It just wouldn’t be kosher for Jewish students on campus not to have proper cooking facilities.

The Hillel house – which provides worship and programming for Jewish students – has been under renovation since January.

"We haven’t had a facility to make kosher meals," said Philip Schlossberg, director of University Hillel. "Any kosher meals had to be brought from Atlanta."

The building on Milledge Avenue was shut down by the Board of Health in 1991 because it was in disrepair, Schlossberg said.

Until January, the house was kept open by barely meeting the health standards, he said.

The house didn’t have hot water, and the paint was peeling.

The renovations, which cost the Atlanta Jewish Federal Federation Capital Campaign nearly $500,000, completely refurbished the inside of the house.

In the meantime, many of the Jewish celebrations have been held in the Tate Student Center.

"We couldn’t light candles on the Sabbath in Tate because it was a fire hazard," said Amy Funk, incoming Hillel president.

Schlossberg estimated there are about 1,200 Jewish students on campus.

"More people will come to our events and observe Jewish holidays in our own building," Funk said.

"This will be a place to hang out, programs will be more attractive and it’ll be nicer to have socials in our own home rather than a meeting room."

When Jewish students held programs in Tate Center, they often were interrupted by other religious groups singing next door, Funk said.

"I’m hoping it will become a hangout place for Jewish students on campus to relax," Schlossberg said.

Most of the construction is complete, but the house won’t reopen until Aug. 1.