<p>How is the religious diversity at Wash. U? 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>WashU has a lot of religious diversity. The Jewish population is somewhere between 20-30% strong; Buddhism and Islam also have a presence on campus due WashU’s ethnic diversity. On two separate occasions this week, I found myself hanging out with some new freshmen when I realized that five out of six of us were Jewish.</p>
<p>While I have not been to the Hillel yet, I have heard that it and the Chabbad are great and very accepting towards new WashU students. Attitudes towards Israel on campus are surely to be mixed, as on any college campus or at any other location in the country, but obviously the entire Jewish population supports the Israeli state and there is no hostility regarding the issue. If it’s an issue you enjoy debating, you could easily get involved in discussion groups to talk about it if you want to.</p>
<p>If I had to sum it all up, WashU is an ordinary university that just happens to have a significant Jewish population. People of other faiths with the inability to tell if someone is Jewish just by looking at them will probably spend their four years here quite oblivious to the extent of their presence. However, fellow Jews have a natural affinity to one another and benefit greatly from the large Jewish population here. I hope that helps.</p>
<p>We were there for the parents orientation this past weekend and learned there are 1800 Jewish students on campus. The Hillel and Chabad representatives were very prominent at the activities fair. I’m sure if you emailed them they could provide more info.</p>
<p>Wow, it sounds like there is a very active Jewish community. Thanks for your help!</p>