PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Since the first two Jewish students to attend Brown graduated 130 years ago, the University’s Jewish community has continued to grow and thrive.

More than a century after Jacob Hayman and Israel Strauss achieved that milestone, Brown will host an alumni-led event from Nov. 7 to 9, 2025, titled “130 Years of Jewish Life at Brown,” to reflect on the enduring legacy of Jewish life on campus and look to its future. Dozens of alumni and student organizers have been working for more than a year to plan the three-day event, which will feature social gatherings, festive meals, research presentations, career panels, alumni and student performances, faculty lectures, worship services, film screenings and other opportunities. 

The weekend will celebrate the accomplishments and connections that have bound Jewish community members to one another and to Brown across time, according to organizer Abby Doft, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 1991 and a master’s degree in 1992 from the University and is a member of the Brown RISD Hillel Board of Trustees. Doft is one of the leaders on a seven-member volunteer steering committee of Jewish alumni and students who began convening more than a year ago to plan the celebration weekend.

“The Brown Jewish community represents a broad spectrum of spiritual practice, ethnicities and backgrounds that embodies the spirit of innovation, resilience, collaboration and exploration that’s in the DNA at Brown,” Doft said. “As the U.S. is about to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it’s remarkable to think that Brown’s 1764 charter declared ‘no religious tests’ and ensured that ‘youth of all religious denominations shall and may be freely admitted to the equal advantages.’ This principle of religious tolerance is rooted here.”

The theme of the event chosen by the steering committee is L’dor V’dor, a Hebrew phrase that means “from generation to generation.” President Christina H. Paxson said the theme is a fitting testament to the intergenerational, lifelong bonds among members of the Jewish community and throughout the Brown community.

“The history of Jewish life at Brown resonates across generations of impact on our broader community, which includes bold contributions to scholarship and academic discovery, as well as traditions and culture that have been passed down for more than 130 years,” Paxson said. “The vibrant and diverse mix of religious faiths and ethical perspectives that make up the Brown community contribute to a stimulating academic environment where students and scholars can explore, question, discover and build understanding of different experiences — and Brown’s Jewish community is integral to this.”

The events of “130 Years of Jewish Life at Brown” are open to all members of the Brown community and aim to draw participants from across College Hill and across the globe, Doft said.

“We hope that many alumni, parents, students and faculty members will come together in celebration of Brown, of friendship, and of the spirit of Jewish life that we know will continue to shape and inspire the Brown community for another 130 years,” she said.

Doft said that organizers are drawing inspiration from other historic, alumni-led celebrations that have celebrated communities at Brown and their histories, like the 2017 “125 Years of Women at Brown Conference” that honored the legacy of women at the University and the Black Alumni Reunions of 2018 and 2023, as well as events like the 50th anniversary of women's varsity athletics, which was celebrated earlier this month.

“Brunonians have a great tradition of celebrating the many facets of our community and bringing alumni, students and faculty together in ways in which we can celebrate their collective and individual achievements,” Doft said. “There is a rich history of Jewish academic, social and spiritual achievement at Brown, and we think it will be incredible to come together in celebration of these accomplishments and the enduring legacy of Jewish life on campus that has made vibrant contributions to both Brown and beyond the campus gates.”

The celebration weekend will include social events and meals, presentations on the history and contributions of Jewish people at Brown, and student panels on contemporary Jewish student life.

“Jewish life has been a grounding and joyful part of my Brown experience,” said senior Teddy Hara, a member of the steering committee. “From my very first year, I looked forward to Friday night dinners, not just for the food, but for the warmth, the conversations and the sense of belonging.”

Brown graduates and students from the Class of 1964 through the University’s current classes comprise a 49-member event committee that represents many generations of Brunonians, as well as the steering committee and honorary co-chairs. Planning has focused on everything from outreach and programming to fundraising for the event, making it a truly intergenerational endeavor, according to organizers.

“Whether through formal mentoring or chance encounters, connecting with alumni has always inspired me, and this will create a space for more of those meaningful connections and wisdom to flow across generations,” Hara said. “This is an opportunity to honor the journeys and contributions of Jewish alumni, to learn from their stories and to strengthen the bonds that unite us. For me, this is not just an event — it’s a way to express gratitude and carry the legacy of this vibrant community.”

From challah to galas

The University will serve food from its kosher kitchen in the Sharpe Refectory throughout the three-day robust lineup of offerings, which will include networking opportunities and panels on career pathways including entrepreneurship, the arts, media, journalism and comedy. 

“For 130 years, there has been a continually evolving, thriving Jewish community at Brown,” said Dr. James Hirschfeld, a Class of 1991 graduate and steering committee member. “This is a thrilling opportunity to celebrate the dynamic history of Jewish people at Brown, from our earliest alumni and their diverse careers and experiences to current-day students and recent graduates and the generations of Jewish students to come.”