Our mission

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The Helene G. Simon Hillel Center at Indiana University

THE CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS

Since 1938, IU Hillel has created a warm, welcoming, caring Jewish family and community that celebrates Judaism and Jewish life. We support and honor the diversity of the Jewish student community at IU, and are committed to its maintenance and continuity.

 

We are dedicated to

Ensuring Jewish college students have opportunities to recognize and develop their leadership potential and express their Jewishness in many traditional and creative ways. A central principle of Judaism is Tzedakah (making the world a fair and more just place) and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). Students and staff express these values through several campus and community programs such as:

·       Challah for Hungry Hoosiers - building communities of people eager to end hunger in Bloomington and beyond and to work collectively to solve other social challenges.

·       Mitzvah Corps - a community service club volunteering throughout the Bloomington community to make the city a better place

·       Indiana University Dance Marathon – teams raising funds to support Riley’s Children’s Hospital

·       Bloomington United, Not in Our Town - a movement to stop hate, address bullying and build a safe, inclusive Bloomington community for all

The Hillel staff, the statewide governing board (composed of experienced lay leaders from around Indiana), and the student leadership board are committed to creating a strong, diverse Hillel experience. Therefore, Hillel provides religious, cultural, and social programming opportunities to assist in the creation of a Jewish community on the IU campus.  The Student Board partners with the Hillel staff to create and implement hundreds of programs each year.  In addition there are approximately 18 student interest clubs ranging from singing to sports and business to Israel activities (see the “Student Groups” menu)

Indiana Hillel is a “Jewish home away from home” for IU’s students. The Center is open 9am-9pm during the week, 9am through Shabbat dinner on Friday, and noon-8pm on Sunday. The center has a big screen TV, free Wi-Fi, as well as lots of comfortable couches to relax on.