<p>I know there is a Hillel, but I was wondering how active it is. I am kind of nervous about going somewhere lacking in Jewish life and right now it is the biggest thing stopping me from enrolling. I'm not very religious at all, but I like being around the culture.</p>
<p>We are Reform Jewish. My son has gone to Hillel with one of his Kosher friends fairly often. The Hillel serves dinner on Friday evenings, and his friend brings home kosher meat (leftovers) to eat during the week. The Houston Hillel ran a Chili competition, and the Rabbi is on campus at least once a week. He has enjoyed the Hillel activities. </p>
<p>I say all this since even if you don’t want to be involved with Hillel, just to indicate that there is a large enough Jewish presence (about 10% of campus) that there will be Jewish culture for you. Unless you are in New York, New England or California, this is about what you can expect. Don’t worry about the Jewish culture. You can make it as relaxed or intense as you wish. </p>
<p>My son loves Rice.</p>
<p><a href=“http://jewishstudies.rice.edu/[/url]”>http://jewishstudies.rice.edu/</a>
Also wanted to add that I’ve heard that President Leebron sometimes welcomes the campus Jewish community to his home on Friday nights, that Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren recently spoke at the Baker Institute, that menorahs were lit during Chanukah, that the Houston Holocaust Museum is close by … not to worry!</p>