Douglas Olsen
The University of Maryland, College Park, has a large Jewish student population, with estimates ranging from 5,000 to 6,500 Jewish students on campus. The Orthodox Jewish community at Maryland is one of the largest collegiate communities in the US, with over 500 students attending Modern or Centrist Orthodox day schools and 270-330 students spending a year in an Orthodox gap-year program in Israel. The university offers a range of Jewish student organizations, such as Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations, as well as kosher food options and accommodations for Jewish holidays. While there have been reports of antisemitism on campus, many Jewish students feel safe expressing their Jewish identity and view the university as a Jewish-friendly environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Jewish undergraduate students | 5,800 |
| Number of Jewish graduate students | 800 |
| Percentage of Jewish undergraduate students | 19% |
| Percentage of Jewish graduate students | 8% |
| Total number of Jewish students | 6,500 |
| Jewish students as a percentage of the total student body | 25% |
| Number of Jewish students in Maryland Hillel | 4,000 |
| Number of students who attend Orthodox day schools | 500+ |
| Number of students who spent a year in an Orthodox gap year program in Israel | 270-330 |
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What You'll Learn
- The University of Maryland has between 5,800 and 6,500 Jewish students
- Jewish students make up 19% of the undergraduate student body
- There are 800 Jewish graduate students, or 8% of the graduate population
- The Orthodox Jewish community is one of the largest in the US
- The university offers resources and events for Jewish students
The University of Maryland has between 5,800 and 6,500 Jewish students
The University of Maryland is home to a large Jewish student community. Estimates place the number of Jewish students at the university at between 5,800 and 6,500. This large Jewish population is served by a variety of organisations and societies, including Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organisations. The Hillel chapter at the University of Maryland is one of the most prominent in the country, offering kosher food, leadership training, and other services to Jewish students. The university's Hillel chapter engages around 4,000 Jewish students annually, out of the approximately 6,000 Jewish students at the university.
The Jewish community at the University of Maryland is diverse, drawing members from across the country and the world. It represents a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, political and religious viewpoints, and levels of Jewish experience and observance. The Orthodox Jewish community at the university is one of the largest in the United States, with over 500 students who attended Modern or Centrist Orthodox day schools and 270-330 students who spent a year in an Orthodox gap-year programme in Israel. The university also offers accommodation and exam scheduling that accommodate Jewish holidays and observances.
While the University of Maryland has a significant Jewish population, there have been reports of antisemitism on campus. In November 2023, protesters expressed hateful, antisemitic sentiments, and antisemitic messages were discovered on the sidewalk after a demonstration. The university has taken steps to address antisemitism, increasing campus safety measures and creating a task force to confront antisemitism and Islamophobia. The university has also reminded students of the online system to report hate-bias incidents and has charged campus leaders with creating educational programming to address antisemitism.
Despite these incidents, many Jewish students at the University of Maryland report feeling safe and supported. They describe a vibrant Jewish community, with students expressing their Jewish identity through clothing and other symbols. The university received the highest marks of Washington-area universities graded by StopAntisemitism, a New York-based watchdog group. The university's Jewish students, who make up a significant portion of the undergraduate population, speak of a positive environment with support from the administration.
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Jewish students make up 19% of the undergraduate student body
The University of Maryland, College Park has a large Jewish student population. There are 5,800 Jewish undergraduate students on campus, making up 19% of the undergraduate student body. The Orthodox Jewish community at the university is one of the largest collegiate communities in the US. Over 500 students attended Modern or Centrist Orthodox day schools, and 270-330 students spent a year in an Orthodox gap-year programme in Israel.
Jewish students at the University of Maryland are served by Hillel, which offers kosher food and leadership training, as well as social and educational events. Hillel International describes Maryland Hillel as "one of the nation's premier Hillels", engaging 4,000 Jewish students annually out of the approximately 6,000 Jewish students at the university. Hillel at the University of Maryland is among the top Hillels in the country, inspiring the 6,500 Jewish students on campus to make enduring commitments to Jewish life.
The university also has a Jewish a cappella group called Rak Shalom, and a student group that performs and teaches on campus, as well as at Israeli Dance Festivals across the east coast. In addition, the university hosts an annual four-day weekend convention and basketball tournament to bring Jews from all backgrounds together, foster unity, and inspire attendees to live active Jewish lives.
While there have been reports of antisemitism on campus, many Jewish students report feeling safe expressing their Jewish identity. The university has taken steps to address antisemitism, such as increasing campus safety measures and creating a Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force to provide guidance and recommendations to confront antisemitism and Islamophobia.
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There are 800 Jewish graduate students, or 8% of the graduate population
The University of Maryland is home to a large Jewish student population. With 800 Jewish graduate students, they make up 8% of the graduate student population on campus. This number is a significant portion of the overall student body and reflects the university's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.
The University of Maryland has a vibrant and active Jewish community, with various organisations and resources dedicated to supporting and engaging Jewish students. Maryland Hillel, for instance, is one of the nation's premier Hillels, offering a range of services and programmes to enhance the Jewish student experience. They provide kosher food, leadership training, Shabbat meals, trips to Israel, and cultural lectures, among other activities. Hillel works closely with Jewish student organisations, such as Kedma, the Orthodox student organisation, to ensure that Jewish life on campus is rich and accessible to all.
The Orthodox Jewish community at the University of Maryland is one of the largest in the United States. With a strong presence on campus, Jewish students have made an impact on the university as a whole. The university accommodates Jewish practices and observances, such as providing residence accommodations for Shabbat and holiday celebrations and offering a free roommate matching service for Jewish students. Additionally, apartments with kosher kitchens are often passed down within the Jewish student community.
While the University of Maryland boasts a large and active Jewish student population, it is important to acknowledge that antisemitism remains an issue on campus. There have been reported instances of antisemitic graffiti and chalking, and pamphlets distributed near the university. However, the university administration has taken steps to address these issues and ensure the safety of Jewish students. The university has issued statements condemning acts of discrimination and hate, and President Darryll Pines has specifically addressed the safety concerns of Jewish students in light of the Hamas attack in October 2024.
Overall, the University of Maryland is committed to fostering an inclusive environment for its diverse student body, including its significant Jewish population. With a range of resources, organisations, and accommodations, the university supports and engages its 800 Jewish graduate students, who make up an important part of the campus community.
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The Orthodox Jewish community is one of the largest in the US
The University of Maryland is home to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in the United States. Out of the approximately 6,000 Jewish students at the university, Maryland Hillel engages 4,000 annually. There are over 500 students who attended Modern or Centrist Orthodox day schools, and 270-330 students who spent a year in an Orthodox gap-year programme in Israel. The Orthodox community has a significant impact on the university, with residence accommodations made for Shabbat and holiday observance, as well as exam rescheduling.
The Orthodox Jewish community is a subgroup within the broader Jewish community in the US, and it stands out for several reasons. Firstly, Orthodox Jews tend to identify as Republicans and hold conservative positions on social issues, which sets them apart from most other American Jews, who tend to be more liberal-leaning. Additionally, Orthodox Jews are, on average, much younger than other US Jews, with a median age of 40, compared to 52 for other Jewish adults. They also have larger families, with an average of 4.1 children compared to 1.7 for other Jews.
Orthodox Jews are more religiously committed than other Jewish groups and are more likely to be married, with two-thirds of Orthodox adults being married compared to half of other Jewish adults. Within the Orthodox community, there are further subgroups, with about six-in-ten being Haredi or Ultra-Orthodox, and three-in-ten identifying with the Modern Orthodox movement. Haredi Jews strictly adhere to the Torah's commandments and view them as incompatible with secular society. In contrast, Modern Orthodox Jews integrate into modern society while following traditional Jewish law.
The majority of Orthodox Jews in the US live in the Northeast, particularly in New York and New Jersey. However, the University of Maryland's large Orthodox Jewish community demonstrates that significant populations exist outside of these regions. The Orthodox community at the university is well-organised, with groups like Hillel and Kedma providing various programmes and events to ensure a rich and accessible Orthodox life on campus.
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The university offers resources and events for Jewish students
The University of Maryland, College Park has approximately 6,000 Jewish students, comprising 19% of the student body. The university offers a wide range of resources and events for Jewish students to ensure they feel a sense of belonging and can foster their personal identities and activism.
Maryland Hillel
Maryland Hillel is one of the nation's premier Hillels, engaging 4,000 Jewish students annually. It offers a variety of services and programs, including:
- Leadership training
- Funded Shabbat meals
- Trips to Israel and other service-learning trips
- Lectures, classes, and other educational opportunities
- Kosher food at the Rosenbloom Hillel Center
- Roommate matching service
- Social events and activities, such as the National Hillel Basketball Tournament
Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Studies
The Meyerhoff Center offers students opportunities to engage with Jewish studies and related fields. Students can explore the history, culture, and political structure of Israel and the Middle East and learn Hebrew and/or Arabic. The Center also offers graduate programs for further exploration into Jewish and Israel Studies.
Orthodox Jewish Community
The University of Maryland's Orthodox Jewish community is one of the largest in the United States. The university accommodates religious practices, such as providing residence accommodations for Shabbat and holiday observance and allowing extensions and rescheduling of exams. OU-JLIC, an organization that works closely with the Orthodox student group Kedma, offers programs and events such as movie nights, BBQs, Chanukah celebrations, and women's events.
Jewish Student Organizations
In addition to Hillel and OU-JLIC, the University of Maryland has several other Jewish student organizations, including Chabad and Jewish Greek life groups. These organizations provide a sense of community and offer various events and activities for Jewish students to participate in.
Scholarships
The University of Maryland also offers scholarships specifically for Jewish students, such as the Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies scholarship for students pursuing a minor in Israel studies.
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Frequently asked questions
Estimates vary, with some sources claiming there are 5,800 Jewish undergraduate students, while others state the number to be 6,000 or even 6,500. The University of Maryland has one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in the US.
The Jewish students at the University of Maryland make up around 19% of the undergraduate student body. This equates to around 19% of the total student population.
There are several societies and events for Jewish students at the University of Maryland. These include Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations. Hillel at the University of Maryland is one of the top Hillels in the country, offering kosher food and a range of events for Jewish students. There is also an Orthodox Jewish student organization called Kedma, which works closely with Hillel to ensure a rich and accessible Orthodox life on campus. The Jewish Student Union (JSU) strives to create a space for Jews of all backgrounds to come together and celebrate their identity. The University also hosts an annual National Hillel Basketball Tournament, which brings together Jewish students from across the country.
