History -or- 'What is the Bayit?'

"The Beit Ephraim Food Co-op (Bayit) is the nation's oldest communal housing run by Jewish students. Located two blocks south of the Columbia University campus, life at the Bayit is based on principles of Jewish leadership, volunteerism, and commitment to communal responsibility. Bayit residents from a diverse range of Jewish backgrounds come together each semester to share a student housing environment with a uniquely warm atmosphere, unlike any other in New York City." Benjamin Muller General Manager

   The Beit Ephraim Food Cooperative at Columbia University is the nation's oldest communal residence for Jewish students. It was founded in 1972 by the Jewish-American novelist Herman Wouk. It is named after Ephraim Sherrow, a former Columbia student who was a notable figure in Jewish student life. Former residents include: Steven M. Cohen (renowned sociologist of American Jewry and Bayit co-founder), Leon Wieseltier (literary editor of the New Republic), Dore Gold (former Israeli ambassador to the UN), JJ Goldberg (Editor-in-Chief of the Forward), and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin (nationally renowned rabbi and author).

   The goal of the Columbia Bayit is to provide a welcoming, inclusive, safe and affordable home for Jewish students at Columbia University and its affiliated schools. Our building, conveniently located at 535 West 112th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam, is owned by Columbia University and overseen by University Apartment Housing.

   The Bayit is home to 28 students, all of whom live in single rooms. In addition, residents share a glatt-kosher kitchen, dining and living room, library, laundry facilities, TV room and a guest room. The combination of private and communal space strikes a healthy balance; students enjoy an active communal life as well as the privacy of their own rooms.

   As a community of Jewish students, Bayit residents share a wide range of responsibilities, chores and duties aimed at ensuring that life at the Bayit is a positive experience for everyone. Bayit residents are all committed to the spirit of volunteerism and cooperative work. In order to ensure participation and foster community values, residents come together at general house meetings at least twice a semester. At these meetings house leaders are elected, Bayit policy is discussed, and any issues that require all of the Bayit residents' attention are raised.

   Day-to-day operations are overseen by the Bayit's Executive Board, which consists of seven elected positions. These are: Internal Manager, External Manager, Financial Manager, Toranut Coordinator, Religious Coordinator, Recruiter and Social Coordinator. E-Board meetings are held once a week for an hour in the Bayit Library, for the purpose of assessing weekly Toranut, reviewing Bayit finances, planning social events, discussing recruiting, as well as any other aspects pertaining to life at the Bayit.

   The Columbia Bayit is a safe space. The Bayit community does not tolerate any forms of discrimination against others, nor is hateful or discriminatory speech allowed here. We are very attentive to the importance of preserving a happy and welcoming home, as well as the importance of adhering to community norms that foster values of mutual respect and tolerance.

   A cornerstone of the Bayit's existence is that it should provide a welcome home for any Jewish student, from any type of Jewish background. To that end, we maintain the highest standard of kashrut in our dining facilities. Our kitchen is under the supervision of the Columbia/Barnard Hillel Rabbi, who works closely with the Religious Coordinator to ensure that this high standard is maintained at all times. All residents are expected to adhere to Bayit standards of kashrut in communal dining facilities. Naturally, this rule does not apply to private rooms, where Bayit residents set their own rules.

   Sabbath is observed according to traditional Orthodox practices in the common areas downstairs. Use of electricity in communal areas is prohibited on Saturday with a few minor exceptions for non-observant residents. In their private rooms, residents are free to do as they wish, provided it does not infringe on other residents' Sabbath observance.

   Communal meals are a key aspect of life at the Columbia Bayit. A communal home-cooked dinner is served at 7:00 PM Monday through Thursday. Residents who are unable to make it to dinner due to class or work may sign up for a "save". The person cooking dinner will prepare an extra covered dish and leave it in the fridge. All residents participate in the cooking rotation, which results in having to cook 3-4 times per semester, usually with a cooking partner. Shabbat meals are pot-luck; participating residents sign up for Friday night dinner and/or Shabbat lunch in advance, and specify what they will contribute to the meal. At all other times, the kitchen and all of its facilities and implements are available for use by any Bayit residents.

   Cleanliness and organization are of paramount importance at the Columbia Bayit. The house as a whole cannot function properly unless residents adhere assiduously to a schedule of regular cleanups and Toranut (chores). The Toranut Coordinator, along with the rest of the Bayit E-Board, maintains a strictly enforced weekly schedule of comprehensive cleaning and Toranut. Along with the expert help of Columbia University Facilities employees, Bayit members strive to keep the house neat and tidy at all times.

   Life at the Bayit requires work and dedication from its residents, but the rewards are great. The uniqueness of a close-knit community of students in a major metropolis, along with the added value of affordable housing fees, ensure that the Bayit remains a popular residential option for students at Columbia University.