Shabbat
Weekly services and dinner are a staple Hillel's calendar. They're held weekly during the school year, with the exception of the Friday before a long weekend. The Shabbat experience at Hillel aims to bring together students in a vibrant community setting for meaningful experiences.
Services are held each week at 6:30pm, they last about an hour and are followed by a free, Kosher meal. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring friends or visitors!
The services are Reform/Conservative, and use prayer packets that include Hebrew, English transliteration and English readings, making the Shabbat experience accessible to a range of people. Services are lead by either students or one of Hillel's rabbis. We are always looking for enthusiastic student leaders and encourage them to step up during Shabbat in meaningful and comfortable ways. These students make up Hillel's Shabbat Squad, shaping the overall Shabbat experience at Hillel.
Occasionally we will have themed Shabbats - which have included everything from Greek Shabbat to Women's Shabbat to Shabbat in the dorms. During the summer, Hillel does not hold Shabbat services, but we're happy to point you to a Shabbat experience elsewhere in Seattle. If you have questions about any part of Hillel's Shabbat experience, please contact Lauren.
Holiday Programming
Besides the High Holydays and Passover, Hillel also does it's best to observe other Jewish holidays throughout the year. We strive to celebrate each holiday in ways that appeal to students and young adults and their packed schedules.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services are open to both students and community members, and are among the most well-attended celebrations during the year. Hillel also hosts multiple first night Passover Seders, and strives to sponsor second night Seders as well. Hot, catered, Kosher-for-Passover lunches are held in conjunction with Seders and are a huge success - drawing over 300 people to any given meal.
Hillel also holds annual Sukkot, Simchat Torah and Tu b'Shvat celebrations. When Channukah and Purim fall during the academic quarters at UW, celebrations have been held throughout campus. Rosh Chodesh and Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Hashoah are also some of the holidays we observe at Hillel and in partnership with other Jewish organizations around Seattle.
