Hillel House

The W&L Hillel House is a 7,000 square foot LEED-certified facility opened September 2010 and is open to students 24/7 and open to the public 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM Monday through Friday and Sunday. The building is closed to the public on Saturdays to observe the Shabbos.

Amenities

• E-Café, a Campus Dining facility with inside and outside dining area
• Sanctuary/Multipurpose Room
• Comfortable Study spaces
• Lounge Area
• Flexible meeting spaces with technology hookups, including either 60” screen TV or drop down projection screen

Room/Event Reservations

W&L Hillel House is available to the public and members of the W&L community for event hosting. It is recommended that reservations be made as far in advance as possible.

For W&L sanctioned programs, meetings, and events, please go to the ITS W&L Room Reservation and Event Scheduling webpage.

For personal events and outside organizations, please contact hillel@wlu.edu or 540-458-8443 for reservation and pricing information.

History of the House

On the evening of Friday, May 8, 2009, the Washington and Lee Board of Trustees made final gifts to reach the goal of $4 million, which included an endowment for long-term maintenance.

On the afternoon of May 7, 2009, staff reported to the Campaign Committee that they were $470,000 short of the goal. The Trustees and the University were pleased with the progress and eager to complete the fundraising as soon as possible to break ground for the Hillel House on schedule in September 2009. What followed on the evening of May 9, 2009, was remarkable.

Trustee Mark Eaker ’69 of Austin, Texas, a previous supporter of the Hillel House, decided to commit half — or $235,000 — of the $470,000 needed. Mark wanted his gift to challenge others to give an equal amount. Fellow Trustees responded immediately. In about 60 minutes, Mark’s challenge was met, and the entire $470,000 was pledged! The Trustees were not only generous, but very enthusiastic in their support of the Hillel. 

More than 170 individuals or couples have supported the Hillel House, and made the achievement possible. Several of the supporters and the gifts committed on the evening of May 8, 2009, helped meet the $500,000 challenge grant made in September 2008 by Don Childress, Rector of the Board of Trustees. A $1.1M reunion gift from the ZBT class of 1959 also brought the project much closer to the goal.

Fundraising now continues among alumni, parents and friends to purchase a Torah and to build an endowment to support Hillel programming. Supporters who made gifts were recognized during the construction phase with available naming opportunities in the building and on the donor plaque. The plaque honors commitments of $25,000 or more.

The Hillel House dedication ceremonies took place on September 24-25, 2010. W&L Hillel House was featured in the Jewish Daily Forward.