Georgetown University community members joined Sept. 14 to rededicate the university’s campus gathering space for Jewish students as the Ammerman Makóm, marking the completion of the renovation.
Makóm — located in the Leavey Center — hosts a variety of events for the Georgetown Jewish community and its Campus Ministry office, Jewish Life, including Shabbat services, Torah studies and Jewish Student Association (JSA) events. The multipurpose space, originally opened in 2011, underwent significant renovations starting in the summer of 2023 before reopening for student use beginning in October 2023.
The renovation, sponsored by donors including Andrew Ammerman (SFS ’72) and his family, included improvements such as an expanded seating area, sliding doors which separate the prayer space from the entry space, decorative elements highlighting Jewish imagery and a permanent ark to hold the Torah scroll. Additionally, Michelle Sloane Wolf (CAS ’85) and Steve Wolf (MSB ’84) sponsored the construction of a kosher kitchen in Makóm.
Talia Zamir (CAS ’26), a Jewish engagement intern who oversees student programming for the Office of Jewish Life and co-president of JSA, said the redesigned space and kosher kitchen has made it easier for Jewish Life to run weekly Shabbat programming.
“It’s a lot more functional for us to serve Shabbat dinner and turn the space into a really big dining area,” Zamir told The Hoya. “Which is really great because before it was really difficult, we would have the food set up during our services. It was really distracting.”
The newly constructed ark permanently sits at the front of the room, along the Eastern wall, ensuring that people praying in Makóm will face Jerusalem, as Jewish law requires.
Yana Gitelman (SFS ’25), upperclassman chair of JSA, said the new designs cement Judaism’s place as a part of campus life at Georgetown.
“The stars of David on the ceiling light and Torah ark make the space feel more specifically and intentionally Jewish, which feels really different from using the Copley chapel or Dahlgren quad for Shabbat services,” Gitelman wrote to The Hoya.
Rabbi Ilana Zietman, the Director of Jewish Life, said the renovations to Makóm — including the new wooden cabinets engraved with Stars of David — cultivate a more spiritual experience for Jewish students.
“It elevates the experience of being in that space. It just feels like there was thought put into it,” Zietman told The Hoya. “Because of such high-quality work that they’ve done, it does make it feel like a sacred space as opposed to just a room where Jews are happening to be together.”
Zamir said that having a permanent space for Jewish students creates a sense of comfort and belonging that is not found elsewhere on campus.
“Overall, it’s really important to have Jewish spaces on campus where we can be in community together and also find support in one another,” Zamir said. “It gives us a dedicated space, Shabbat gives us a dedicated time to just be together, talk about things that are unique to our lived experience.”
Zietman, who delivered remarks and led prayers at the rededication ceremony, said the graduates’ contributions to the space demonstrated the enduring influence of Georgetown’s vibrant Jewish community.
“It was very touching to see people who already had their time at Georgetown wanting to give back to make sure current and future Jewish students get to have a gathering space that is large enough for our community and fulfill our needs,” Zietman said.
Maya Taylor (CAS ’27), another Jewish engagement intern, said she has been able to make meaningful connections within the Jewish community through events in the newly redesigned space.
“These kinds of things showed me that it was more of a tight-knit group, that was like a family to hang out with, and that was our little space,” Taylor told The Hoya.
Sam Stein (MSB ’27), another Jewish engagement intern who serves as the treasurer of JSA, said the alumni speeches at the ceremony deepened her appreciation for Makóm’s importance.
“I think meeting with other Jewish leaders in the community is so empowering, both Jewish intern meetings and JSA board meetings,” Stein told The Hoya. “That’s where the future for the Jewish community here is being planned and thought out for generations. It’s powerful.”
Taylor, who attended the ceremony, said that she sees the Ammerman Makóm as a marker of the longstanding legacy of Jewish life at Georgetown.
“Knowing that the donors saw that there was a need and wanted to give back, clearly Jewish Life made a big impact on them as students, and it obviously impacted them in a very positive way,” Taylor said. “It also indicates that this is a place that will probably stick with us throughout the rest of our lives and will make an impact on who we become.”
