Just as every member of the student body at Washington University is a member of Student Union, every person on campus who identifies as a Jew is technically part of an umbrella organization for Jewish students called the Jewish Student Union (JSU).

The JSU works with the other Jewish organizations on campus to coordinate programming that appeals to a diverse range of students. Last year, the JSU brought Hasidic reggae musician Matisyahu to campus and co-partnered with WSI to bring Israeli singer-songwriter Idan Raichel to Wash. U. for an Israel benefit concert. The organization also co-hosted a Purim Party with Chabad last spring.

According to Elliott Rosenthal, this year’s JSU president, Jewish students can find common ground with all students to whom religion is important. Accordingly, the JSU aims to both educate other students about Judaism and to teach its members about other religions. Last year, JSU co-sponsored Pluralism Week, held an interfaith Shabbat each semester, and encouraged its members to attend a Catholic mass. Its members put their own spin on Holocaust Awareness Week, a national event that takes place every March, using the week to promote awareness of modern genocide.

“We’re trying to work with other religious groups to create a broader sense of community for all people at Wash. U. to whom religion is very important-not just Jewish people,” Rosenthal said.

To Rosenthal, part of this focus on common ground stems from the diverse array of Jewish students the JSU serves-its members come from all over the country and encompass a variety of political viewpoints and branches of Judaism. And Rosenthal hopes that the JSU’s reach and membership will continue to grow larger and more diverse over the course of the coming year.

“We’re always trying to develop new ideas and reach new people. We’re very open-minded-we want to reach whoever we can and have programming that’s appealing and interesting to every student, not just religious students or Jewish students,” Rosenthal said.

For more information, contact JSU’s staff advisor, Rayna Schaff at [email protected] or 314-935-9044.

 – Kate Gaertner