Making Georgetown ‘a richer place for faith’

On Sept. 14, Georgetown University marked the completed renovations to its Makóm, the university’s Jewish gathering space, with a dedication ceremony attended by alumni, parents, and Georgetown community members, including members of the Jewish Student Association, according to a recent announcement. Originally created in 2011, the space, which was dedicated as the Ammerman Makóm at the September celebration and ceremony, is home to Jewish student group meetings, Shabbat and holiday programming, social events, Jewish learning, and cultural programs. Renovations to the space were completed just as Georgetown’s new director for Jewish Life, Rabbi Ilana Zietman, started her role on Aug. 1. 

The Ammerman Makóm is one of eight sacred spaces on Georgetown’s main campus for the university community of all faith backgrounds. Those spaces include the Yarrow Mamout Masjid—the first mosque with ablution stations, a spirituality and formation hall, and a halal kitchen on a U.S. college campus—and the Dharmālaya, a new meditation center for members of Dharmic spiritual traditions.

“Georgetown’s commitment to interfaith dialogue and accompaniment is thus not in spite of its Catholic and Jesuit heritage, but precisely because of it,” says Fr. Mark Bosco, S.J., vice president for Mission & Ministry. “Creating beautiful sacred spaces for our Dharmic, Muslim, and Jewish communit[ies], as well as ecumenical spaces for our Protestant and Christian Orthodox communities, truly makes Georgetown a richer place for faith to be nourished and celebrated as integral to human flourishing.”

Makóm

The Ammerman Makóm was first envisioned by Rabbi Rachel Gartner, who served as the director for Jewish Life from 2011-22, and then guided by Rabbi Daniel Schaefer, who served as interim director from 2022-24. With its new renovations, it now includes a kosher kitchen, a larger sanctuary space, social space, and a reoriented ark so that members of the Jewish community face Jerusalem when they pray. The renovations were made possible by donations from Andrew R. Ammerman (SFS’72) and the Ammerman family; Michelle Sloane Wolf (C’85) and Steve Wolf (B’84); and Nicole Duclos Toporowicz and Alan Sloane Roemer (B’92).

Zach Samuel (SFS’26), a junior and member of the Jewish Student Association, said he is excited that the renovations will allow more community members to attend services and events.

“It’s really great having a space like that at a Jesuit university. It’s not something I expected, but it’s a really wonderful part of being a student here,” he said. “It’s also clear that these renovations reflect a conscious effort by the school to support us and our religious community and the sacred spaces we have on campus.”

The Masjid

Officially opened in 2023, Yarrow Mamout Masjid provides a space for reflection, prayer, community, and interfaith dialogue for Muslim and non-Muslim students at Georgetown. The space offers five daily prayer services, educational programming, and a built-in community. This year, Muslim Life celebrates 25 years at Georgetown along with Imam Hendi, who has guided the program since its founding. The community provides worship services and religious support for Georgetown’s Muslim population as well as educational programs about Islam.

“At Georgetown University, they come to a unique place,” says Hendi. “They come to a place that cares for the whole person. They walk into the space that tells them they are not far from home. They are home.” 

Related: Georgetown opens first-of-its-kind mosque on a U.S. campus >

Dharmālaya

In 2021, Georgetown opened the Dharmālaya, which offers space for members of Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Hindu, and other Dharmic traditions to gather in small groups, practice religious and spiritual traditions, and meditate. The space was internationally designed with teak shrines from Myanmar and marble icons from India, and reflects the interfaith effort of students from the Hindu Association, Sikh Student Association, and Buddhist Student Association, who advocated for the opening of the space in partnership with Campus Ministry and alumni.

The Dharmālaya on a Jesuit campus “is monumental and demonstrates Georgetown’s level of commitment to its students and interreligious understanding,” says Piyusha Mittal (SFS’18), an alumna who advocated for the center while at Georgetown.

The creation of the Dharmālaya and other on-campus sacred spaces reflects Georgetown’s commitment to establishing a sense of belonging for the communities those spaces serve, says Aaron Johnson, assistant vice president for interreligious understanding and strategy.

“It’s our hope that when a student exits the masjid, or they’re walking out of the Dharmālaya, they’re walking into a campus community that feels more like home,” says Johnson.

Read more to learn about Georgetown’s sacred spaces for community members of all faith backgrounds. >