Our History

University of Michigan Hillel was the 3rd Hillel Foundation in North America, established in 1926. Hillel was housed at two different locations at the University before moving into a house at 1429 Hill Street in 1942. The house was replaced by a large building in 1951 and that building in turn was replaced by the present Mandell Berman Center in 1988.

U-M Hillel's history matches the remarkable changes in the University and the often turbulent times of the nation during its almost 8 decades on campus. From its earliest days Hillel played a significant role in campus life, serving not only the religious needs of the campus Jewish community but also providing a center for social, political and artistic expression. In 1937, The Hillel Players produced the first play by an undergraduate by the name of Arthur Miller. During the Viet Nam War years Hillel was the locus of much of the campus debate and political action. In the 1980s Hillel began to play a major role in the intellectual and cultural life of the University with the launching of programs like Consider Magazine, Residence Hall Repertory theater company and the Golden Apple Award.

Today the University of Michigan is widely regarded as one of the best schools in the country for Jewish students and Hillel has played a major role in the development. The 2009 Fiske Guide to American Colleges cites the quality of Jewish life as a significant factor in the life of the campus at only two schools. One of them is the University of Michigan.