Student Committees and Groups

Student Committees

FYSH (First Year Students at Hillel)

FYSH holds events specifically for first year students throughout the entire year, and we’re looking for a few first year leaders!
Contact: Izzy Goldsmith

Holidays Committee

Inspired by Moses, the Maccabees, and Queen Esther? Well, then come help the Holidays Committee plan everything from Purim to the High Holidays! Events include a Sleepover in the Sukkah, the famed Hanukkah Bash, a Purim party, and many more!
Contact: Rebecca Schwartz and Ryan Silverman

Learning Committee

This committee is all about bringing Jewish learning and thought to campus. We delve into the nitty gritty issues in Judaism and both learn about what our religion says about them as well as discuss the repercussions and our thoughts on them. Learning events are fun events, and we love to have anyone of any experience level there.
Contact: Ethan Swagel

Shabbat Committee

Do you like Shabbat? Friday night services? Communal dinners? Jewish Yoga? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you'd love to be a part of Shabbat Team! At Shabbat Team meetings, join fellow students to discuss and plan all aspects of awesome Shabbat-related programming at Brown RISD Hillel for the College Hill community.
Contact: Aliyah Blattner

Social Committee

Enjoy having fun? Enjoy being social? Enjoy finding friends? The Social Committee puts together the most fun and social events at Hillel, including the Orientation Barbecue, Speed Dating/Friend Finding, and movie nights! Come share your ideas for fun social events at Hillel!
Contact: Rafe Erdley

Tzedek (Social Justice) Committee

The Tzedek Committee is dedicated to the promotion of social justice activity in our community. We'll work on food drives, holiday-related events, and spreading the word/participating in socially relevant happenings around Rhode Island.
Contact: Elyse Forman & Caroline Cheng

Welcoming Committee

Welcoming Committee is responsible for making Hillel a warm and inviting place for both current and potential members of the Brown and RISD communities. We work with prospective students, new students, and current students who want to get more involved.
Contact: Ilana Duchan

Student Groups

Alef Beats

Brown and RISD's premier Jewish-themed a Capella group is brought together by a passion for music and Jewish culture, this diverse group of singers work to bring Jewish a Capella to the music scene.
Contact: Marlon Sherman

Beta Rho

Beta Rho is Brown University’s Jewish fraternity dedicated to brotherhood and Jewish life.
Contact: Max Harris

Brown Students for Israel (BSI)

BSI is committed to supporting a strong US-Israel relationship as well as promoting honest discourse related to Israel and the Middle East. We fundamentally believe in Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and seek forward-thinking solutions that move Israel towards a secure and peaceful future.
Contact: Howard Silverman and Gabriella Raviv

Conversational Hebrew

Whether you’re looking for a beginner’s learning session or a more advanced conversation, we have something for you!
Contact: info@brownrisdhillel.org

Hillel Environmental Action League (HEAL)

Hillel Environmental Action League is a group of Jewish students who are guided by Jewish values to advocate for environmental justice within the Jewish community and alongside non-Jewish communities to protect and sustain both people and the planet. Contact: Lily Gordon

Hillel Gallery Project

The arts alliance is a group of students studying art who bring visual art and creativity to Brown RISD Hillel, in part by overseeing the gallery. The Gallery exhibits work by students as well as local and professional artists. Contact: gallery@brownrisdhillel.org

Hillel Initiative on Racial Awareness and Justice (HIRAJ)

This group seeks to create dialogue, deepen understanding, and take action on issues related to race and racism in our community, on our campuses, and in our country. We will run programming that embraces Jewish racial diversity at our Hillel, on campus, and in American Jewish life.
Contact: Jenna Israel or Claire Miller

Hillelin' with Melanin

Hillelin’ with Melanin is a group at Hillel for Jews who also identify as people of color. It is a community-based group that participates in bimonthly community building activities, learns about different cultures, and bonds with each other in the hope of making Hillel a welcoming place for Jews of all backgrounds. Contact: Jordan Mann (Staff)

Holocaust Initiative at Brown University

HIBU is a student group with the mission of improving Holocaust education through presenting diverse, personal narratives of Holocaust survivors.
Contact: Ilana Emanuel

Jewish Cooking Club

The Jewish Cooking Club gathers for cooking, food, and a little taste of Jewish culture from around the world and just down the street.
Contact: Jasmine Gabor

Jewishly Inspired Meditation

The words “mysticism” or “contemplative” most commonly bring to mind Eastern contemplative traditions – but Judaism, too, possesses ancient and profound teachings in these realms. Join student leader Teddy Daniel as we contemplate Jewishly related themes followed by a 20-minute sit. We will attempt to recenter to our best selves through engaged meditative practice. No prior experience necessary!
Contact: Teddy Daniel

SoupMe

A student-led volunteer initiative, delivering kosher matzah ball soup with chicken broth (vegetarian and gluten-free options available on request) to ailing students on campus, along with some special goodies. Parents, Grandparents and Other Caring Adults may Order soup for a student by filling out the Soup Me Form.
Contact: info@brownrisdhillel.org

Jews of Mixed Identity (JMI)

If you consider yourself “Jewish and…” then this group is right for you! JMI is a discussion space and community in which we explore how our other identities (particularly our other cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious identities) affect our Jewishness- and how our Jewishness affects those other identities.
Contact: Maeve Wiesen

JewQ

JewQ is a group that, through dialogue and programming, promotes understanding and community among LGBTQ+ Jews and Allies at Brown and RISD. It is intended to serve as a safe space for any Brown and RISD students to address the intersection between Jewish and queer identity, as well as a fun social space for queer and allied Jews.
Contact: Levana Sugarman

J Street U Brown

J Street U Brown, a chapter of J Street U, advocates for recognition of the fundamental rights of Palestinians in our institutions and government. We strive to stand loudly against the Occupation, creeping settlement expansion, and de facto annexation—all projects weaponized against Palestinians and against Palestinian liberation.

We are committed to creating space on campus for students to gather and think critically about issues related to Israel and Palestine—whether it be to question the narratives we grew up with, learn more about how to educate and promote solidarity within Jewish communities and institutions, or prepare to meet and advocate on our issues directly to members of Congress. JSUB is an open space and community, so reach out and we will welcome you!

Check out JSUB's Instagram

Contact: Ellie Blumberg

MaccaBears@Brown

MaccaBears@Brown brings together the Jewish athlete community. We have biweekly Thursday Shabbat dinners that allow traveling Jewish athletes to celebrate the holiday. We also create a space for Jewish athletes to share Jewish experiences and its everyday academic and athletic impact.
Contact: Aaron Siff-Scherr

Mahberet

Our very own literary magazine, publishing original writing and artwork by Brown and RISD students. We welcome submissions throughout the year and publish at year’s end. We look forward to sharing your work!
Contact: Sarah Lewis

Women's Rosh Hodesh Group

Join women at Brown RISD Hillel in welcoming each Hebrew month with song, texts, discussion, and meditation. We welcome all women, including people who are feminine of center and/or genderqueer, to create this space with us.
Contact: Hannah Gelman

Yarmulkazi

Yarmulkazi is Brown University's premier klezmer band. They entertain at university and community events, and are always looking for eager new members.
Contact: Klezmer.Brown@gmail.com

Want something you don't see? Contact: info@brownrisdhillel.org

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Student Committees and Groups