Welcome, New Students and Families!
Allow us to be among the first to welcome you to Gainesville and wish you a huge "mazel tov" on your acceptance!
UF Hillel is here to help you learn about the Jewish student experience at University of Florida and Santa Fa, share opportunities to get involved before and when you get to Gainesville, and provide connections for new Jewish students and their parents to meet each other.
Above all, we want to get to know you and be a resource to you throughout your time in Gainesville, especially as a first year student.
If you are an incoming Jewish student or the parent of an incoming Jewish student,
please share your contact information with the UF Hillel team by clicking on the button below!
UF Hillel Summer B Freshmen Mentor Program
Starting at UF during Summer B? Get connected right away with UF Hillel’s Freshman Mentor Program!
This initiative pairs incoming Jewish students with returning Gators who are here to help you feel at home.
Whether you’re looking for someone to show you around campus, answer questions, or just grab coffee, your mentor is a friendly face you can count on during those early weeks at UF.
Why get involved?
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Get matched with a friendly, experienced Jewish Gator
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Have a familiar face at Hillel events before classes even start
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Meet someone who’s been where you are and is here to help
Mentors and mentees are matched based on shared interests, majors, and more — and the program is flexible and low-pressure. You’ll build a connection with your mentor throughout Summer B through meaningful interactions that help you feel supported, welcomed, and part of the community.
Interested? Just fill out the interest form before the start of Summer B.
Questions? Reach out to Hannah Blend at hblend@ufhillel.org.
Visit UF Hillel
Heading to Gainesville for Preview? Are you a high school student on your college tour? Already admitted, but still deciding if UF is the right school for you?
UF Hillel would love to meet you!
SPRING 2025 HOURS
Our building is open to visitors on most weekdays between 10am and 5pm. If you would like to stop by and learn more about UF Hillel, we encourage you to schedule your visit with us in advance so we can make sure we will be here to greet you.
Please fill out the form below and a member of our staff or student ambassador team will email you within 2 business days to make arrangements for your visit.
2025 Summer Open Houses
New and returning students and their families are invited to drop by UF Hillel during Fall move-in weekend. No RSVP needed!
2025 Summer Open House Dates:
Thurs, June 26 from 11 am - 3 pm
Fri, June 27 from 11 am - 3 pm
Sun, June 29 from 12 pm - 3 pm
During Open House you will...
Meet the UF Hillel professional staff
Hear tips and tricks from Jewish upperclassmen
Learn about opportunities to get involved at Hillel and on campus
Connect with other incoming Jewish students and families
Cool off with light refreshments and a clean restroom (!)
Grab FREE Gator gear (t-shirt alert!) for the whole family!
UF Hillel Jewish Roommate Finder
The search for the ideal roommate is daunting, stressful, and filled with uncertainty. UF Hillel has put together a Jewish Roommate Finder Google Form for Jewish students to fill out if they are looking to connect with other Jewish students looking for a roommate for the upcoming school year.
A few things to note:
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This is geared toward incoming undergraduate, graduate, and transfer students to UF and Santa Fe.
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Students must fill out the Roommate Finder Form in order to receive access to the information from the other respondents.
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Students should fill out this form, not parents.
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UF Hillel is NOT matching students. We are simply opening up a designated space for students to connect with other students, both of whom are searching for Jewish roommates.
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Students will be responsible for reaching out to other students using the contact information they provide in the form. Again, they will not receive recommendations from UF Hillel and will not receive email notifications about new responses to the form from others.
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Upon submitting the complete form, students will be given access to the spreadsheet with other respondent information within 2 business days (weekdays).
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It has to be said...UF Hillel is not responsible for any incompatible roommate matches that emerge from information in this spreadsheet, nor will we get involved in facilitating communication between two students or their families.