Congratulations to the class of 2013! We can't wait to meet you!

Prospective Wake Forest students of 2014:

Welcome to the Wake Forest Hillel website! We are excited to hear from you! The fact that you are here, investigating Jewish life at your potential future college is evidence enough that you are Wake Forest material and that we want you in Wake Forest Hillel!

The Wake Forest environment is one that is excellent for learning, and Jewish students are very comfortable on campus. We have a wide variety of Jewish students on campus: some are religious, while others are not. Some use Hillel as a social outlet, others do not. No matter what type of Jew you are, there is a place for you at Wake Forest Hillel.

Religion - We have solid connections at all of our local Synagogues. While some students like to pray every Shabbat, there are some who only like to attend Synagogue during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Hillel accommodates all types of Jews and their needs when it comes to worship.

Community- Hillel students are very involved in campus life. Many of our volunteer efforts on campus are championed and led by our Jewish student population. This past year Hillel students volunteered regularly at Campus Kitchen, the Habitat for Humanity Re-store, local Winston-Salem schools, and with children who have special needs. The Wake Forest Hillel is united by community service and education outreach.

Education- Many Wake Forest Hillel members choose to take Hebrew as either an elective or as their main language once at school. Hillel members educate Wake Forest students everyday simply by being Jewish and sharing their Jewish heritage and background. The 2007-2008 schools year brought two special educational events. The first was called Religious Views on Political Issues and brought together Rabbi Mark Strauss Cohen, a local priest, and local Imam to talk about issues that voters would be thinking about this November in the presidential election. The second was co-sponsored with the university as part of the Tribble lecture series on Interfaith Feminism, Mary Boys, a professor at the Skinner and McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology at Union Theological Seminary, New York. Her lecture was entitled “Christian Feminist Theology: Learning in the Presence of the Other.” Her lecture drew heavily on her study of Christian and Jewish dialog and attracted many Divinity Students as well as undergraduate students.

Commitment- The Wake Forest Jewish population is highly committed to working with other religious minorities on campus. This past year we worked heavily with students who took trips to the Middle East, particularly Egypt on exploring Jews in America and how they compare with Jews abroad. We had 3 dinners with these individuals over the course of the second semester and learned a lot from them.

Over the years the number of Jewish students in attending Wake has fluctuated tremendously. Over the past several years, our Jewish enrollment has been consistent. We are excited about our continual growth, and hope that you will choose to become one of us!

If you are arranging a campus tour and visit, several Hillel members are here over the summer who would love to meet with prospective students! If you want more information, or just want to have lunch with a Jewish Wake Forest student, please contact Elena at schaes7@wfu.edu.

Best of luck with the college application process!