Jewish student life at UC Berkeley dates back to the early 1920s, when small groups of Jewish students began organizing informal gatherings on and around campus. In 1927, Berkeley became one of the first campuses in the country to establish a Hillel Foundation, just a few years after the very first Hillel was founded at the University of Illinois. With the support of B’nai B’rith, Berkeley Hillel was created to provide a space for Jewish students to gather, explore their identity, and access spiritual and cultural resources within a major public university setting.

In its early years, Berkeley Hillel operated out of makeshift spaces, often renting rooms for lectures, services, and events. But the community grew steadily, especially during and after World War II, as the university expanded and more Jewish students enrolled under the GI Bill. By the 1950s, Berkeley Hillel established a permanent home on Bancroft Way, just steps from campus. This location became a hub of religious life, intellectual discourse, and social activism during some of the most transformative decades in American history.

During the 1960s and ’70s, Berkeley Hillel stood at the intersection of Jewish identity and the era’s sweeping social movements. Students involved in civil rights, anti-war protests, and the Free Speech Movement also found community and grounding at Hillel. It was a place where Jewish values like justice and tikkun olam (repairing the world) were lived out in real time. In subsequent decades, Berkeley Hillel continued to evolve, reflecting the changing needs of the campus population and a broader reimagining of Jewish life on college campuses.

Today, Berkeley Hillel supports hundreds of students each year with programs that span spiritual practice, cultural celebration, leadership development, and social justice work. Its historic building has been renovated to meet the needs of 21st-century students, while the organization remains rooted in nearly 100 years of service to the Cal community. As it nears its centennial, Berkeley Hillel not only honors its remarkable past but also looks to the future, empowering new generations of Jewish students to explore who they are, connect with each other, and make a lasting impact on the world around them.