Elon’s Sklut Hillel Center celebrates 13th anniversary during Family Weekend

Elon University’s Sklut Hillel Center celebrated its 13th anniversary with a “B-Mitzvah” during Family Weekend 2026 with hundreds of students, parents, family members, alumni, university leaders, community members and friends joining Elon Jewish Life and Hillel for a Shabbat service and Bagel Brunch.

For the Sklut Hillel Center, it was an opportunity to celebrate not only the building’s “B-Mitzvah” – a nod to the Bat or Bar Mitzvah ceremony that represents an adolescent’s transition into greater responsibility within the Jewish community – but the people, relationships, and community that have made it an epicenter of Jewish Life at Elon since 2014.

“The number 13 in Judaism stands for ‘love,’ and I felt a lot of love in the Sklut Hillel Center and at the B-Mitzvah celebrations,” said Rabbi Maor Greene, Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life, “I feel so blessed to be a part of this loving community.”

The B-Mitzvah Shabbat service brought the community together in the Sklut Hillel Center Pavilion and backyard, with Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book, students, families, alumni, university leaders, and community members all joining the celebration. Former Elon Jewish Life professionals also returned to celebrate and reflect on the community’s growth.

Hillel Shabbats consistently welcome 70-100 people, more than double the attendance from earlier years of the center.

“It was amazing to see how many people care about Jewish Life at Elon,” said Miri Pottebaum ’27, co-president of Elon Hillel.

Betsy Polk Joseph, Senior Director of Jewish Life, said she was thrilled by the joyous energy that hummed throughout the weekend. One moment she says she will long remember is when community members joined the Shabband, the Hillel student band, to sing the “Shehecheyanu,” a blessing that marks a joyous moment in time.

The weekend concluded with the B-Mitzvah Bagel Brunch in McKinnon Hall, where students, families, staff, and university leaders gathered to celebrate the past 13 years and look toward the future.

Jon Dooley, Vice President for Student Life, encouraged students – especially those new to Elon – to walk through the doors of the Sklut Hillel Center whenever they are looking for community.

Student reflections on Family Weekend 2026 

“This is where I’ve made some of my closest friends and it has been a place for me to express my Judaism and learn my friends’ traditions.” – Ellie Agulnek ’27 

“I feel so lucky that I go to Elon and that there is such a strong Jewish community here.” – Ben Shuman ’29

“It was a really empowering experience to see so many Elon students and their families together.” – Josh Hertz ’29.

“It was magical celebrating the Family Weekend B Mitzvah with both of my families – the one from home and the one I’ve made here at Elon Jewish Life and Hillel.” – Anna Gratz ’30