Chabad Opens at America’s Top Liberal Arts College

At many universities, there are more Jewish students than Williams College’s total student body.

Ranked the #1 liberal arts college in the United States and home to a population of about 2,000, the small but prestigious Massachusetts school is known for its intimate learning environment and research programs.

There are only an estimated 200 Jewish students at Williams at any given time — a figure that includes the many juniors who spend semesters studying abroad (primarily at Oxford and the London School of Economics). But until recently, there was no real Jewish home on campus.

After the attacks of October 7th, a handful of Jewish students reached out to Rabbi Levi and Sara Volovik of the nearest Chabad — Chabad of the Berkshires, about an hour’s drive away — asking if there was a possibility to bring Jewish infrastructure to the school. This January, their son Rabbi Mendel and his wife Tzivia Volovik moved to Williamstown to launch a full-time Chabad presence on campus.

Since they’ve arrived, their work has been modeled after the university’s modus operandi: intimate, warm, and curated. “We do so many one-on-ones,” said Rabbi Volovik. “I’m actually at a coffee shop right now — in between meetings with students.”

The Voloviks aim to make themselves as accessible to students as possible, with more than twenty one-on-one Torah study sessions held weekly. Although Shabbat dinners, prayer services, and holiday programs are usually hosted at their home, the Voloviks hang out on campus for most of each day. “It’s about being there for the students,” Rabbi Volovik said.

For students like Arielle Levy, that personal approach is everything. “The Voloviks have opened their home to us in such a generous and meaningful way,” she said. “Even in their first months, they’ve brought together a diverse group of students and created a community.”

That sense of community is often visible on Friday nights, when more than 30 students pack into the Chabad house. Bennet Gorman, a first-year student, says that the Shabbat gatherings have become “the beating heart of a new and proud Jewish community at Williams.”

For many students, that sense of belonging is new and welcome. “Some of us, who once felt uncomfortable or dispersed across different social circles can now come together as Jews,” added Gorman.

While college campuses have become infamous for being at the forefront of the current antisemitic rise, Volovik says Williams has been peaceful. “Everyone knows everyone,” he said. “It’s safe here for Jewish students, and it’s a pleasure to work with the administration here.”

For students on campus, the change is already clear. “There is no doubt that in such a short time, the Voloviks have revitalized the Jewish community at Williams,” Levy added. “Now we’re connected — and strong.”