Ibrahim Gardner
The University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville, has a long history of Jewish student life. While the number of Jewish students was small in the nineteenth century, the early twentieth century saw a relative increase, leading to the establishment of Jewish fraternities and a Jewish Student Union in 1939. Today, the Brody Jewish Center, a registered nonprofit, serves as a hub for Jewish students at the university, offering a range of programming and kosher dining options. While the exact number of Jewish students at the University of Virginia is not publicly available, estimates place the figure at around 1000, with a goal of connecting each student to the areas of Judaism that are meaningful to them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Jewish students | Around 1000 |
| Jewish student organisations | Brody Jewish Center, Hillel, Hoos for Israel |
| Kosher food | Provided in the Newcomb and Observatory Hill dining halls |
| Jewish fraternities | Zeta Beta Tau, Phi Epsilon Pi, Phi Alpha, Alpha Epsilon Pi |
| Jewish alumni | Leo Levi, A. Leo Oberdorfer, Archie Oberdorfer |
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What You'll Learn
Jewish student population at UVA
The University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville has a Jewish student population of around 1000, according to Hillel at UVA. The university has a long history of Jewish students, dating back to the nineteenth century when Jewish students attended the university in small numbers. In the early twentieth century, there was a relative increase in the number of Jewish students at UVA, leading to the establishment of Jewish fraternities and the Jewish Student Union in 1939. Today, the Brody Jewish Center, a registered nonprofit, serves as a hub for Jewish student life at UVA, offering a range of programming, including a first-year leadership development program and kosher food options in select dining halls.
The Jewish Leadership Council is the student governing body over the many groups at the Brody Jewish Center, with more than 75 students holding leadership positions within the organization. These student leaders play a crucial role in creating a welcoming atmosphere for Jewish students and helping them connect with the Jewish community at UVA. The First Year Engagement Interns, for example, organize 1:1 coffee dates and group activities to help new students feel supported and build lasting relationships.
In addition to the Brody Jewish Center, Jewish students at UVA can join the pro-Israel student organization, Hoos for Israel, which offers a variety of cultural and educational programming, including Krav Maga instruction, discussion groups, and Israeli food events. UVA's Hillel, established in 1941, also provides a space for social, cultural, and religious expression, offering religious services, lectures, interfaith dialogue groups, and more.
While the Jewish student population at UVA is significant, some prospective students have noted that it is lower than at other universities, particularly private schools. However, the UVA community emphasizes diversity and inclusivity, and Jewish students at the university report feeling safe and included, with one student commenting that UVA is "definitely the right place" for them as a Jew.
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Jewish student life at UVA
Jewish student life at the University of Virginia (UVA) has a long history, with Gratz Cohen of Savannah being the earliest known Jewish student, attending the university from 1862 to 1864. In the nineteenth century, Jewish students attended UVA in small numbers, and in the early twentieth century, there was a relative increase in Jewish students. During this time, Jewish students were formally or informally excluded from joining existing fraternities, so they organized their own chapters of Jewish fraternities, including Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), the first Jewish fraternity at UVA, and Phi Epsilon Pi. In 1922, Phi Alpha was established, followed by others, including Alpha Epsilon Pi.
Today, the Brody Jewish Center (BJC), also known as Hillel at UVA, is a registered nonprofit that serves as a hub for Jewish student life at the university. The center is funded through grants, allocations by Federations and Foundations, and gifts, with over 60% of its annual operating budget coming from individual donations. The BJC offers a first-year leadership development program and provides kosher food options in partnership with the university. The Jewish Leadership Council is the student governing body over the many groups at the BJC, with more than 75 students holding leadership positions.
There are about 1000 Jewish students at UVA, and the student leadership model at the BJC focuses on engagement, aiming to connect each student to the areas of Judaism that are meaningful to them. First-year engagement interns help new students connect with the Jewish community through 1:1 coffee dates, group activities, and events. Hoos for Israel, the university's pro-Israel student organization, also works to strengthen support for Israel through cultural and educational programming, including Krav Maga instruction, discussion groups, and Israeli food events.
While UVA offers a diverse community, some prospective students have noted that the Jewish population is relatively low compared to other universities. However, the university's Brody Jewish Center provides a good community for Jewish students, and there are no reports of general hostility towards Jews on campus.
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Jewish fraternities at UVA
The University of Virginia has a long history of Jewish student life. The earliest known Jewish student at UVA, Gratz Cohen of Savannah, attended the university from 1862 to 1864. In the early 20th century, there was a relative increase in the number of Jewish students at the university. During this time, Jewish students were formally or informally excluded from joining existing fraternities, so they organized their own chapters of Jewish fraternities. The first Jewish fraternity at UVA was Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), founded in 1915, followed by Phi Epsilon Pi in the same year, Phi Alpha in 1922, and Alpha Epsilon Pi soon after.
Zeta Beta Tau, the world's first Jewish fraternity, is set to return to the University of Virginia in Fall 2024. The fraternity was previously active at UVA, with members pictured socialising with young Jewish women from Charlottesville in the early 20th century.
In addition to fraternities, Jewish students at UVA have other resources and organizations available to them. The Brody Jewish Center is a registered nonprofit that offers a first-year leadership development program and provides kosher food options in certain dining halls. More than 75 students hold leadership positions within the organization, which is governed by the Jewish Leadership Council. The University of Virginia Jewish Studies Program offers coursework and extracurricular lectures, colloquia, and cultural programs that examine all aspects of Jewish society, literature, language, culture, and history.
The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) at UVA, founded in 1999, is composed of 11 single-sex and coeducational organizations that emphasize a particular race or culture, particularly Asian or Latino culture. While these organizations may have a cultural emphasis, membership is generally open to students of any race. The Greek Jewish Council (GJC) is a Greek Council that has been historically active several times at UVA but is currently dormant.
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History of antisemitism at UVA
The University of Virginia has faced scrutiny in recent years for a perceived rise in antisemitism on its campus. In April 2024, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) gave the university a failing grade for its policies on antisemitism prevention. This came after the US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation in December 2023.
The University has acknowledged that there have been "dozens of recent reports of antisemitic activity". One Jewish student reported receiving death threats, being physically assaulted while counterprotesting at an anti-Israel walkout, and being called antisemitic slurs. Another student tore down posters from the law school that brought attention to Jewish hostages abducted by rapists, torturers, and murderers. While the University has stated that it is "deeply committed to caring for our students and to confronting antisemitism and other forms of bias", some feel that the University's response has been inadequate, with one article from January 2024 calling for the establishment of a task force dedicated to addressing antisemitism.
The University does have resources for Jewish students, including the Brody Jewish Center, which is a registered nonprofit funded by grants, allocations, and gifts from alumni, parents, and community members. The Center offers a first-year leadership development program and provides kosher food in certain dining halls. There is also a Jewish Leadership Council, which is the student governing body over the many groups at the Brody Jewish Center, with more than 75 students holding leadership positions.
Despite these resources, some prospective students have expressed concerns about the low Jewish population at the University and the prevalence of antisemitism on campus. One student on a University of Virginia subreddit wrote that they had seen antisemitism on other campuses and wanted to make sure that the campuses they were considering were inclusive.
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Jewish student safety at UVA
Jewish students at the University of Virginia have faced antisemitism on campus. In 2024, a Jewish student claimed that he was bullied by his housemate due to his faith, and that the latter brandished a gun at him in their shared residence. The student, Matan Goldstein, filed a lawsuit against the university, accusing the university administration of ignoring the "violent hate-based, antisemitic hostile educational environment". The university settled the lawsuit in late 2024, but the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Following this incident, the US Department of Education put the University of Virginia on notice, warning the school that it could face "'enforcement actions' if it failed to take adequate measures to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights listed the University of Virginia among 60 colleges and universities that were urged to comply with the Civil Rights Act and protect Jewish students or risk investigation.
The University of Virginia offers some resources for Jewish students through the Brody Jewish Center, which is a registered nonprofit organisation. The centre offers a first-year leadership development program and kosher food options in certain dining halls. Additionally, there is a Jewish Leadership Council, which is the student governing body over the many groups at the Brody Jewish Center. More than 75 students hold leadership positions within the organisation.
While there have been reports of antisemitism at the University of Virginia, one student shares that they feel safe as a Jewish student at the university, stating that there isn't any general hostility towards Jews. They also mention the presence of Hillel and Chabad on campus, with the latter being a more close-knit community.
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Frequently asked questions
There are around 1000 Jewish students at the University of Virginia.
The Jewish Society at the University of Virginia is called Hillel. It is a student leadership model that puts engagement at the heart of its work. There are over 75 students in leadership positions within the organisation, with the Jewish Leadership Council acting as the governing body. The society offers a first-year leadership development program and provides kosher food in two dining halls.
Yes, there is a Jewish fraternity at the University of Virginia called ZBT, Zeta Beta Tau. It was established in 1915 and is the first Jewish fraternity at the university.
