About BOO
Orthodox Jewish life at Brandeis University is vibrant and extensive. Consisting of around 250 students, Brandeis' Orthodox community is one of the largest and most active of any college campus worldwide. Its members are among the most visible participants in general campus life and are valued contributors to the Student Union, the arts, the printed media, athletics, and Hillel, among other endeavors. The relatively small size of the University (around 3,400 undergraduates) engenders many opportunities for fusing religious growth with a genuine commitment to the broader campus community.
Religious Life
Minyan
BOO maintains campus Orthodox minyanim, including both weekday minyanim (including one shacharit and two mincha and maariv minyanim) and Shabbat minyanim. Weekday minyanim typically draw 40-60 students, while Friday night Shabbat services attract a crowd of 200-250 students. Please send questions, suggestions, and comments to our gabbaim: Alex Marder and Eitan Cooper. If you would like to read Torah, please contact Liora Mendelsberg.
Beit Midrash
Torah study is a central component of Orthodox campus life. The BOO Beit Midrash, located in the basement of freshmen dormitory Shapiro Residence Hall, is a comfortable enclave of Torah study. This Beit Midrash houses thousands of Jewish books ranging from ancient texts to modern journals. On any given weekday, over 50 students spend time here studying religious texts. Brandeis' JLI couple give over 10 weekly shiurim (classes) on a variety of textual, halachic, and philosophical topics. Student-run learning initiatives include Daf Yomi (daily Talmud study), Mishna Yomi (daily Mishna study), and many weekly chaburot. The Beit Midrash is also home to Thursday night Mishmar, featuring a student-led shiur and chulent. Sunday Night Learning (SNL) is a weekly program which supplants chavruta-style learning with pizza and snacks. For more information on the Beit Midrash contact Rebecca Pollack. To give a shiur, lead a chabura, or find a chavruta, contact Daniel Kasdan.
Kosher Dining at Brandeis
Click here for Hillel at Brandeis' comprehensive guide to "Keepin' Kosher on Campus", put together by Aramark, Brandeis' catering company.
JLI Couple
Rabbi Elliot ('02) and Toby Kaplowitz, members of Brandeis Hillel Staff, act as advisors to the BOO community on all aspects of Orthodox life. They offer weekly shiurim (classes) on a variety of topics and learn one-on-one with dozens of students. Rabbi Kaplowitz was the president of BOO in his day at Brandeis, and learned at Yeshivat Mevaseret Tzion before receiving smicha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Toby went to MMY in Israel before attending Stern College, and later received a Masters of Education from Bank Street. They have an adorable baby named Yisrael.
Shabbat and Holidays
BOO provides weekly Friday night, Shabbat morning, and Shabbat afternoon davening, including kiddush after Shacharit and seudah shlishit between Mincha and Maariv. There are also weekly onegs, tisches, and frequent guest speakers and scholars-in-residence.
For Shabbat dinner, many Orthodox students choose to dine with the greater Jewish community at Hillel's communal meal. Students also enjoy Shabbat dinner at the off-campus Chabad House, which offers a more intimate setting. After eating, Orthodox students may gather in upperclassmen suites for BOO-sponsored onegs or tisches, or in the Beit Midrash to partake in informal study (and snacking).
On Shabbat day, students choose to relax from their busy week with friends. When the weather is warm, one can find Orthodox students lounging, reading, and learning Torah outside on the lush, green lawns of Brandeis.
Social Life
The BOO community is a warm, comfortable, and tight-knit group. Its unique warmth is due in part to the small size of the University, which engenders a bond of familiarity among BOO's 250 members. Indeed, no observant Jew is a stranger at Brandeis: a common kosher dining hall, close living quarters, and communal religious and social events strengthen the bonds of the Jewish community. Orthodox students find plenty of means to extend their social roots into other campus clubs, media, and student government, but BOO's comprehensive social events calendar brinsg the community together through culture, sport, food, and religious celebration. BOO organizes weekly Friday night onegs and tisches, as well as extensive social programming. Past events include BOO Ice Skating, Casino Night, BOO Oscars, the BOO Coffeehouse (music and comedy performances at Chums, the campus cafe), and annual Purim seudot. To view upcoming social events, click here. To get involved join the Social Events Committee or contact Shira Moskowitz, the Social Events coordinator.
Chesed
BOO sponsors numerous chesed and social-action events. These activities allow students to get involved in a variety of ways. The annual Yachad Shabbaton brings special-needs adults to campus, hosted by BOO students themselves. Students also make hamentaschen and mishloach manot for homeless shelters each year. Additionally, BOO offers many events to raise money for charities through Karaoke Nights, Kickball Tournaments, Charity Decathalons, and more! Community members also take part in visits to local nursing homes, soup kitchens, and other volunteering opportunities. To get involved, join the Chesed Committee, check out the Chesed Corner, or contact Alyssa Moore, the Chesed Coordinator.
The BOO Constitution
BOO's Diversity
The BOO community consists of members from a wide variety of religious and educational backgrounds. Students range from graduates of seminaries and yeshivot to previously non-Orthodox graduates of public school. While a significant portion of the community comes from the east coast, many students hail from more distant locales. While BOO caters to an Orthodox lifestyle on campus, we welcome all denominations and religious backgrounds.