Capital Campaign Ensures UConn Hillel Is a Haven for All Jewish Students

For UConn’s nearly 2,000 Jewish students, the Trachten-Zachs Hillel House is more than just a campus resource—it is an oasis: a place to gather, study, and, perhaps most importantly, live Jewishly together. But for some, that oasis can be out of reach. The building’s much-loved lounge and game room, where students host events, welcome new students into the community, and simply hang out, is inaccessible for some with mobility needs. An upcoming capital campaign aims to change that, funding a 3,000-to-3,500-square-foot addition that will make the building fully accessible while closing security gaps identified in a recent assessment—giving every student, regardless of ability, full and safe access to the community Hillel has built.

For many years, Hillel’s lounge has been a space for students to play games and host campus gatherings, including rush events for Alpha Epsilon Pi, UConn’s historically Jewish fraternity. “We pride ourselves on being open to all students, regardless of their faith, how they identify, or accessibility needs,” said Executive Director Edina Oestreicher. “But right now, we can’t say that 100%, because not all students can access the space.” With the need to improve accessibility and bolster security now clear, generous members of the community responded: to date, nearly $2.3 million has been raised in support of the project.

Hillel now hopes to close the remaining funding gap with a capital campaign that will launch at the end of August, 2026. The campaign aims to raise an additional $500,000 to fully fund construction, which organizers hope to begin as early as this fall. Because the renovation will preserve the existing lounge, Oestreicher noted, “It will give us the opportunity to have multiple spaces for students to choose from—with one space for students to hang out while an event is happening in the other.” The renovation will also include improvements to the facility’s backyard, with new fencing creating a secure venue for their annual welcome BBQ, "Shabbat Under the Stars," and the sukkah that goes up each Sukkot.

The overhaul to Hillel House comes at a time of considerable growth. For three straight years, Hillel has surpassed its own student engagement goals by at least 20%. Oestreicher noted that the growth among Jewish students shows they are finding a safe place to gather and find their own Jewish identity. “This is a space where, regardless of how students identify Jewishly, our staff are going to know them by name and they’ll feel secure. That’s especially critical right now.” She also pointed to the rise in non-Jewish students spending time at Hillel. “Non-Jewish students feel comfortable in this predominantly Jewish space, and that’s important in building community, breaking down myths, and increasing education for all of our students,” she said.

Oestreicher still remembers walking into Hillel House during last semester’s finals week, finding it packed with students studying. “They could go anywhere on campus. Why do they come here?” she reflected. “It’s because this is where they feel comfortable as young Jewish adults.” With the new addition, Hillel will ensure it’s a safe haven for every student who comes through its doors.

If you would like to support Hillel’s upcoming renovations, please do so at this link. Thank you!