A group of Jewish Student Union members and Rabbi Goldstein.

Shalom! Welcome to Jewish Life at Gonzaga

Our Jewish Community

Gonzaga University is home to a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community which celebrates, prays, and studies together, all while creating a safe and welcoming place for Jewish students from any and all backgrounds.

In 2021, the Gonzaga Jewish community was gifted its own Torah which is housed in the Jewish Sacred Space (College Hall, 3rd Floor, Interfaith Hallway). The Jewish Sacred Space serves as the Gonzaga Jewish community’s main gathering place. Our Jewish community is also lucky to be led and supported by Rabbi Elizabeth Goldstein. In addition to teaching courses covering Jewish themes, Rabbi Goldstein oversees the Jewish Student Union and together they offer a variety of opportunities to engage with the Jewish community throughout the year:

  • Monthly Shabbat services and meals
  • Annual Shabbat Retreat
  • Jewish holiday celebrations
  • Jewish sacred chant (Taizé)
  • Small group learning (Chevrutah)
  • Torah study
  • Jewish cultural celebrations

Jewish Student Union

The Jewish Student Union is a student club devoted to supporting, celebrating, and growing our Jewish identities, whether they be cultural, religious, newly-found, ethnic, or a mixture of all. We strive to be a home for Jewish students from any and all backgrounds and welcome those who want to learn more about Judaism to attend our events and learn with us.

At the Jewish Student Union you can be sure to find:

  • Weekly JSU meetings
  • Social events
  • Cultural celebrations
  • Monthly Shabbat services and meals
  • Annual Shabbat Retreat
  • Opportunities to learn about Judaism (at any level)
  • Annual Culture Club Festival Event
  • A place to be and grow into your unique Jewish self!
A group of students

Get Involved!

Everyone is welcome regardless of their prior experience with Judaism. Come to eat or sing, connect with your roots, or learn about something you’ve never even heard of! We’re here for you however you need us—we’re here to be your community.

Check out our upcoming events listed below!

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with Jewish Zags

Rosh Hashanah

Join us on September 15 and 16th! Bring in the Jewish New Year with the familiar songs and prayers (or become familiar with them for the first time) of Rosh Hashanah. Enjoy apples, honey and our favorite rounded Challah with Gonzaga friends, faculty and their families. Special chicken dinner to follow.

The joy and festivities continue Saturday morning as we chant from our new Gonzaga Torah, enjoy the melodic chants and words of Torah from our guest student clergy, Cantor Elisheva Miller, and partake in a vegetarian lunch.

Cast away your sins with breadcrumbs by the water. Saturday afternoon, Tashlich Service.

Yom Kippur

Ten days later, bring your heartfelt spirits as we usher in the Day of Atonement starting with Kol Nidrei Sunday night the 24th. Services, Torah reading, afternoon discussion, and the final blast of the Shofar take us into the new Jewish year of 5784. Bagel and Lox break the fast to follow.

Rabbi Goldstein with the Torah.

Shabbat Retreat

Have you ever wondered about the Jewish Sabbath (shabbat) or the “day of rest”? How do Jews acknowledge and celebrate Shabbat and what do we think it means to “cease from work and rest”? The Shabbat retreat at Bozarth mansion on November 3-4, 2023 is one such opportunity to join with Jewish and non-Jewish friends to celebrate the day of rest, and delight in the opportunity to refresh, rejuvenate, hike, sing and of course eat. If you have questions, please contact Rabbi Goldstein at goldstein@gonzaga.edu or Gabriela Marquis at gmarquis@zagmail.gonzaga.edu.

Get Involved in Gonzaga Jewish Life

Send us a message
502 E. Boone Ave
Spokane, WA 99258
Connect With Us