Boston University's Jewish Student Population: How Many?

Boston University is home to a large and active Jewish community, with a reported undergraduate student population of 23% Jewish, or around 4,000 students. The university's Hillel House, located on Bay State Road, is a hub for Jewish life on campus, offering religious services, kosher dining, and a range of social, cultural, and religious groups. While BU has been recognised as a comfortable place for Jewish students, there have been recent reports of rising antisemitism on campus, prompting calls for greater administrative support and action to address these issues.

Jewish students at Boston University feel unsafe

Jewish students at Boston University have expressed feeling unsafe on campus. In an opinion piece for BU Today, Amanda Kopelman (ENG'25) writes about her experience as a Jewish student at BU, stating that she no longer feels safe wearing her Magen David necklace and that she feels stuck between her pride in her Judaism and the distressing reality of witnessing incidents targeting Jewish students on campuses across America. Kopelman chose BU for its diversity, but now feels that the university is failing to support Jewish students in the face of antisemitism. She highlights the university's lack of action in addressing hateful signage, shouts from students, and the defacing of a window at Boston University Hillel.

Kopelman is not alone in her concerns. Bailey Allen, an Emerson College student, shared similar sentiments at a forum on antisemitism organized by the Anti-Defamation League. Allen expressed the difficulty in deciding whether to wear something that represents her Jewish identity, such as a Hillel sweatshirt or a Star of David necklace. Nechama Huba, a Wellesley College student, also spoke at the forum, sharing how she felt ostracized after returning from studying abroad in Israel. Huba experienced uncomfortable questions from classmates and peers about her time in Israel.

The rise of antisemitism has left Jewish students feeling unsafe and targeted on Boston-area campuses. While colleges are making resources available, more needs to be done to address the issue and ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish students.

Boston University's Jewish population

Boston University (BU) has a large Jewish population, with estimates ranging from 22.4% to 25% of the undergraduate student body identifying as Jewish. This equates to somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 Jewish students, making BU the private school with the largest number of Jewish students in the US.

The Jewish population at BU is diverse, with students from a range of backgrounds, including Persian, Moroccan, Ashkenazi, Orthodox, Reform, secular, and Israeli. The university offers a variety of resources and programming to support its Jewish students, including the BU Hillel program, which aims to care for, support, and welcome Jewish students. BU Hillel offers a range of activities, such as Fresh Fest for incoming freshmen, as well as regular Shabbat services and meals.

Despite the strong Jewish community and resources available at BU, some Jewish students have expressed concerns about rising antisemitism on campus and a lack of support from the university administration. There have been reports of incidents targeting Jewish students, including vandalism of a window at the BU Hillel building and instances of Jewish students feeling unsafe to express their Judaism openly.

In response to these concerns, BU's Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies is developing a course on modern antisemitism, which is set to debut in the fall semester. The course aims to address the growing concerns and fears of Jewish students and provide a space for dialogue and education on this important issue.

Boston University's response to antisemitism

Boston University has been accused of failing its Jewish students in the face of rising antisemitism. In 2023, the BU community was shaken by the Israel-Hamas War, which resulted in an outpouring of anger and sadness from students. While the university released a statement condemning the eruption of violence, some students felt that it came too late and that they "feel isolated in this dark moment."

In the same year, the BU Hillel window was vandalized with the words "Free Palestine," sparking fear among Jewish students. One student wrote about her experience of witnessing frequent incidents targeting Jewish students on campuses across America and feeling unsafe at BU. She called upon the university to stand up against Jewish hate and include Jewish students and faculty in their Diversity & Inclusion activism and protective policies.

In response to these incidents, Boston University has taken some steps to address antisemitism. The university has a 22-25% Jewish undergraduate student population and offers various resources to support its Jewish community. BU Hillel, for example, provides a safe space for Jewish students and offers a range of programming and resources to help students adjust to college life and connect with peers. Additionally, the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies offers courses that help students understand modern antisemitism and the complex issues surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.

However, some students and faculty still feel that the university's response to antisemitism is inadequate. They argue that the administration's silence on certain issues and slow response to others contribute to a feeling of isolation among Jewish students. They call for more concrete actions and statements of support from the university to ensure that Jewish students feel safe and included on campus.

Boston University's Hillel

Boston University Hillel, also known as BU Hillel, is a Hillel International chapter that serves Boston University. BU Hillel's mission is to "inspire, educate and empower BU students to lead meaningful, joyous Jewish lives." Their vision is for every student to make an enduring commitment to ignite their Jewish identity, activate community, and engage the world around them.

BU Hillel offers a variety of programming and resources to help incoming freshmen adjust to college life, make new friends, and connect with peers. They host events such as Fresh Fest, Shabbat at Hillel, Shabbat Lunch, Make a Wish for the Kotel, Latkapalooza, Israeli Jeopardy, and Winter is Coming Pub Night. They also offer regular updates through their mailing list and feature videos that share the stories and voices of BU Hillel students.

The Hillel building is open to students with a BU ID. Prospective and admitted students can contact Samantha Brody (bsamanth@bu.edu) for more information or to get in touch with Hillel.

According to Hillel International, Boston University has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 Jewish students, comprising around 22% of the student population. The university offers kosher dining options, religious services, and Jewish studies courses. BU Hillel aims to create a supportive and welcoming environment for Jewish students at Boston University.

Boston University's Jewish curriculum

Boston University has a Jewish student population of around 20-23%, which equates to approximately 4,000 students. The university offers a Jewish curriculum, including a Jewish Studies Minor, and a Hillel program.

The Jewish Studies Minor offers a broad range of courses, including:

• World Cultures of the Jews
• Judaism
• The Bible
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• Masterpieces of Modern Hebrew Literature
• Jewish Literature
• The Hebrew Bible
• From Jesus to Christ: The Origins of Christianity
• Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
• Early Jewish Mystical Thought
• Jewish Mysticism
• Holy City: Jerusalem in Time, Space, and Imagination
• History of Judaism
• Modern Judaism
• Antisemitism after the Holocaust
• The Holocaust
• Representations of the Holocaust in Literature and Film
• Israeli Popular Music
• Advanced Modern Hebrew: Voices in Israeli Society
• Sixth-Semester Hebrew: Food Culture in Israel

The Hillel program at Boston University offers support and a sense of community to Jewish students. They host events such as Shabbat at Hillel, Shabbat Lunch, and a Welcome Back BBQ. They also offer kosher dining options.

Despite these offerings, some Jewish students at Boston University have expressed feeling unsafe and unsupported by the university's administration.

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