History of Vanderbilt Hillel
Though a Jewish population existed at Vanderbilt for many years before Hillel came to campus, the Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life officially opened its doors in 2002. At the time, only 3 percent of the student body was Jewish; now the number has jumped to 15 percent. The Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life has allowed Vanderbilt Hillel to significantly expand its services and programs on campus.
Our building is named in honor of Ben Schulman, a 1939 Vanderbilt graduate whose generous contribution and leadership helped make the center a reality.
Read more about the opening of our building here.