Ibrahim Gardner
Vanderbilt University is a private university in Nashville, Tennessee, with a total enrollment of 13,796 students as of 2021. The university has a history of Jewish student enrollment, with one of the historically Jewish fraternities on campus being Alpha Epsilon Pi. In 2002, the university made a conscious decision to increase its Jewish student population, and today, it is estimated that around 1,000 students or about 15% of the undergraduate population are Jewish. The university's Hillel chapter and Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters provide support and resources for Jewish students, fostering a sense of community and inclusion on campus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of students | 13,796 |
| Number of undergraduate students | 7,111 |
| Number of Jewish students | 1,000 |
| Percentage of Jewish students | 15% |
| Number of Jewish graduate students | 250 |
| Number of Jewish students at Vanderbilt and surrounding universities | 1,000+ |
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What You'll Learn
Vanderbilt University has a Jewish student population of around 1,000
The Vanderbilt Hillel, wholly funded by the Nashville Jewish community, parents, and alumni, is dedicated to building Jewish communities and empowering students to explore all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life. Hundreds of students participate in Hillel activities, and about 200 hold leadership positions in one of over 25 Hillel student microcommunities. Shabbat services and dinners are held weekly when school is in session, and free kosher meat dinners are attended by over 75 students each week. Vanderbilt also has a kosher food truck, Aryeh's Kitchen, which is included in the university meal plan.
In addition to Vanderbilt Hillel, there are other Jewish organizations on campus, such as the historically Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi and the sorority Zeta Beta Tau. Vanderbilt Chabad, led by Rabbi Shlomo Rothstein and his wife Nechama, also serves the Jewish community on campus and is appreciated by the college community. The Rothsteins are popular guests at Greek houses, where they share "healthy messages driven by Chasidic teachings." Overall, Vanderbilt is known as a campus where Jewish students feel safe and welcome, in contrast to many other universities where anti-Israel demonstrations and anti-Semitic vandalism have made life difficult for Jewish students.
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The Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life is a hub for Jewish students
The Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life offers a range of programs and activities for Jewish students, including Shabbat services and dinners, Reform and Conservative services, kosher meals, student-led Seders for Passover, and Israel advocacy programs. Hillel at Vanderbilt has a micro-community model, which creates ongoing, discrete campus communities based on specific interests and commonalities between group members. These micro-communities include groups such as the Jewish Life Committee, First Year Students at Hillel, and Challah for Hunger challah baking group. Hundreds of students regularly participate in Hillel activities, and about 200 hold at least one leadership position in one of over 25 Hillel student microcommunities.
The centre is also a popular space for students of all backgrounds to congregate and socialise. It is located at the corner of Vanderbilt Place and 25th Avenue South and houses Grins Kosher Restaurant, providing kosher food with a southern twist. The restaurant is included in the university's meal plan, and approximately seventy students line up daily for lunch. The centre's building campaign has reached the halfway mark of a $4 million campaign to build a larger space to accommodate the growing number of students and activities.
The presence of the Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life reflects a conscious decision by the university’s leadership to increase its Jewish student enrollment and invest in a Jewish infrastructure. This decision has resulted in a significant increase in the number of Jewish students at Vanderbilt, with around 1,000 Jewish students, or about 15% of the undergraduate population, as of 2020. The centre plays an important role in fostering a welcoming environment for Jewish students, in contrast to some other universities where anti-Israel demonstrations and anti-Semitic vandalism have made life difficult for Jewish students.
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Vanderbilt Hillel has a popular Israel advocacy programme
Vanderbilt University has a history of antisemitism, with several instances of anti-Semitic vandalism on campus. In 2015, swastikas were spray-painted inside the house of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a historically Jewish fraternity. In 2020, a white fraternity brother from Delta Kappa Epsilon was caught on video using a racial slur. Despite this, Vanderbilt is also known for its welcoming atmosphere towards Jewish students, with the college community valuing the presence of Chabad. The university has actively worked to increase its Jewish student enrollment, investing in Jewish infrastructure, such as the Hillel's Schulman Center for Jewish Life. As a result, the Jewish population at Vanderbilt has grown significantly, with around 1,000 Jewish students, or about 15% of the undergraduate population, as of 2020.
Hillel's Israel advocacy efforts have not been without controversy. Vanderbilt's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, 'Dores in Solidarity with Palestine, has criticised Hillel for its pro-Israel stance and exclusion of anti-Zionist Jewish students. Hillel staff have expressed concern about pro-Palestine advocacy on campus and have been known to take notes at DSP meetings to craft campus Israel strategy. This has led to accusations of alienating anti-Zionist Jews and not fostering an environment for dialogue with differing viewpoints.
Despite these criticisms, Vanderbilt Hillel remains a popular and influential organisation on campus, providing a range of services and programmes to support and engage Jewish students at the university.
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The Vanderbilt campus has a kosher food truck
Vanderbilt University has a history of welcoming Jewish students and investing in Jewish infrastructure. In 2002, the university made a conscious decision to increase its Jewish student enrollment, constructing the Hillel's Schulman Center for Jewish Life. As of 2020, 15% of Vanderbilt's undergraduate student body is Jewish, amounting to around 1,000 students. The campus also has a thriving Greek life, with one of seventeen fraternities and sororities, Zeta Beta Tau, being Jewish.
The food truck is operated by Rabbi Gavriel and Menucha Isenberg, who also direct programs for Vanderbilt's 250 Jewish graduate students. Approximately 70 students line up daily for kosher lunch with a southern twist, and the food truck is included in the university's meal plan, demonstrating its support for Jewish life on campus. The university also offers other kosher dining options, such as Grins Kosher Restaurant, located in the Schulman Center, where hundreds of students regularly participate in Hillel activities.
The presence of the kosher food truck and other Jewish-focused initiatives, such as Chabad at Vanderbilt, contribute to a campus environment where Jewish students feel safe and welcome. Vanderbilt stands in contrast to other universities where anti-Israel demonstrations, anti-Semitic vandalism, and disdain for religious beliefs and practices make life challenging for Jewish students. The university's efforts to accommodate Jewish students and their dietary needs through the kosher food truck and other dining options are commendable and contribute to an inclusive campus community.
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Vanderbilt has a history of antisemitic incidents
Vanderbilt University has a history of antisemitic incidents. In 2015, three swastikas were found spray-painted inside the house of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a historically Jewish fraternity on campus. The campus Hillel chapter characterised the incident as "a malicious attack intended to bring to mind the horrors of the Holocaust, to force us to feel different, endangered and isolated". The incident made national and international headlines and was characterised as a hate crime by university officials.
In 2021, a Vanderbilt student expressed concern about the university's statement regarding the violence involving Israel and Palestine in May of that year, which they felt lacked objectivity and created an absence of neutral spaces for academic debate. In response, the student was invited to meet with Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, who assured the student of his support for the Jewish community and his commitment to preventing divisive rhetoric on campus. However, despite Diermeier's stated commitment, antisemitic incidents have continued on campus. Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe and uncomfortable in their classrooms, on campus, and among their peers. They have called on the university to take a resolute stand for their safety and well-being, exposing and addressing the rising tide of antisemitism.
In 2023, Vanderbilt hosted a public roundtable discussion titled "Confronting Hate: Antisemitism and Racism" to explore how historic occurrences of antisemitism and anti-Blackness inform current white supremacist movements in the United States. The discussion was attended by more than 60 students, faculty, staff, and community members. The program featured scholars from Fordham University with research interests in areas such as Medieval Jewish history and contemporary white nationalist movements.
Vanderbilt has taken some steps to create a safe and welcoming environment for Jewish students. The university is home to a Hillel chapter, which offers weekly Shabbat services and dinners, as well as conservative and reform services for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover. Vanderbilt also has a Chabad emissary, Rabbi Shlomo Rothstein, who is appreciated by the college community. Kosher food is available on campus through Aryeh's Kitchen, a kosher food truck included in the university meal plan. Additionally, Zeta Beta Tau, one of the seventeen fraternities and sororities on campus, is Jewish.
While Vanderbilt has made efforts to support Jewish students and address antisemitism, incidents of antisemitism persist, and Jewish students continue to call for more action from the university administration.
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Frequently asked questions
Around 15% of Vanderbilt’s undergraduate student body is Jewish, which is around 1,000 students.
Yes, Vanderbilt Hillel is dedicated to building Jewish communities and empowering students to follow their interests.
Hillel has Shabbat services and dinner every week school is in session. They also offer both Conservative and Reform services on campus for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as meals. For Passover, they host student-led Seders and work with Vanderbilt Campus Dining to provide kosher meals in the dining halls.
Yes, Aryeh’s Kitchen provides kosher food with a southern twist. Grins Kosher/Vegetarian Cafe is located at Vanderbilt Hillel and is included in the University meal plan.
Yes, one out of seventeen fraternities and sororities—Zeta Beta Tau—is Jewish.
