Hillel Approved for New Home

Construction of a state-of-the-art Rutgers Hillel building at the epicenter of the university’s $300 million College Avenue Redevelopment project took a major step forward on June 24, with approval of its plans by the New Brunswick Zoning Board.

Rutgers Hillel, keystone of Jewish social, religious, pro-Israel and cultural activities on the 7,000-plus Jewish student New Brunswick campus, plans to break ground for its new facility by the end of 2013, pending further municipal approval, according to Andrew Getraer, Hillel’s executive director. Hillel, established at Rutgers in 1943, is in the midst of an $18 million capital and endowment fundraising campaign to finance the project. 

To facilitate a shift to the epicenter of the university’s College Avenue Redevelopment Project, Rutgers Hillel swapped its original proposed building site on the corner of George Street and Bishop Place with the University, for the new location at 70 College Avenue, diagonally across from Seminary Place.  “Of utmost importance,” Getraer said, “is that the new location is at the heart the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus and demonstrates the university’s working partnership with Hillel.”

“Rutgers is home to the nation’s second largest Jewish student population,” said RU Hillel President Roy Tanzman, “and is one of the finest universities in the country. Our state university deserves a world-class Hillel and that is precisely what our new plans will deliver. We are grateful to the university administration and to New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) President Chris Paladino for their cooperation and leadership in making this move possible. ”

The College Avenue Redevelopment Project is a partnership between DEVCO, Rutgers University, Rutgers Hillel, and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. In April, the project was awarded $33 million in tax credits by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The project will include a new academic facility for the University’s School of Arts and Sciences; a new residential Honors College for Rutgers students; a new residential apartment building for Rutgers students; a new headquarters for the New Brunswick Theological Seminary; the new Rutgers Hillel building, and a new residential facility serving the Seminary, Hillel and the general university student population.

As a result of an accelerated construction schedule on other aspects of the College Avenue project, Rutgers Hillel’s current home at 93 College Avenue is slated for demolition in the next few months.  “Though hectic,” Getraer said, “the move to temporary facilities will be accomplished seamlessly with little or no interruption of services.” Hillel has been at 93 College Ave. since 1996, when it moved from its former facility on the Douglas Campus.

Rutgers Hillel, in partnership with DEVCO, the University, and the Seminary have located a temporary space for the 2013-2014 academic year in close proximity to its current College Avenue location.  Getraer anticipates another temporary home might be necessary before the projected completion of their new building in fall of 2015.

For further information about Rutgers University Hillel and how you may become involved with this exciting project contact Getraer or Lee Rosenfield at (732) 545-2407 or lee@rutgershillel.org.

-Rutgers Hillel