About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to enrich the lives of Northern Virginia undergraduate and graduate students, including such students at George Mason University (“GMU”) and working towards the betterment of Jewish life at GMU, in Northern Virginia and throughout the Commonwealth.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.
Our Values
Belonging
Belonging is about students finding their place in the network of Jewish Life, where they can be their authentic selves, and feel comfortable exploring new ideas and practices.
Learning
Learning is about the exploration of students’ connection to their Jewish identity, and finding their place within the larger Jewish community by utilizing Jewish ideas, values, history, and texts.
Growth
Growth is about becoming active Jewish adults, empowering students to become Jewish communal leaders, and learning to balance their personal needs with the community needs in this crucial time of identity formation.
Our History
Mason Hillel's origins can be traced back to 1984 when the first Jewish student association at GMU was created. Mason Hillel was founded in 1995 and has been serving the 1,000 Jewish students at and affiliated with George Mason University and providing a welcoming, inclusive, and exciting community full of Jewish life, love, exploration, learning, and Israel. We strive toward building a Hillel where every Jewish student feels seen and heard and connected. We achieve this by focusing on relationship-based engagement, micro-community building, and facilitating meaningful Jewish experiences that explore the intersections of students' interests with Judaism. George Mason University, with over 38,000 students, is the largest public university in Virginia and is recognized for its innovation, entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. The Jewish community of Northern Virginia is the largest and fastest growing in the Washington, DC metro area. Proximity to the nation’s capital offers a multitude of resources and opportunities. Mason Hillel, being in the center of this growing Northern Virginia Jewish community, welcomes all college aged and college staged young adults, whether they are a GMU student, a NOVA Community college student, or not currently enrolled in university.