Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many Jewish undergraduate students are there on campus? What is Jewish life like at Goucher College?
A: There are approximately 350-400 Jewish students at Goucher, totalling about 30% of the undergraduate population. Jewish students are an active, dynamic part of both Hillel and the campus community. They are motivated, diverse and energetic, just as the general student body at Goucher. Students have many opportunities to become active in Jewish life--from cultural arts to Israel advocacy to social justice to religious life--and students are always encouraged to pursue their own innovations and ideas.

Q: Where is Hillel located?
A: Goucher Hillel is located in Weinberg Jewish Student Center, across from the Stimson Dining Hall in the residential quad of Goucher’s campus. Our closest parking lot is the South Lot.  View a campus map in PDF format here.

Q: How connected is Hillel to the rest of the campus community?
A: Over the past seven years Hillel has continued to become more and more integrated into the larger campus community. Through dynamic programming, co-sponsorship of events, and the involvement of active students in many other campus areas, Hillel has grown within Goucher College. The college is very supportive of Hillel and its role on campus and has worked hard to provide a welcoming atmosphere for Jewish students, faculty, staff, and friends. The director of Goucher Hillel is Rabbi Josh Snyder.  Goucher Hillel falls under the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, headed by Chaplain Cynthia Terry. Cynthia can be reached at cynthia.terry@goucher.edu or (410) 337-6048. As a student organization on campus, Goucher Hillel also follows the guidelines set forth by Goucher's Student Government Association.

Q: What kind of student programs and groups does Hillel sponsor on campus?
A: There are a wide variety of student groups sponsored by Goucher College and Goucher Hillel. Students are encouraged to pursue their ideas and take initiative as well as get involved with existing projects and groups. Goucher Hillel works with many other campus groups to co-sponsor programs throughout the year.

Q: What kind of Shabbat programming do you provide?
A: Shabbat services are student-driven and student-led. Friday night services at Goucher are often led in the Reform and Conservative Jewish traditions. Services are followed by a festive communal dinner in the Kosher Dining Hall, part of the Weinberg Jewish Student Center in Stimson Hall. Shabbat dinners draw an average of 40-50 students each week, and themed Shabbat dinners throughout the semester typically bring in even larger crowds.

Q: Is there a daily Minyan?
A: We do not have a daily minyan on campus at the present time.

Q: Is there a Kosher Meal Plan on campus?
A: Yes. Goucher's Dining Services offers a full Kosher meal plan under the supervision of the Star-K of Baltimore. The Kosher meal plan includes lunch and dinner every day as well as Shabbat and Kosher-for-Passover meals. For more information contact Norman Zwagil, Director of Bon Appetit, at nzwagil@goucher.edu or (410) 337-6416.