Washington University in St. Louis welcomes 16,500 undergraduate and graduate students in over 90 programs, with an emphasis on teaching, research, patient care, and service to society. The school is a two-hour flight from the East Coast.
Washington University has many resources for Orthodox students, beginning with a diverse, thriving observant Jewish community. There are approximately 1,750 Jewish undergraduate students. Around 80 of these students come from an Orthodox background and about 50 of these students studied in an Orthodox gap year program.
The official group for observant students is called JSA (Jewish Student Association), and there are around 100 members involved. This group consists of both Orthodox and Conservative observant students. It’s run by the students for the students, and the students plan programs, events, and initiatives that foster a robust, and dynamic religious Jewish life for them on campus.
During the week, there are services three times a day. Shacharit takes place at the Hillel every morning, with a Bagel Breakfast following minyan. There are student-led chaburot starting the day after Shacharit as well as a shiur given by Rav Shlomo Thursday mornings.
The Shabbat life for Orthodox students takes place mainly on the Washington University campus and some students venture out to get to know the surrounding Orthodox community in University City & Chesterfield.
On Friday night there are over 100 students who attend services at Chabad. Shabbat dinners are hosted almost weekly at the JLIC home, and Rabbi Shlomo and Kyra greatly look forward to Shabbat and getting to know students at their table. The Chabad house hosts about 200 students from diverse Jewish backgrounds for Shabbat dinner each week, and Hillel hosts weekly Shabbat dinners as well. After dinner at the Ashkanazy’s, Chabad, or Hillel, students from the JSA will gather together to hang out at a student’s apartment.
On Shabbat day, the JSA davens at Hillel, followed by a kiddish after Minyan, a small student-led book club, and lunch. Rabbi Shlomo and Kyra (along with their daughter Adi) join the JSA at Hillel each week. There are on average about 75 students from the JSA for lunch at Hillel each week. Chabad also hosts smaller meals on Shabbat day. The students end off lunch with high-energy zmirot leading into benching and Mincha.
On Shabbat afternoon, students sometimes go walking in nearby Forest Park or read on hammocks. Rabbi Shlomo and Kyra host a meaningful Seudat Shlishit in their home every week. Maariv and Havdalah take place at Chabad.
The Ashkanazys are excited about providing programming, learning opportunities, and individualized connections with students every day. Rabbi Shlomo and Kyra offer chavrutot, chaburot, chessed opportunities, programs for men and women, and community events, and they love hosting in their home throughout the week. Rabbi Shlomo and Kyra are always available for students and hope to provide them with a home away from home.
Yomim Tovim meals are always available on campus. For Yomim Tovim many students walk to the “other side of town,” a 45-minute walk, where there is a thriving Orthodox community including another Chabad House, a Young Israel, and an Agudas Israel shul. Local families often invite students for Yom Tov meals and even to stay overnight.
For religious academic accommodations, officially, professors are told to schedule around Jewish holidays and are often very flexible about extensions and alternative exam dates.
For housing, all freshmen and some sophomores live on campus, with most upperclassmen choosing to live just off campus in apartments. Mechanical Shabbat keys are available on request for on-campus housing.