
Syracuse University has a strong Jewish presence on campus, with sources estimating that between 16.4% and 25% of its students are Jewish. Syracuse Hillel, the center of Jewish life on campus, is committed to adding value to the university experience for Jewish students. Syracuse Hillel hosts many events throughout the year and provides daily full meat kitchen meals at Shaw Hall. Syracuse University's northeastern location may also appeal to Jewish students, as 43% of American Jews live in the Northeast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Jewish students | 16.4% or 18% (25% in 2004) |
| Number of Jewish students | 2,500 (in 2004) |
| Jewish students' reasons for choosing SU | Northeastern location, high percentage of Jews who attend college |
| Jewish community on campus | Syracuse Hillel, Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life |
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What You'll Learn

Syracuse University's Hillel chapter
Syracuse Hillel is committed to enhancing the university experience for Jewish students and is an integral part of the university. It works with all areas of the university, both academically and through student life, to create a dynamic, diverse, creative, and welcoming community. Syracuse Hillel serves as the center of Jewish life on the Syracuse University campus.
Syracuse Hillel provides full meat kitchen meals daily at Shaw Hall. Holidays and special events are served at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life. The Hillel chapter also offers a study abroad program in Israel, which is university-sponsored and approved, and accepts credit for Israel study abroad. Syracuse Hillel also provides scholarships for Jewish students, including a needs-based fund to help underwrite expenses related to a planned group trip to Israel.
Syracuse University has earned a reputation for its growing Jewish population over the past few decades. According to Hillel's national website, about 25% of SU's campus is Jewish, which has had a significant effect on the university. While other universities have higher Jewish populations, Syracuse's percentage is still high, especially when compared to the less than 2% of people in the United States who identify as Jewish.
The high rate of Jewish students at SU can be attributed to the large number of Jews who attend college. National Jewish Population Survey data shows that nearly 75% of American Jews aged 25 to 34 hold a college degree, double that of American white non-Hispanics. Additionally, SU's northeastern location appeals to Jewish students as 43% of American Jews live in this region.
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Jewish students' safety concerns
Syracuse University has a strong Jewish presence on campus, with Hillel International reporting that about 25% of SU's campus is Jewish. This has led to the university earning a reputation for its growing Jewish population over the past three decades.
Syracuse University has faced criticism for its handling of antisemitism on campus, with parents and students submitting a report to the House of Representatives. The report states that the university has failed to address incidents of antisemitism, including a professor "blaming Israel" and a student telling other students to "shut the f*ck up" when asked to declare Hamas a terrorist organization. There are also concerns about a biased professor teaching a class on Israel and Palestine, with doubts about their ability to provide an unbiased and comprehensive curriculum.
In response to these concerns, Syracuse Hillel is committed to enhancing the university experience for Jewish students and creating a welcoming community. They collaborate with various areas of the university to foster a dynamic and diverse environment. Syracuse University has also taken steps to address Jewish students' safety concerns by:
- Offering two open forums per semester for students to express safety concerns.
- Establishing a student advisory committee to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), composed of representatives from various student groups on campus.
- Partnering with the Student Association to host student focus groups.
- Implementing anti-Semitism training for faculty and staff, recognizing Jewish identity in the curriculum, and interacting with students with this identity.
- Launching an updated curriculum covering anti-Semitism in the fall using the Everfi platform.
- Sponsoring a student coalition of marginalized identities, supported by willing faculty and staff, to discuss campus climate and address concerns.
Syracuse University's handling of certain events has also raised safety concerns. The university canceled a visit by a Middle Eastern studies scholar due to safety concerns and potential threats to the wider campus community. However, students and faculty involved in the teach-in criticized the university's decision, stating that it elevated the safety risk to the Jewish community on campus.
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Jewish life on campus
Syracuse University has a vibrant Jewish life on campus. The Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life, located at 102 Walnut Place, Syracuse, is the centre of Jewish life on campus. Hillel International is committed to enriching the university experience for Jewish students and creating a dynamic, diverse, creative, and welcoming community.
Hillel hosts Shabbat services and kosher Shabbat dinners every Friday throughout the academic year at the Winnick Hillel Center. The Winnick Hillel Center also serves full meat kitchen meals daily at Shaw Hall. Holidays and special events are celebrated at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life, including Passover at Hillel's Seder in the JMA Wireless Dome.
Syracuse Hillel offers a range of programmes and initiatives to engage Jewish students on campus. These include internships, Birthright Israel trips, and social justice learning fellowships. Hillel also provides scholarships and funds to support Jewish students' initiatives and group trips to Israel.
The university has earned a reputation for its growing Jewish population over the past few decades. According to Hillel's national website, about 25 percent of SU's campus is Jewish, although other sources place this figure at 16.4%. This high percentage has had a significant effect on the university, with Syracuse known for its strong Jewish presence.
The large Jewish population at Syracuse University can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, a high percentage of American Jews attend college, with nearly 75 percent of American Jews aged 25 to 34 holding a college degree. Additionally, the northeastern location of Syracuse University appeals to Jewish students, as 43 percent of American Jews live in the Northeast region of the United States.
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Syracuse University's reputation
Syracuse University, a private institution founded in 1870, has a reputation for its growing Jewish population. In 2004, it was estimated that about 25% of the campus was Jewish, with some students referring to Mount Olympus as "mini-Jerusalem". This reputation has spread by word-of-mouth, attracting more Jewish students to the university. Syracuse Hillel, an integral part of the university, collaborates with various areas of the university to create a dynamic, diverse, creative, and welcoming community for Jewish students.
The university has also gained a reputation for its academic and social atmosphere, with students reporting a ton of chances and ways to connect with people. However, in recent years, there has been a downward trend in its prestige due to a rift between the administration and the student body, a toxic social environment, and a downturn in academic standards. The university has been criticized for its handling of incidents related to sexual assault, racism, and mental health.
Syracuse University's ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #73, with tuition and fees totaling $65,528. The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,739 as of Fall 2023 and a campus size of 725 acres.
The high rate of Jewish students at Syracuse University can be attributed to the large number of Jews who attend college. According to a National Jewish Population Survey, nearly 75% of American Jews aged 25 to 34 hold a college degree, a rate twice that of American white non-Hispanics. Additionally, the university's northeastern location appeals to Jewish students, as 43% of American Jews live in the Northeast.
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Jewish students' scholarships
Syracuse University has a strong Jewish presence on campus, with Hillel International reporting that about 25% of students are Jewish. Syracuse Hillel is an integral part of the university, collaborating with academic and student life departments to create a diverse and welcoming community. They serve 2,500 Jewish students (16.4%) out of a total student population of 15,245.
Syracuse Hillel offers a range of services and support for Jewish students, including daily full meals at Shaw Hall and holiday celebrations at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life. They also offer scholarships and grants, including Interfaith Outreach Microgrants and needs-based funds to support group trips to Israel.
Syracuse University's strong Jewish presence is due in part to its northeastern location, which appeals to American Jews as 43% reside in the Northeast. The university's reputation for its growing Jewish population has spread by word-of-mouth, attracting more Jewish students.
Syracuse Hillel enriches the university experience for Jewish students and fosters a dynamic and inclusive community. Their services and scholarships enhance the educational and cultural opportunities for Jewish students at Syracuse University.
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Frequently asked questions
According to Hillel's national website, about 25% of Syracuse University's campus is Jewish. However, another source states that 18% of Syracuse University's undergraduate student population is Jewish.
The high percentage of Jewish students at Syracuse University may be due to the large number of Jews who attend college. Nearly 75% of American Jews aged 25 to 34 hold a college degree, a rate double that of American white non-Hispanics. Syracuse University's northeastern location may also be a factor, as 43% of American Jews live in the Northeast.
Syracuse Hillel is committed to adding value to the university experience for Jewish students and creating a dynamic, diverse, creative, and welcoming community. Hillel at Syracuse University hosts many events throughout the year that students can attend and provides a support system for Jewish students.











































