When Henry Rosovsky first came to Harvard in 1949, Jewish life on campus was "quite hidden."

"At that time, Jewish religious life wasn't discouraged, but it wasn't particularly visible," says Rosovsky, who later became dean of the Faculty.

Today Hillel occupies a state-of-the-art two-story complex at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Plympton streets, largely funded by alumni. The facility features a kosher dining area, halls for prayer and study, and even an outdoor courtyard flanking Quincy House.

But for the rest of Harvard's dozenor-so registered religious organizations, the bountiful resources of Hillel are the exception, rather than the rule.

As the College's religious diversity grows, students from traditionally less prominent faiths have been forced to worship and gather in makeshift or temporary locations on campus, or even travel sometimes great distances to established religious centers outside Cambridge.

Students from these religions say they envy the security and visibility enjoyed by more established religious groups.

"I'm very happy for the Jewish students," says Vipul R. Patel '98, who travels each Sunday to a Swaminrayan temple in Stow in central Massaschusetts.

"I personally think Hillel is something that every religious group would aspire to," he says.

Hillel's Journey

Hillel's reliance on private donations to erect its current home might serve as a model for other groups.

In 1979, Hillel moved into a permanent building on Bryant Street near the

Divinity School.

But Hillel leaders still were not satisfied with the building, which was located a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Yard.

"Rabbi [Ben-Zion] Gold was always interested in moving and I never could understand that," Rosovsky says.

"No,' he said, 'as long as we're out there, we're never going to reach our potential," Rosovsky recalls. "He turned out to be absolutely right, despite my skepticism."

Hillel later moved to 74 Mt. Auburn Street (now the home of the Harvard-Radcliffe Band) before moving to its present location in Rosovsky Hall three years ago.