Report from Campus--

Judaism, Tiger-Style

Published in Koach on Campus, Spring 2000

By Marc Melzer

Princeton University

It's hard to avoid the questions of the reality of Jewish life and the perception of the Jewish community on campus. It is especially difficult when these questions have been the focus of national media coverage with specific regard to your campus. 

Last spring, a series of articles in The Daily Princetonian touched off an avalanche of press attention and debate concerning the Jewish community at Princeton University. Much of this display has led to an increase in false perceptions.

While the following few paragraphs may seem like propaganda, I assure the reader that everything here is accurate. 

The truth is that, by the numbers, our Jewish population hovers somewhere just south of 10 percent (on an enrollment of 4,600 undergraduates). However, we have facilities and programs to satisfy even the largest populations:

• The Center for Jewish Life (CJL) houses our Hillel program and the many affiliated organizations. 

• We have a kosher dining room that offers three meals each day from Monday to Friday and two meals each day on Saturday and Sunday. This facility is integrated with the University dining program and is a popular place for all underclassmen to eat lunch. 

• The choice and regularity of the various minyanim is another interesting facet of the Princeton Jewish Community. 

• There is an Orthodox minyan three times a day, seven days a week. 

• Our egalitarian Conservative minyan meets every Friday night and Shabbat morning, and on Yom Tovim. 

• Additionally, every Friday, the Center for Jewish Life hosts a Reform service.

Our programming is truly unique as well. 

The Jewish community does not go unknown at Princeton. We host occasional large events that are well publicized and often attended by the campus community at-large. The diversity of programming is probably our strongest asset. 

There is a niche for everyone to feel comfortable in. Also, new Jewish student groups have no problem finding a home at the CJL. Our Koach chapter is only several weeks old, but we have already had a successful event, sent representatives to the Northeast regional Shabbaton, and made plans for future, larger programs.

The most valuable part about Princeton, from the point of view of an involved, observant Jew, is the openness that you feel on campus. 

I sing in the Jewish a cappella group, Koleinu. On December 9 (1999), we held our Chanukah Arch sing on the tail of several other groups Holiday Arch sings. While our repertoire consists primarily of Hebrew songs, the very diverse audience stayed throughout our entire performance, applauding and enjoying themselves the entire time.

Overall, I think that the perception of many people on campus about the Jewish community is correct. They know that we're here. They know that we can be found at the CJL. But they also know that we can be found most places on campus—most student organizations, eating clubs, etc. 

Off-campus, however, there seems to be a common misunderstanding of how vibrant and wonderfully cohesive a Jewish community we have. To find out what is truly happening with Jewish life on campus, check out the Hillel website (http://www.princeton.edu/~hillel/) or the Koach website (http://www.princeton.edu/~hillel/koach/).