The new Hillel building will be a place for Jewish students to gather, to celebrate, to explore their identity, and to connect with each other. Most importantly it will be a home. A place where they can be themselves. A place for support. A place they can belong.
The Hillel building will also be a welcoming space for all Cornellians. We hope that student clubs and other faith traditions will use the space for their own programs. Through the building, we will connect and build bridges throughout the campus.
Rabbi Ari Weiss, Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell CEO
Reaching our goal will ensure that the new Hillel center is built to meet student needs – from study and snacking to recreation and prayer. At the same time, our goal of reaching 1,800 donors will secure Cornell’s future for the coming decades.
As we build our new Hillel home, we are also creating a permanent fund for programs and staffing. Sustained vibrant and meaningful activities will attract students, foster their intellectual growth, and nurture their emotional wellbeing.
We expect over 3,000 Cornellians will use the new Hillel building every year – one of the most visited and popular buildings on campus.
A Kosher cafe, making Hillel the go-to spot for a convenient and delicious lunch or coffee
Huddle rooms for one-on-one, meaningful conversations and group work
A large multi-purpose event space with room enough for Shabbat dinner for 150 students
Beit Midrash and classrooms for enriching encounters with Jewish ideas and texts
A communal Kosher kitchen for group challah baking and cooking classes
A roof deck where students can catch the sun and enjoy a picturesque rooftop sukkah
A lounge, the heart of the building, a comfortable and cozy space where students feel at home
Administrative offices for the Hillel staff and conference room
Preliminary Design
Join us in creating the Hillel of tomorrow at Cornell. Construction costs for the building are $25 million. A fund for building maintenance will require $7 million. An endowment of $22 million will support ongoing professional support and programmatic costs and ensure the future of Jewish life at Cornell.
Make a lasting impression. All gifts are payable of a 5 year period.
Hillel Name
$10,000,000
X
Building
$8,000,000
X
Campus
$5,000,000
Biet Midrash
$3,000,000
Cafe
$2,500,000
X
First Floor
$2,500,000
Lounge
$2,500,000
Events Hall
$2,500,000
Second Floor
$2,000,000
Third Floor
$2,000,000
Lobby
$1,500,000
X
Learning Center
$1,000,000
Community Room
$1,000,000
X
Roof Deck
$1,000,000
X
Front Porch
$500,000
X
Stairway
$500,000
Classrooms (2 Available)
$500,000
Conference Room
$360,000
Backyard Garden
$360,000
Vestibule
$360,000
Fireplace
$360,000
Community Kitchen
$300,000
X
Holocaust Memorial
$250,000
Executive Director's Office
$250,000
Rabbi's Office
$250,000
X
Engagement Team Office
$250,000
First Floor Art Gallery
$250,000
Huddle Rooms (3 available)
$180,000
Wellness Room
$180,000
X
Asst. Executive Director's Office
$180,000
Sukkah Trellis
$180,000
X
Book Collection, Beit Midrash
$180,000
Elevator
$180,000
Admin Office
$100,000
X
Café Kitchen
$100,000
X
Hallways (2 Available)
$100,000
Mezuzah, Front Door
$100,000
X
Reception Desk
$100,000
X
Torah Arks (2 Available)
$100,000
X
Judaica Display Case
$72,000
X
Mezuzah, Beit Midrash
$72,000
Community Room Seating Area
$50,000
Feature Wall in Community Kitchen
$50,000
Front Lawn Menorah
$50,000
X
Reception Seating Area
$50,000
X
Shabbat Candle Lighting Station
$50,000
X
Coffee Station
$36,000
X
Handicap Accessible Outdoor Ramp
$36,000
Mezuzah, Café
$36,000
Mezuzah, Lobby
$36,000
Mezuzah, Lounge
$36,000
Nosh Station
$36,000
X
Community Kitchen Island
$25,000
X
Shabbat Dinner Tables (13/15 available)
$25,000
Torah Stand
$25,000
X
Work Stations (2 available)
$25,000
Beit Midrash Bookshelves (10 Available)
$18,000
Indoor Mezuzot (11/15 Available)
$18,000
Shabbat Closet
$18,000
X
Benches (6/10 Available)
$10,000
Conference Room Table
$10,000
X
Huddle Room Tables (1/4 Available)
$10,000
Lectern
$10,000
X
Lounge Bookshelves (3/5 Available)
$10,000
Student Activity Storage Closets (4 Available)
$10,000
Water Stations (0/4 Available)
$10,000
X
This is a special opportunity to add your name to the Grinspoon Hillel Center or to honor a relative, mentor, friend, or classmate.
This permanent mosaic will honor the visionary donors who are building the Jewish community’s new home at Cornell. Bearing names of alumni and families from across the generations, the Wall will be centrally located in the new Grinspoon Hillel Center. It will inspire students for decades to come.
*All donors above $1,800 to the capital campaign will be recognized on the Founders Wall
*Tiles may be reserved over a 5-year payment plan or with a one-time donation
