Building Access

• Only staff members have card access to the building.
• The kitchen and dining room will be kept locked. Only staff members will have key access. Food preparation in the kitchen will only be permitted when a monitor is present.

Kashrut Policy

Students who are a part of the Brown-RISD Hillel observe a variety of levels of observance of the Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut).  As an institution we are committed to having all students, no matter what their level of observance, feel comfortable eating in Brown Hillel.  We also are committed to serving kosher food at Hillel community events.

• All food brought into the Kitchen or the Social Hall must have a rabbinical certification or hekhsher.  Acceptable hekhshers can be viewed here.
• No outside food may be brought into the building during Passover.
• A student trained as a kitchen monitor must be present whenever students are using the kitchen. 
• All food served at events held solely under the auspices of Brown-RISD Hillel either within the building or outside of the building that are open to the public, must have an approved hekhsher.
• Events held in the Hillel building that are not under the auspices of Brown-RISD Hillel, but are open to the public must serve only food that has an approved hekhsher.  At events where the list of attendees is known, the event’s organizers may decide their own kashrut policy (unless the event is held in the Social Hall, see above.)

Shabbat Policy

Shabbat is an important day within the Brown-RISD Hillel community.  Hillel acknowledges that students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have different ways of personally observing Shabbat.  We are committed to creating a pluralistic community where students can feel comfortable and safe in their observance of Shabbat. During Shabbat students using the building are expected to be aware that many students are observing Shabbat and should be cognizant that their actions may affect the Shabbat observance of others

• A Hillel Student Employee will be responsible for appropriate turning on and off of lights and appliances at the building's opening and closing times.
• Use of computers in the Student Work Room will be permitted during Shabbat.
• Cell-phones must be put on vibrate and cell phones may not be used while in services or in the social hall at meals during Shabbat.  Additionally, cell-phone usage is discouraged in public areas such as the Commons.
• Musical instruments are permitted only for religious observance or for personal use.  Use of amplifiers is not permitted in the building during Shabbat.
• Students may use the building to study during Shabbat; however, the Beit Midrash is reserved specifically for religious observance or Jewish text study during Shabbat.
• Events open to the public that are held in the building on Shabbat, whether under Hillel’s auspices or not, may not conflict with Shabbat observance unless these actions would be essential to religious observance.  Closed events, where the list of attendees is known, may decide their own Shabbat policy.
• All guidelines for Shabbat are also applicable to Holiday observance

Room Reservations

To make reservations, please submit a room reservation form. Priority will be given to Hillel and Brown University student groups and departments and Jewish Communal Agencies.