Shabbat Dinner

Jewish life at Carleton is active, dynamic, and varied. The college is served by Rabbi Shosh Dworsky, our Associate Chaplain for Jewish and Interfaith Life and supports two active Jewish student organizations, the Jewish Students of Carleton (JSC) and Jewish On Our Own Terms (JOOOT).

Jewish life on campus is lived out and supported in many ways:

Shabbat

  • Students gather each Friday evening for Shabbat, lead by our Rabbi and student leaders.
  • A well attended service is followed by a student-cooked dinner for Jewish students and the broader Carleton community.

Torah Study

  • Carleton hosts weekly Torah Study, led by our Rabbi and student leaders.

Holiday Observances

  • High Holidays: Carleton hosts High Holiday services on campus that draw 100+ students and community members to the services and catered meals
  • Sukkot: Every year students build an Open Sukkah that welcomes students of all faiths and is accompanied by other festivities
  • Tu B’Shevat: Carleton celebrates Tu B’Shevat with a “seder” honoring the trees and inviting campus environmentalists to join
  • Purim: Jewish and Hindu students on campus partner each year to host a joint Purim/Holi celebration featuring a Purim spiel and Bollywood dancing that is known to be a highlight of the year by all students.
  • Passover: Carleton hosts two seders for passover – one a campus-wide seder led by Rabbi Shosh and the other led by students specifically for Jewish students.
  • Yom HaShoah: Yom HaShoah is typically commemorated at Carleton with a vigil, service, and speaker
  • Shavuot: Shavuot typically falls just as finals approach in the spring, and blintz-making has been a much welcomed form of celebration and de-stressing on Carleton’s campus

Jewish Interest House (Page East)

  • Carleton has a Jewish interest house for Jewish students
  • Page East House serves as a center for Jewish activity, complete with a kosher kitchen

Academics and Travel

  • Chumie Juni, Assistant Professor of Religion, and Stacy Beckwith, Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, together offer religion and Hebrew language and literature courses at Carleton
  • The Jonathan Paradise Israel Experience Scholarship offers a summer study in Israel
  • Carleton students often travel to Israel on Taglit-Birthright together
  • Carleton encourages and supports students in many other internships, study, and work experiences during school breaks at U.S. and Israeli institutions