Since its founding in 1948, spiritual life has always been an important part of Brandeis University. The Center for Spiritual Life evolved from Brandeis’ core values and mission, to foster an inclusive environment for diverse beliefs. 

This past week, parts of campus were filled with excitement and celebration as students came together to observe meaningful cultural and religious traditions. Most recently, Spiritual Life has supported student groups in celebrating Purim and Holi. Purim, a Jewish holiday, celebrates the triumph of the Jewish people against their Persian rulers as described in the Book of Esther. The holiday is often celebrated by dressing up in costumes, listening to the story of Purim, eating Hamantaschen — cookies shaped like the antagonist Prime Minister Haman’s hat — and giving to charity.

Additionally, this past weekend was filled with vibrant colors as Brandeis Namaskar and the Center for Spiritual Life collaborated and celebrated Holi with the Brandeis community. Holi is a “major Hindu festival celebrating the onset of spring, along with the good harvest and the fertility of the land” and “commemorating the intimate loving relationship between the Divine Couple, Radha and Krishna.” It is most commonly associated with “throwing brightly colored powder and water” at others “to celebrate the beginning of spring.” 

Brandeis is home to many places of worship, including the three chapels located adjacent to Massel Quadrangle and Chapels Field. Building places of worship on campus “was part of first president Abram L. Sachar’s original vision…for the university,” with the chapels being some of the first places conceived in the early 1950s. 

The chapels were first commissioned in 1952 to the New York firm of Harrison and Abramovitz. The firm was also commissioned to design several other campus buildings. Through much planning and debating, a consensus was made to build three chapels — “one for Jews, one for Catholics, and one for Protestants.” The chapels were first dedicated in 1955, then again in 1965 and in 2010 following their renovation. In 1956 the chapels were awarded the American Institute of Architects Award of Merit. 

At the time of its opening, Brandeis was “heralded” as a school “representative of a multi-faith America” and “unity in the midst of diversity.” As such, the three chapels were all built to be the same size and built in specific locations “so as never to cast shadows on one another” representing the mutual respect of others and upholding Brandeis founding values of inclusion, truth and justice. Additionally, the chapels are situated around a heart-shaped reservoir which is the center of a long-established Brandeis student valentine tradition, in which Brandeis students walk backwards around the reservoir with their significant others three times holding hands. 

Today the Center for Spiritual Life offers a wide range of services to the Brandeis community from many different faiths. The center offers regular “worship opportunities as well as holiday celebrations and social and educational programs” for “Catholic, Hindu and Dharmic, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant faiths.”

The Catholic community at Brandeis is primarily supported by the Chaplain and Coordinator of Christian Life at Brandeis, LaClair. The chaplain works to coordinate weekly Mass, held at 10 a.m. on Sundays, as well as holiday services. Spiritual life also offers Confession available by appointment with Brandeis’ Affiliate priests or immediately following Sunday Mass. 

Beyond services, Catholic students also have the opportunity to join the Catholic Student Organization, which offers students a place to discuss faith and participate in CSO-run social events.

Similarly, Protestant life at Brandeis is supported by LaClair who offers services and programs mainly in the Harlan Chapel. As reported by Spiritual Life, Protestant student groups on campus include Asian Baptist Student Koinonia, Asian Baptist Student Koinonia Graduate Division, Brandeis Graduate Christian Fellowship, Cru Brandeis Christian Fellowship, John Bible Study and Salvation.

Encompassed under the center’s Hindu and Dharmic community banner includes “Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.” The center notes that for students of Dharmic faiths, while they have attended Brandeis for decades, “their religious community has grown substantially in recent years.” 

The Dharmic Prayer and Meditation Space can be found on the third floor of the Shapiro Campus Center. 

Jewish life at Brandeis is represented by many different groups across campus, the largest being Hillel. Hillel is the “umbrella” for a large portion of Jewish life on campus, with a “dedicated staff, an active student board and many engaged club group leaders and members.” Many members of the Brandeis community attend Hillel’s weekly Shabbat dinner occurring every Friday night of the academic year in the Sherman Function Hall. 

Hillel holds week services for conservative, orthodox and reform denominations as well as High Holiday services. These services are held “collaboratively by rabbis and students” and attended by “students, faculty, staff, and local community members.”

Aside from Hillel, “a diverse range of Jewish denominations are represented on campus” that come together for both prayer and holiday celebrations. These groups also offer many social events and provide a space to connect with the Jewish life in different ways. Some of these groups include Brandeis Orthodox Organization, Masorti, Brandeis Reform Chavurah, Brandeis Reconstructionist Organization and Shira Chadasha. 

Muslim Life at Brandeis “unites students from all different ethnicities and backgrounds around their Muslim faith.” The Brandeis Muslim Student Association at Brandeis is the primary prayer and social organization for Muslim students. The association hosts several social events including “meet and greets, potluck dinners, cultural cooking events, interfaith dialogues with other organizations, and academic lectures.” The MSA also helps Muslim students with on and off-campus prayer and finding Halal food. In addition, the MSA helps to “organize prayer for Ramadan, Eid and other Muslim holidays.”

A Muslim Prayer Space is “located on the lower level of Usdan Student Center” and has “a prayer area, gathering space, small kitchen, wudu washing station and an office.” 

—Editor’s note: The Justice Associate Editor Bryan Wolfe '27 is employed by Brandeis Hillel, and did not contribute to or edit this article.

—Editor’s note: The Justice Associate Editor Xilei Ceci Chen '26 is employed by Brandeis Hillel, and did not contribute to or edit this article.