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Center for Religious & Spiritual Life

The CRSL is committed to cultivating spiritual flourishing and affirming the human worth and dignity of every person. We play a pivotal role in religious literacy, spiritual support and equity at Smith. We serve those interested in exploring spiritual practice and identity within their religious affiliation and those who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” This creates the opportunity to bring together a wide range of students, experiences, and backgrounds that is uniquely expansive and elastic, and at times transformative. We are known as a place, both literally and figuratively, of refuge and restoration for the entire community even in times of disruption and pain.

The most important goal of the CRSL is radical hospitality. CRSL welcomes students exactly as they are, joyful, tired, lonely, or curious, and our mission is that they feel accepted in body, mind and soul. Regardless of whether students consider themselves religious, non-religious, spiritual but not religious, agnostic or atheist, questioning, or anything in between, this is their space. We provide and offer opportunities for serious religious observance and learning. We are queer affirming and committed to principles of equity and human rights that are at the heart of all faith and wisdom traditions.

Weekly Programming

Note: We have a number of resources and programs for specific faiths. Learn more.

Fall 2025

Spiritual

Mindful Mondays

Mondays from 12:15–1 p.m., Campus Center 205
If you are looking for a place to make connections and practice self-awareness, come check out our drop-in Mindful Mondays program. We serve a hot, simple vegetarian meal, and practice mindfulness with light meditation, embodiment practice, and discussion. Absolutely zero experience is necessary, and all students are welcome. Email mcantwel@smith.edu with questions.

Soup, Salad, & Soul

Fridays from 12:15–1 p.m., Bodman Lounge
Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students of all religious, spiritual, and nonreligious/nonspiritual backgrounds are welcome. Limited to Smith OneCard holders. For details on food and other general accessibility questions, email mcantwel@smith.edu.

Faith-based

SCJC Shabbat

Fridays at 5:30 p.m., Kosher Kitchen, Jordan House
Celebrate Shabbat with Smith College’s Jewish Community every Friday evening. Please email scjc@smith.edu for more information. All students are welcome.

Jummah

Fridays from 12:30-2:30 p.m., Hampshire Mosque, Hadley
Meet in front of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel at 12:25 p.m. Van will leave by 12:30 p.m. and return to campus no later than 2:30 p.m. Bring a prayer rug and complete your ablution beforehand. We have extra prayer rugs if you need one! To RSVP, email crsl@smith.edu.

Catholic Mass

Helen Hills Hills Chapel Sanctuary
Mass is held in with Fr. Valentine Nworah. Mass schedule varies.

Generating Justice & Joy

Generating Justice & Joy is a community gathering program sponsored by the CRSL, often in collaboration with students and other Smith Departments. GJJ is a gathering in recognition that we all need a place to share concerns and learn what is on the hearts of our fellow community members. It is considered a “brave space” and always includes the elements of interaction, dialogue, and activity, as well as healing ritual and sharing /dialogue among participants. We generate with the understanding that gathering in solidarity is an active—not passive—activity, and that doing so can elicit joy, and joy inspires us toward connection, justice, and hope.

Check back soon for fall 2025 dates, times, and locations.

Major Holidays

See a complete list of holidays.

Academic Year 2025–26

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

  • Begins: Sundown Monday, September 22, 2025
  • Ends: Sundown Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

  • Begins: Sundown Wednesday, October 1, 2025
  • Ends: Sundown Thursday, October 2, 2025

Sukkot (Festival of Booths)

  • Begins: Sundown Monday, October 6, 2025
  • Ends: Sundown Monday, October 13, 2025

Shemini Atzeret

  • Begins: Sundown Monday, October 13, 2025
  • Ends: Sundown Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Simchat Torah

  • Begins: Sundown Tuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Ends: Sundown Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)

  • Begins: Sundown Sunday, December 14, 2025
  • Ends: Sundown Monday, December 22, 2025

Purim

  • Begins: Sundown Monday, March 2, 2026
  • Ends: Sundown Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Passover (Pesach)

  • Begins: Sundown Wednesday, April 1, 2026
  • Ends: Sundown Thursday, April 9, 2026

Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day

  • Begins: Sundown Wednesday, April 23, 2025
  • Ends: Sundown Thursday, April 24, 2025

Shavuot

  • Begins: Sundown Friday, May 22, 2026
  • Ends: Sundown Sunday, May 24, 2026

Holy Month of Ramadan

  • Begins: Sundown, Tuesday, February 17, 2026
  • Ends: Sundown, Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Laylat al- Qadr

  • Begins: Sundown, Sunday, March 15, 2026
  • Ends: Sundown, Monday, March 16, 2026

Eid al-Fitr

  • Begins: Sundown, Thursday March 19, 2026
  • Ends: Sundown, Friday, March 20, 2026

Eid al-Adha

  • Begins: Sundown, Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Ends: Sundown, Thursday, May 21, 2026

  • Dia de los Muertos: November 1, 2025
  • All Saints’ Day: November 1, 2025
  • Ash Wednesday: February 18, 2026
  • Maundy Thursday: April 2, 2026
  • Good Friday: April 3, 2026
  • Easter: April 5, 2026

  • Diwali: October 20, 2025
  • Holi: March and 4, 2026

Live, Learn, Leap, and Lead at Smith

Our students enjoy building community, satisfying their thirst for knowledge and opening up new horizons. At the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life we support your interests and collaborate with you to bring them alive. From religious and spiritual practices to wisdom-informed traditions, we foster a rich environment of support, guidance, and space for contemplation and action.

Contact Center for Religious & Spiritual Life

Helen Hills Hills Chapel
123-125 Elm Street
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

Our Staff

Phone: 413-585-2750

We are open daily to the Smith community from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. for prayer, reflection, conversation, meditation, study, and worship.