is a small congregation without a full-time rabbi, but it is vibrant, with weekly services and Torah study, an active Jewish book group, and a thriving religious school. Several Auburn students have taught in Beth Shalom's religious school.
The Jewish community in Auburn, Alabama, and the surrounding area, including Opelika, is relatively small but strong and active. In 2008, there were about 50 Jewish students enrolled at Auburn University, and the growth of the Jewish population in Auburn since then has contributed to the flourishing of Jewish life in Lee County. Auburn's Jewish community has been described as having a positive impact on both the Jewish and Christian communities in the area, with the Christian community embracing the Jewish congregation and expressing interest in learning more about Judaism.
The Jewish students at Auburn University, as well as members of the broader Auburn community with ties to Israel, have spoken out about the recent Israel-Hamas conflict and how it has impacted them. Lior Berman, a graduate student and member of the Auburn University Men's Basketball team, shared his concerns for the safety of his family in Israel. Other members of the Auburn Jewish community have expressed concerns about pro-Palestinian protests that they feel sometimes cross the line into supporting acts of terror committed by Hamas.
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The Hillel Jewish student group at Auburn University brings together graduates and undergraduates
Auburn University, Alabama's college of agriculture and mechanical engineering, has long been associated with the Jewish community. The Hillel Jewish student group at Auburn University brings together graduates and undergraduates, as well as faculty and staff. In 2008, there were around 50 Jewish students enrolled at the university.
The Hillel group is just one of several Jewish student organisations at Auburn University. The Jewish Student Organization (JSO) was founded in 1937 and is now known as Hillel. There is also a social fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi, founded in 1937, and Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), which started at Auburn in 1966. These organisations contribute to a vibrant Jewish student life on campus.
The Hillel group is also closely associated with Beth Shalom, a synagogue in Auburn. In 2005, the synagogue was renovated, and a rededication ceremony took place in September of that year. Beth Shalom is a small congregation without a full-time rabbi, but it offers weekly services, Torah study, a Jewish book group, and a thriving religious school. Several Auburn students have taught at Beth Shalom's religious school, and the congregation has a close relationship with the university, having borrowed a Torah from Columbus, Georgia, and using the Auburn University Chapel for High Holiday services.
The presence of these organisations and places of worship has contributed to the growth of the Jewish community in Lee County and Auburn. While the Jewish community in Opelika, a neighbouring town, has remained small, Auburn's Jewish population has been growing. The building of the Beth Shalom synagogue in 2005 positively impacted the Jewish community, as it provided a public face and a permanent address for Jewish services and events. The Hillel group at Auburn University has played a significant role in fostering a sense of community and connection for Jewish students, faculty, and staff, contributing to the overall flourishing of Jewish life in the region.
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Jewish students at Auburn University have family in Israel
Auburn University in Alabama has a small but active Jewish community, with about 50 Jewish students enrolled there in 2008. However, Auburn University's Jewish student group Hillel estimated that this number grew to approximately 125 Jewish undergraduate and graduate students in 2023. Several Jewish students at Auburn University have family in Israel.
Liana Shapiro, junior in economics and president of Hillel at Auburn University, is Jewish and has family in Israel. When she heard the news of the Hamas attacks in October 2023, she felt fearful for her family's safety. Two of her cousins had previously served in the IDF and were called back to serve when the war broke out.
Lior Berman, a graduate student and Auburn University Men’s Basketball guard, is also Jewish and has family in Israel. He recalled how he felt scared upon hearing the news of the Hamas attacks on social media, as he has many relatives living in Israel, including his grandparents, cousins, aunt, and uncle.
The Jewish community at Auburn University has a close association with Beth Shalom, a small but vibrant congregation in Auburn and Opelika. While Opelika's Jewish community has remained small, Jewish life in Lee County has flourished in recent years with the growth of Auburn's Jewish population. Auburn University has also attracted Jewish professors, and several Auburn students have taught in Beth Shalom's religious school. The building of the Beth Shalom synagogue in 2005 had a positive impact on the Jewish community of Auburn and Opelika, providing a public face and a permanent address for the community.
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Jewish life in Lee County has flourished with the growth of Auburn University
Jewish life in Lee County, Alabama, has indeed flourished with the growth of Auburn University, which has a number of Jewish student organizations. The university's Hillel chapter estimated that around 125 Jewish undergraduate and graduate students attend Auburn University. The Hillel chapter at Auburn University is relatively small but active, bringing together graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty and staff.
The Jewish Student Organization (now Hillel) and the Tau Epsilon Phi social fraternity, founded in 1937, were among the early campus Jewish organizations at Auburn University. In 1966, Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) was established at the university. The presence of these organizations has contributed to the growth of the Jewish community in Lee County.
The building of the synagogue also positively impacted the Jewish community in Auburn and Opelika. The synagogue was renovated in 2005, and a rededication ceremony took place in September of that year. The congregation, Beth Shalom, is small and does not have a full-time rabbi. However, it is vibrant and active, with weekly services, Torah study, a Jewish book group, and a thriving religious school. Several Auburn University students have taught at Beth Shalom's religious school. The congregation has also benefited from its association with Hillel at Auburn University.
The Christian community in Auburn has embraced the Jewish congregation, and the presence of Auburn University has helped to keep the Jewish community in Lee County strong and active. While Opelika and Auburn may never become major centers of Jewish life, the efforts of the community to celebrate and practice their faith, along with the university's Jewish population, have contributed to a thriving Jewish presence in the area.
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Jewish students at Auburn University celebrate the Jewish Holy Days
Auburn University is home to a small but vibrant Jewish community. While there are no exact figures, it is estimated that around 0.4% of the student population is Jewish, which equates to roughly 25 to 100 Jewish students out of a total student body of 25,732.
The Jewish students at Auburn University celebrate the Jewish Holy Days with the support of campus organizations and the wider Jewish community in the area. The two main High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, are celebrated with a dinner and community Seder, respectively. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is marked with a festive meal, while Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, is a day of atonement and repentance.
The Jewish Student Organization, known as Hillel, plays a crucial role in fostering Jewish culture at Auburn. They meet regularly at the Student Union for discussions, social events, and educational activities. Hillel at Auburn is open to both graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty and staff, creating an inclusive environment for all. The organization often collaborates with the local synagogue, Beth Shalom, which is a small but active congregation that holds weekly services, Torah study, and a Jewish book group.
In addition to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Auburn's Jewish students also observe other Holy Days. For example, Sukkot is a week-long celebration and feast, followed by Simchat Torah, which marks the end of the annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of the new one. These holidays provide an opportunity for the Jewish community at Auburn to come together and celebrate their traditions.
The Jewish community at Auburn University, while small, is dedicated to preserving and celebrating their faith. Through organizations like Hillel and the support of the local synagogue, Jewish students are able to observe the Holy Days and connect with one another, fostering a sense of community and cultural identity.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2008, there were about 50 Jewish students enrolled at Auburn University.
Yes, Auburn University has a Hillel chapter that brings together graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty and staff.
Hillel is a Jewish student organization that aims to foster a sense of community and provide support for Jewish students on college campuses.
