Interested in Joining Us For Shabbat?
Please contact our VP Shabbat Abigail Wolff, at [email protected] so we can find you a host!
FAQ's
- What are the kosher food options on/near campus?
- What is Shabbat like on campus?
- How do we get into dorms on Shabbat?
- Is there an eruv?
- Are there communal meals/minyanim on holidays?
- Where can I get different ritual objects that are needed on the holidays (e.g. lulav and etrog, chanukiah, etc.)?
- Can I make up classes, assignments, and exams if they fall on a holiday?
- What are the Jewish educational opportunities available on campus?
- What are some typical social events that occur in a semester?
- Do most students choose to live with a Jewish roommate? If not, what considerations should one take?
- What are some typical chesed events/opportunities that occur in a semester?
What are the kosher food options on/near campus?
There are a few daily kosher food options at Columbia/Barnard, all of which are included in a Barnard/Columbia meal plan. Barnard’s Hewitt Dining Hall has hot kosher food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. John Jay, on Columbia’s campus, offers packaged sandwiches, wraps, salads, and pastas. Some of the packaged food is also sold in Barnard’s Diana Center.
The Kraft Center houses Cafe Nana (not covered by a Barnard/Columbia meal plan) on the second floor, an Israeli-style cafe that serves pizzas, salads, and sandwiches.
The Upper West Side of Manhattan also has a wide variety of food options, from take-out Chinese to several pizza stores and sit-down restaurants. Click here for a listing of local food options.
The Kraft Center hosts Friday night dinner every week, and shabbat lunch is available through Hewitt. Students must sign up during the week in order to eat Hewitt food on Shabbat day.
There are a few daily kosher food options at Columbia/Barnard, all of which are included in a Barnard/Columbia meal plan. Barnard’s Hewitt Dining Hall has hot kosher food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. John Jay, on Columbia’s campus, offers packaged sandwiches, wraps, salads, and pastas. Some of the packaged food is also sold in Barnard’s Diana Center.
The Kraft Center houses Cafe Nana (not covered by a Barnard/Columbia meal plan) on the second floor, an Israeli-style cafe that serves pizzas, salads, and sandwiches.
The Upper West Side of Manhattan also has a wide variety of food options, from take-out Chinese to several pizza stores and sit-down restaurants. Click here for a listing of local food options.
The Kraft Center hosts Friday night dinner every week, and shabbat lunch is available through Hewitt. Students must sign up during the week in order to eat Hewitt food on Shabbat day.
How is Shabbat celebrated on campus?
Many students will tell you that Shabbat on campus is the highlight of their weeks here. About 250 students participate in a typical Shabbat at Yavneh.
Friday night at the Kraft center is at its liveliest, with Koach (Columbia/Barnard’s Conservative group), Kesher (Columbia/Barnard’s Reform group), and Yavneh all running services. Most students eat either at the Kraft Center or at suite meals on on Friday nights. Most shabbatot there are tisches or onegs hosted at student apartments.
On Shabbat morning, davening is followed by kiddush, lunch at Kraft or individual suites, mincha, and seudah shlishit. There is also "Shiur by Your Peer" every shabbat afternoon before mincha. At seudah shlishit students from Koach and Yavneh join together to sing and eat. Shabbat ends with an energetic havdalah.
Yavneh also hosts scholars in residence and other speakers on Shabatot over the course of the semester, and they always enhance Shabbat by bringing Torah and new ideas to our community.
Many students will tell you that Shabbat on campus is the highlight of their weeks here. About 250 students participate in a typical Shabbat at Yavneh.
Friday night at the Kraft center is at its liveliest, with Koach (Columbia/Barnard’s Conservative group), Kesher (Columbia/Barnard’s Reform group), and Yavneh all running services. Most students eat either at the Kraft Center or at suite meals on on Friday nights. Most shabbatot there are tisches or onegs hosted at student apartments.
On Shabbat morning, davening is followed by kiddush, lunch at Kraft or individual suites, mincha, and seudah shlishit. There is also "Shiur by Your Peer" every shabbat afternoon before mincha. At seudah shlishit students from Koach and Yavneh join together to sing and eat. Shabbat ends with an energetic havdalah.
Yavneh also hosts scholars in residence and other speakers on Shabatot over the course of the semester, and they always enhance Shabbat by bringing Torah and new ideas to our community.
Is there an eruv? How do we check if it is up?
Columbia and Barnard fall under the Manhattan eruv (interactive map). Students can get more information and check if the eiruv is up here.
Columbia and Barnard fall under the Manhattan eruv (interactive map). Students can get more information and check if the eiruv is up here.
How do we get into dorms on Shabbat?
In general, on Barnard’s campus, Barnard students can leave their IDs in bins at the security desk and use them to get in and out of the building by showing them to the guards. The official policy is that guests need to be signed in and out each time they enter or leave a Barnard dorm. The Barnard guards are very accommodating and will happily sign in any Columbia student or visitor who comes with an ID. All Barnard rooms and apartments have hard keys.
On Columbia’s campus, students can request shabbat keys by emailing Housing at [email protected] and should do so ASAP when they get their housing assignment. Getting into buildings is not usually difficult after discussing being a Sabbath observer with the guards.
In general, on Barnard’s campus, Barnard students can leave their IDs in bins at the security desk and use them to get in and out of the building by showing them to the guards. The official policy is that guests need to be signed in and out each time they enter or leave a Barnard dorm. The Barnard guards are very accommodating and will happily sign in any Columbia student or visitor who comes with an ID. All Barnard rooms and apartments have hard keys.
On Columbia’s campus, students can request shabbat keys by emailing Housing at [email protected] and should do so ASAP when they get their housing assignment. Getting into buildings is not usually difficult after discussing being a Sabbath observer with the guards.
Are there communal meals/minyanim on the holidays?
There are meals and minyanim on some holidays. On Simchat Torah, Yavneh, Koach, and Kesher work together to create a memorable holiday every year. There are minyamin, meals, and programming throughout the holiday. Yavneh also holds (student-led) Yom Kippur tefilot. Purim is usually celebrated on campus with megillah reading, a Purim chagigah, and Purim seudot. On Chanukah, chanukiyot are sold in Hillel and students can work with Rav Noam to coordinate candle lighting in the dorms.
In general, Yavneh does not have minyanim on yamim tovim of Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, or Pesach. There is kosher for Pesach food on campus for Chol Hamoed Pesach. Multiple sukkot are put up on campus over Sukkot.
Before most holidays, the gabbaim will determine the degree of interest in minyanim and will help to organize them should there be a need. Local students are always very gracious in bringing their friends who don’t have places to stay into their homes and Yavneh Board can help make arrangements, as well.
There are meals and minyanim on some holidays. On Simchat Torah, Yavneh, Koach, and Kesher work together to create a memorable holiday every year. There are minyamin, meals, and programming throughout the holiday. Yavneh also holds (student-led) Yom Kippur tefilot. Purim is usually celebrated on campus with megillah reading, a Purim chagigah, and Purim seudot. On Chanukah, chanukiyot are sold in Hillel and students can work with Rav Noam to coordinate candle lighting in the dorms.
In general, Yavneh does not have minyanim on yamim tovim of Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, or Pesach. There is kosher for Pesach food on campus for Chol Hamoed Pesach. Multiple sukkot are put up on campus over Sukkot.
Before most holidays, the gabbaim will determine the degree of interest in minyanim and will help to organize them should there be a need. Local students are always very gracious in bringing their friends who don’t have places to stay into their homes and Yavneh Board can help make arrangements, as well.
Where can I get the different ritual objects that are needed on the holidays (e.g. lulav and etrog, chanukiah, etc.)?
Chanukiyot are sold at Hillel and Chabad in the days leading up to Chanukah. Lulavim, etrogim, and aravot for Hoshana Rabba are all sold through Hillel. Mezuzot are sold at Chabad.
There are also local Judaica stores that are easily accessible from Columbia that provide all of these things.
Chanukiyot are sold at Hillel and Chabad in the days leading up to Chanukah. Lulavim, etrogim, and aravot for Hoshana Rabba are all sold through Hillel. Mezuzot are sold at Chabad.
There are also local Judaica stores that are easily accessible from Columbia that provide all of these things.
Can I make up classes, assignments and exams if they fall on a holiday?
Of course. There have been observant students attending Columbia/Barnard for a long time, and most professors are quite familiar with the major holidays. In general, as long as you approach the professor several days in advance (ideally at the beginning of the semester) and let them know that you will be missing class, they are very understanding. If you have an assignment due on a holiday, it is good to be upfront with the professor and try to figure out a fair alternative. If you run into trouble with any professor, you can always approach Rabbi Hain ([email protected]) for help.
Of course. There have been observant students attending Columbia/Barnard for a long time, and most professors are quite familiar with the major holidays. In general, as long as you approach the professor several days in advance (ideally at the beginning of the semester) and let them know that you will be missing class, they are very understanding. If you have an assignment due on a holiday, it is good to be upfront with the professor and try to figure out a fair alternative. If you run into trouble with any professor, you can always approach Rabbi Hain ([email protected]) for help.
What are the Jewish educational opportunities available on campus?
Educational programming is run through Hillel's Lishma and Yavneh Education. Students will find that there is quite a bit of educational programming that supports both lecture-style and chevruta-style learning.
Yavneh Education brings in scholars-in-residence for Shabbatot and other speakers throughout the year.
One of the most beloved education programs at the Kraft Center is Wednesday Night Learning Program (WNLP), at which all types of students come together to learn Jewish texts with a partner or in a group, socialize, and eat.
Also weekly is the “Shiur by Your Peer,” an opportunity for students to research and teach about Jewish topics that interest them.
Students are always encouraged to run their own shiurim and push for educational programming that they are interested, and speakers are often excited about coming to speak to our community.
Educational programming is run through Hillel's Lishma and Yavneh Education. Students will find that there is quite a bit of educational programming that supports both lecture-style and chevruta-style learning.
Yavneh Education brings in scholars-in-residence for Shabbatot and other speakers throughout the year.
One of the most beloved education programs at the Kraft Center is Wednesday Night Learning Program (WNLP), at which all types of students come together to learn Jewish texts with a partner or in a group, socialize, and eat.
Also weekly is the “Shiur by Your Peer,” an opportunity for students to research and teach about Jewish topics that interest them.
Students are always encouraged to run their own shiurim and push for educational programming that they are interested, and speakers are often excited about coming to speak to our community.
What are some typical social events that occur in a semester?
Social events range from fun and casual events, such as Pizza Making and Zumba classes, to big Yavneh blowout events, such as Panoply and Assasins. Additionally, every semester will have its own new and fun events that are sure to provide a much needed break from the stress of school!
Social events range from fun and casual events, such as Pizza Making and Zumba classes, to big Yavneh blowout events, such as Panoply and Assasins. Additionally, every semester will have its own new and fun events that are sure to provide a much needed break from the stress of school!
Do most students choose to live with a Jewish roommate? If not, what considerations should one take?
While the majority of Yavneh students do live with a Jewish roommate, not all do, especially not their first year. Though it is sometimes easier in the practical sense to have a Jewish roommate who may understand your Kashrut/Shabbat needs, others enjoy living with friends who may not be Jewish. The most important thing to consider is that as a practicing Jew, there will be some notable differences between you and your roommates, and it is important to discuss these as soon as possible, and decide on rules or guidelines that work for both of you.
If you need help finding a roommate in Yavneh, please fill out this form.
While the majority of Yavneh students do live with a Jewish roommate, not all do, especially not their first year. Though it is sometimes easier in the practical sense to have a Jewish roommate who may understand your Kashrut/Shabbat needs, others enjoy living with friends who may not be Jewish. The most important thing to consider is that as a practicing Jew, there will be some notable differences between you and your roommates, and it is important to discuss these as soon as possible, and decide on rules or guidelines that work for both of you.
If you need help finding a roommate in Yavneh, please fill out this form.
What are some typical chesed events/ opportunities that occur in a semester?
Chesed events and opportunities range from big events, such as the Spring Break Habitat for Humanity Trip, to smaller and more intimate opportunities such as Mondays with Mikey, trips to local soup kitchens, and assembling packages for Matanot L’Evyonim. Often, people in the area contact us for specific help and students are always looking for ways to give back. If you have any more questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our VP Chesed Jonah at jl5591@columbia.edu.
Chesed events and opportunities range from big events, such as the Spring Break Habitat for Humanity Trip, to smaller and more intimate opportunities such as Mondays with Mikey, trips to local soup kitchens, and assembling packages for Matanot L’Evyonim. Often, people in the area contact us for specific help and students are always looking for ways to give back. If you have any more questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our VP Chesed Jonah at jl5591@columbia.edu.