Welcome Week 2026

This year’s Welcome Week runs Wednesday, August 26 through Wednesday, September 2, with something happening nearly every day at 52 Mt Auburn.

Check out our complete schedule

Welcome Week Kickoff Party

Kick off the semester with Harvard Hillel! Join us in the courtyard for a night of great food, music, games, and more. Come enjoy hibachi, meet new people, and hang out with friends!

Parsha with Pammy

Join Harvard Hillel’s Mashgicha Ruchanit (Orthodox spiritual advisor and educator) Pammy for a lively, low-key conversation about the week’s Torah portion—exploring what it has to say about our lives, questions, and the world today.

Mishmar

Thursday nights are for pre-Shabbat learning, lively conversation, and connecting with friends. Drop in for a short teaching from a student or rabbi, dive into a Jewish text or question, and ease into Shabbat together.

Oyntology

Over breakfast, we’ll bring questions from our lives (interpersonal, spiritual, or intellectual) and think through them using Jewish and non-Jewish texts that offer multiple ways of considering what’s at stake.

Student Org Fair

Shiur and Seudah Shlishit with Ezra

Spend Shabbat afternoon learning together over Seudah Shlishit with Ezra Klausner, our Orthodox Rabbinic Intern. Come for good food, good conversation, and a chance to dive into Jewish texts and ideas in a relaxed Shabbat setting.

Bagel Brunch

Start your week with Bagel Brunch at Harvard Hillel. We’ve got fresh bagels, schmear, and lox- plus a space to catch up with friends or meet new ones. Everyone’s welcome to stop by for good food and good company. Hope to see you there!

Apple Picking

Shana Tova! Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with Harvard Hillel for an afternoon of apple picking, good company, and a sweet start to the new year.

HJAA-Hillel-Chabad Webinar

Join HJAA, Harvard Hillel, and Harvard Chabad to prepare for the new year with an evening of learning and reflection

Register Here

Zimmer Hall Tabling

Stop by the Harvard Hillel table outside of Zimmer Hall! Meet Hillel staff, learn more about Jewish life on campus, get all the details on High Holiday services and meals, and grab some Hillel swag while you’re there.

Steak Break

Take a break from the academic grind for a great meal and even better conversation. Enjoy a premium kosher steak dinner cooked by Rabbi Yoni Ganger while exploring big questions about meaning, ethics, relationships, personal growth, and what makes for a life well lived. Good food, thoughtful conversation, and a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with other students.