Tufts Hillel

Open House & Kosher Lunch
2025-08-27 11:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Tufts Hillel, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
Stop by our building to meet our staff and student leaders, enjoy kosher lunch and drinks, and learn more about what Tufts Hillel has to offer! Open House is the great time for students and their families to learn more about our fun events, resources for first years, and ways to get involved in our vibrant Jewish community. Whether you already stopped by on Friday or if it’s your first day on campus, come hang out with your HFELs (Hillel First Year Engagement Leaders) who are excited to meet you and welcome you to campus!

Open House from 11:30am – 3:30pm; lunch served from 12-2pm. To RSVP for lunch, fill out this form.

Late Night Chill
2025-08-28 22:30 - 23:30 | Tufts Hillel, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
Come as you are (comfy clothes encouraged!) and join us at Hillel for some yummy snacks and great company as we relax after a long orientation day! All are welcome – come meet your Class of 2029 peers and hang!

First Year Shabbat
2025-08-29 17:30 - 20:00 | Tufts Hillel, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
Experience Shabbat with Tufts Hillel, as we come together for an evening of Shabbat celebrations! Come to as many or few of the parts of the evening as you would like – we can’t wait to see you there and to welcome you to your first Shabbat with us. Students of all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Due to weather please note change of locations:

New locations will be as follows:

5:30pm: Pre-Shabbat food & music in upstairs lounge

6:00pm: Candlelighting then services

Reform in upstairs chapel

Conservative in downstairs chapel

7:00pm: Shabbat Dinner in the dining room

After dinner, dessert & board games in upstairs lounge

Students participating in Shabbat at Hillel will be excused from the CARE Program, and will be sent follow up information directly from CARE. Please register for Shabbat dinner by texting “DINNER” to 617-420–7411 by Friday, August 29 at 11am and please bring your Tufts ID. Registration for Shabbat Dinner is highly encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. We can’t wait to see you there!

We will begin with a “Pre-Neg” (music, appetizers, and shmoozing) on Tisch Roof from 5:30 – 6:00pm, followed by Conservative Services (on Tisch Roof) and Reform Services (in the Hillel Garden) from 6:00 – 7:00pm. Shabbat Dinner will be at Hillel from 7:00 – 8:00pm, followed by dessert and board games! All food will be kosher, with allergy friendly options.

5:30pm: Pre-Shabbat Food and Music on Tisch Roof

6:00pm: Services

Conservative Services on Tisch Roof

Reform Services at Garden outside of Hillel (we will walk from Tisch roof together)

7:00pm: Shabbat Dinner at Hillel

After dinner: Dessert and Board Games in Hillel Lounge

Shabbat Services, Lunch, and Relax
2025-08-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Tufts Hillel, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
Join us for Shabbat morning as we continue Shabbat celebrations at Tufts Hillel! We will have a variety of options for however you are looking to spend your Shabbat morning on campus. We will start the morning with traditional Conservative morning services, as well as a service alternative, at 10:00 am. Shabbat lunch will start at 12:00pm – everyone is invited, regardless of if you come for services!

Please register for lunch by texting “LUNCH” to 617-420-7411 by Friday, August 29 at 11am. Registration for lunch is highly encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome – please bring your Tufts ID. All food will be kosher, with allergy-friendly options available!

Havdalah and JP Licks
2025-08-30 21:00 - 23:00 | Tufts Hillel, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
Come celebrate the end of Shabbat with the symbolic ritual of Havdalah, then head over to J.P. Licks in Davis Square for ice cream. It’s on us! Meet at Hillel.

Bagel Brunch
2025-08-31 11:00 - 13:00 | Tufts Hillel, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
Join us for the tastiest, bagel-iest, can’t-miss event of the semester. Tufts Hillel presents our annual Bagel Brunch with performances by all campus a capella groups! All are welcome to come grab a bagel (plain, everything, or whatever you like) and join us for this iconic orientation event!

Community Dinner
2025-09-02 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-09 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-16 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-23 17:30 - 18:30
Join us for a free mid-week Kosher catered dinner! Come for the food, stay for the people! Check the instagram on Tuesday morning for what’s being served.

Food. People. Comfort.

For the most up to date info please see our social media

instagram.com/tuftshillel

facebook.com/tuftshillel

Back to School Bingo
2025-09-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Kick of the semester with Hillel Bingo! This will be a great time reconnect with friends, meet new people, and compete for exciting prizes.

Talmud Chaburah
2025-09-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-09-12 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-09-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Want to take sharpen your Talmud skills? Join a weekly, text-based study group where you’ll work through the Hebrew/Aramaic of the Gemara together, sharpening both reading skills and analytical thinking. Guided by Rabbi Brawer, this chaburah offers a collaborative space for deep learning and thoughtful discussion.

Prerequisite: Participants should be comfortable reading Talmud in the original Hebrew/Aramaic.

BBQ Shabbat
2025-09-05 17:30 - 20:00 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
We’re so excited to kick off the school year with Shabbat at Tufts Hillel! Join us for a special BBQ Shabbat to kick off the school year in style. We can’t wait to celebrate Shabbat with you.

Schedule for the night:– 5:30pm BBQ Dinner– 6:30pm Services– 7pm Oneg: Dessert and Board Games

Join us for the whole night or drop in as short or long as you would like. We can’t wait to see you Friday!

Get the Scoop - Hillel GIM
2025-09-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Do you like ice cream? Want to learn all about the amazing programming going on at Hillel this semester? What social justice initiatives is Hillel running this semester?

Answers to all of your questions and more at the GIM this Sunday!

HCAP and ESL General Interest Meeting
2025-09-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Come learn more about two of Hillel’s amazing volunteering opportunities!

Our ESL program, Hillel/McGlynn/Medford Cultural Partnership (HMMCP), works to provide English classes to McGlynn Middle School parents and Medford community members who are English language learners.

HCAP (Hillel Community Action Partners) is an initiative that works to provide after school arts, engineering, and homework help programs to local middle schoolers.

Elul Journals: Preparing for the New Year
2025-09-10 19:30 - 20:30 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Join us for a creative and meaningful way to step into the High Holidays! In the spirit of Elul, the month of reflection and preparation, we’ll decorate and personalize journals to use for introspection, goal-setting, or capturing your thoughts throughout the year ahead. No experience needed, just come ready to reflect, create, and prepare your heart and mind for Rosh Hashanah. Light snacks provided!

Challah for Hunger
2025-09-11 15:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-25 15:00 - 21:00 | Tufts Hillel-Downstairs Chapel, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Challah for Hunger is a student group committed to giving back through the tradition of baking challah. Each week, we bake and sell delicious flavors like Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Sugar, Everything Bagel, Sweet Crumb, and Plain. All proceeds support Family Table, one of the largest Jewish food banks in Greater Boston, helping provide meals to families in need.

This semester, our bakes are on 9/11, 9/25, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13, 12/4.

You can join us for…

Dough Making 3-4PM

Braiding 5-6PM

Baking 7-9PM

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gwh5K3jQw-jW_pK81vj7gW6oQ3AWssRpN6g8sXFJ3ew/edit?usp=sharing

Community Shabbat
2025-09-12 17:00 - 2025-09-13 21:00 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Friday Night:

Join us this Friday at 5pm for a pre-Shabbat gathering, with coloring books, beads, and friendship bracelets to meet people and kick off the evening together. Candle lighting and services will be at 6pm, followed by dinner at 7pm and dessert at 8pm.

Saturday:

Join Tufts Hillel as we close out Shabbat together this Saturday, September 13! We will have bagel lunch at 12-1, mincha (afternoon) services at 5:30, followed by Seudat Shlishit (light dinner), singing, and Havdalah, followed by Slichot – a song-filled service leading into the High Holiday season. Feel free to join for any or all parts of the afternoon/evening – looking forward to seeing you there!

Schedule for the evening:

12:00 PM Lunch

6:30 PM Mincha

7:00 PM Light Dinner, Singing, and Board Games

7:40 PM Havdalah

8:00 PM Slichot

First Year Movie Night
2025-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Join us for our first freshmen-only event of the semester! We can’t wait to bring the class of ’29 back together for popcorn, snacks, drinks, and a movie to be announced in the WhatsApp group!

Sophomore Game Night
2025-09-17 20:00 - 21:30 | Tufts Hillel Building, 220 Packard Ave, Medford, MA, 02155
Calling all Sophomores! Get ready for a night of competitive fun at the Hillel. We’ll have assorted board games, cards, snacks, and drinks. We can’t wait to see you there!

Honey Cake Baking
2025-09-18 19:00 - 20:30 | The Bayit, 98 Packard Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144
Come bake honey cake at the Bayit, Tufts’ Jewish Culture House! We’ll mix, laugh, and fill the kitchen with sweet smells to get into the High Holiday spirit.

Murder Mystery Shabbat
2025-09-19 08:00 - 2025-09-20 17:00
Friday

Join us for an unforgettable Murder Mystery Shabbat at Tufts Hillel! As dinner takes a surprising turn, you’ll be part of a thrilling whodunnit adventure, filled with entertaining twists and intriguing suspects (featuring students and staff).

Whether you’re an aspiring detective, a true-crime fan, or just looking for a fun dinner with friends, this evening promises mystery, laughter, and excitement. Don’t miss your chance to solve the case and enjoy a unique Shabbat experience!

Schedule for the night:

6pm Services

7pm Dinner and Murder Mystery Party

8pm Dessert

Can’t wait to see you on Friday at Tufts Hillel!

Saturday

Join us for Saturday morning conservative services, at 10:00am. Following services, we’ll have lunch at 12! Looking to get involved or read Torah? Reach out to Katie at katie.hamelburg@tufts.edu.

Text the word ‘Dinner’ to 617 420 7411

click here to see upcoming Shabbats

Saturdays:

Shabbat at Tufts Hillel continues on Saturday mornings, with bi-weekly Saturday morning Conservative services. All students are welcome!

Following Shabbat morning services, join us for Shabbat lunch upstairs at Hillel. To register for Shabbat lunch, text the word ‘lunch” to 617 429 7411.

Shabbat at Tufts Hillel concludes on Saturday afternoons and evenings, with bi-weekly mincha and maariv services, dinner, singing, and Havdalah! Join us for any or all parts of the evenings as we conclude the day of rest as a community

All are welcome! We look forward to celebrating with you.

For questions please email hillel-center@tufts.edu

High Holidays at Tufts Hillel 2025
2025-09-22 17:45 - 2025-10-02 20:00
We look forward to welcoming you!

Join us for all or part of High Holidays, meals, and events. Everything you need to know is below.

High Holiday Services

1. Traditional/Egalitarian services.

This service will use the machzor (prayer book) “Lev Shalem” and will include:

Traditional Hebrew liturgy combined with English readings and explanations

Guided meditations

Communal singing

2. Reform services will include:

Familiar Reform Liturgy with contemporary framings

Integrated Poetry/Creative Readings

Communal Singing

Musical instrumentation

High Holiday Meals

Yes, it’s true you can eat delicious kosher food throughout the High Holidays.

You are invited to Tufts Hillel’s High Holidays Meals. You can expect great food, connection with your community, and spiritual renewal!

Transparent meal pricing:

The real cost of a meal to Tufts Hillel is over $40 per person. This year, Hillel will cover 100% of the cost of all High Holiday meals for Tufts students.

First-Year Students

All first-years have unlimited meal swipes. Please use a meal swipe when registering for High Holiday meals. This helps Tufts Hillel receive partial reimbursement from Tufts Dining.

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors

Please consider using a meal swipe for your High Holiday meals. Be sure to provide your student ID and give permission on the registration form so Tufts Hillel can be partially reimbursed by Tufts Dining.

Parents, Alumni, and Community Members

The real cost of a meal to Tufts Hillel is over $40 per person. This year, Hillel will cover 100% of the cost of all High Holiday meals for Tufts students.

We ask that parents, alumni, and community members consider a voluntary donation of $18, $36, $72, or $100 to help us cover the cost of meals. Any non-Tufts students should contact Marilyn Goldman at marilyn.goldman@tufts.edu to arrange payment.

Registration

To help prepare enough food while avoiding waste, please sign up for ALL Rosh Hashanah meals by 9/12 and for Yom Kippur meals by 9/22.

Sign up via text: each meal and service will have its own unique code.

To register, text the meal or service’s code to 617 420 7411.

Walk-ins:

If you sign up in advance your meal is guaranteed; there is no guaranteed availability for walk-ins although we will do our best to accommodate.

If you missed the deadline to sign up and would like to join us please email marilyn.goldman@tufts.edu and we will do our best to accommodate you depending on availability.

Full Schedule

Mon 09/22/25

Erev Rosh Hashanah

5:45 PM Erev Rosh Hashanah Reform Services, Breed Hall

6:00 PM Erev Rosh Hashanah Conservative Services, Hillel Downstairs Chapel

7:00 PM Dinner Hillel-Dining Room

Tues 09/23/25

1st Day Rosh Hashanah

10:30am-12:30pm 1st Day Rosh Hashanah Reform Services, Breed Hall

9:30am-12:30pm 1st Day Rosh Hashanah Conservative Services, Hillel-Downstairs Chapel

12:45 – 1:30 pm Lunch, Hillel-Dining Room

Tues 09/23/25

2nd Night Rosh Hashanah

6:15 PM 2nd Night Rosh Hashanah Conservative Services, Hillel-Downstairs Chapel

7:00 PM Dinner, Hillel-Dining Room

Wed 9/24/25

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah

9:30am – 12:30pm 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Conservative Services, Hillel-Downstairs Chapel

12:45 – 1:30pm 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Lunch, Hillel-Dining Room

10/01/25

Erev Yom Kippur

5:15-6:00pm Erev Yom Kippur Pre-fast Meal, Hillel-Upstairs Lobby

6:15-8:00pm Erev Yom Kippur Reform Services, Breed Hall

6:15-8:15pm Erev Yom Kippur Conservative Services, Hillel-Downstairs Chapel

10/02/25

Yom Kippur Morning

10am-12:30pm Yom Kippur Morning Reform Services, Breed Hall

10am-1:30pm Yom Kippur Morning Conservative Services, Hillel-Downstairs Chapel

Yom Kippur Evening

5:30-7:05pm Yom Kippur Evening Reform Services, Breed Hall

4:45 -7:05pm Yom Kippur Evening Conservative Services-Mincha/Neilah,

Hillel-Downstairs Chapel

7:10-8:00pm Break Fast Meal, Hillel-Dining Room
