<p>How is the religious diversity at UVA? How is the Jewish community? I'm a current high school senior. I attended a Jewish day school for middle school and am currently active in my USY chapter. I wouldn't call myself religiously observant, but I have been to Israel three times and plan on taking a gap year in Israel. If anyone has any information on the Hillel, Jewish life for non-observant Jews, or attitudes towards Israel on campus, that would be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“Google”>Google]Google[/url</a>]
(you can similarly change that search to hillel, which is definitely the place you wanna be if you are “non-observant” – you might also look into the jewish frat)
attitude towards israel is similar to the public, ie there are groups pro-israel and pro-palestinians and pro-peace etc etc. it’s a state school so it’s going to give a good mix of public opinion. there’s a good group of people that do birthright every year as well, many very secular/non-observant/non-involved other than birthright. there is a happy birthday israel day on grounds where hillel gives out birthday cake on the lawn. every week hillel has bagels on the lawn too (that was great when i was taking hebrew, the whole class would meet and chat over bagels before/after class)
if you have specific questions feel free to post them here or pm me, though i was much more involved with the synagogue downtown than hillel. (you’ll want to stay away from chabad if you’re “non-observant” – the whole “women are in the kitchen while the men pray” thing was a pretty big shock the first time i went there with a more conservative friend!!!)</p>
<p>What great timing…I just got out of a meeting with Rabbi Jake Rubin. The Brody Jewish Center (that’s our Hillel) website and blog will have plenty of good info.</p>
<p>In addition to the Jewish student groups, there are a couple of fraternities that are traditionally Jewish and there is a Jewish sorority coming in the next year. </p>
<p>Get this: Per capital, UVa sends more students on the Taglit-Birthright trip than any other school in the country. Hillel is also sponsoring Alternative Spring Break trips.</p>
<p>They are renovating their building, too. They’ll soon have a dining room that can fit 120 people. </p>
<p>[Home</a> - Brody Jewish Center at the University of Virginia](<a href=“http://bjcatuva.hillel.org/home.aspx]Home”>http://bjcatuva.hillel.org/home.aspx)</p>
<p>FYI Jake Rubin is Reconstructionist… Talk about liberal 
My mom knows him from when he was at RRC getting ordained (Philly is a small city… But my family is Reconstructionist) but I still haven’t met him yet!!</p>