The Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life supports a vibrant Jewish Community of over three hundred and fifty students at SMU, offering regular gatherings for Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, and programs for learning, dialogue, and socializing. Led by Rabbi Heidi Coretz and Hillel at SMU’s Student Board, we are growing a thriving Jewish Life on the Hilltop.
Get connected and involved with Jewish life on the SMU campus.
Visit the Hillel at SMU Connect page by clicking the button below to learn more information.
Jewish students gather for regular Shabbat dinners, on and off campus, as we welcome Shabbat with candles, grape juice, challah, dinner and conversation. All are welcome! Upcoming dates can be found here.
Our Jewish students attend High Holy Day services, Simchat Torah, and Purim at local congregations. In the Fall, we build a Sukkah on campus and celebrate Sukkot with daily gatherings. We celebrate Hannukah, Purim and Passover with special holiday foods in the dining halls including Passover friendly foods throughout Pesach. For Seder, students share the holiday observances with local families. Finally, we have a yearly Yom Hashoah Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Service each spring.
SMU’s Third Annual March of Remembrance honors the survivors and victims of the Holocaust, while promoting healing and reconciliation between victims and perpetrators, and their descendants, and standing against antisemitism today. We will hear from two Holocaust survivors, march around campus against antisemitism today, and award twelve scholarships to SMU students. A reception will follow the event. For more information, please go to mordallas.org.
Rabbi Heidi Coretz and the Hillel at SMU Board work together to provide fun and meaningful activities for the campus Jewish Community.
Students are very welcome to synagogues close to the SMU campus. Temple Emanu-El | 8500 Hillcrest Rd. Dallas, TX 75225 | 214-706-0000 Congregation Shearith Israel | 9401 Douglas Ave. Dallas, TX 75225 | 214-361-6606
