Hillel Foundation, Rhode Island Chapter (Mss. Gr. 159)

Historical note

The B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation at URI is part of the international Hillel organization dedicated to promoting Jewish identity, awareness, and practice on college campuses. Starting as a part-time counselorship in 1948, URI Hillel became a foundation in 1968, with the hiring of its first full-time director. Since 1968, Hillel has been administered by a full-time director, who also serves as the Jewish chaplain on campus, an administrative assistant, and for a brief period in the early 1980s, a program director.

In the 1970s, the Hillel Foundation moved from the Student Union to offices in International House. The growth of Hillel's programs and services resulted in its relocation to its own building at 34 Lower College Road.

The URI Hillel Chapter receives funds from National Hillel Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, donations, and fundraising of parents, community, students and faculty.