Muhlenberg College Establishes Kosher Residence Facility
Shalom Bayit, a new Muhlenberg College-owned house for traditionally observant Jewish students, was dedicated in a ceremony at the College, Sunday, August 31.Wednesday, September 10, 2003 01:22 PM
Shalom Bayit, a new Muhlenberg College-owned house for traditionally observant Jewish students, was dedicated in a ceremony at the College, Sunday, August 31. The house has a kosher kitchen and provides an environment for students to observe Shabbat without the distraction of a typical dormitory setting. Muhlenberg College has a growing Jewish population. The 600 Jewish students represent 28% of the total student population on campus. Hillel students represent the full diversity of American Jewish life - secular, reform, conservative and orthodox students participate in Hillel activities. "One of the things I find most refreshing about Muhlenberg is that students are comfortable expressing their spirituality, and eager to share their religious traditions with others from different backgrounds," said Muhlenberg's new president, Dr. Peyton R. Helm. "This is certainly true of the Jewish community at Muhlenberg and it's an important part of what makes this such a stimulating community of teachers and learners."
Four students - Heather Glubo '04 of Teaneck, N.J., Renata Isaacson '04 of Baltimore, Md., Jordana Jaffe '04 of Ivyland, Pa., and Holly Kaplan '05 of Springfield, N.J. - will live in the house during the 2003-04 academic year.
"The establishment of Shalom Bayit is just another step to getting more traditionally Jewish students to come to Muhlenberg College," said Glubo, one of the originators of the idea. The students applied for special-interest housing through the office of residential services. "We are hoping that everyone will feel welcome here," Glubo added.
"Shalom Bayit provides an eloquent example of Muhlenberg's ability to think and act creatively in honoring and accommodating various faith traditions within the broader context of a caring and unified community," said Helm.
