Mitzpeh

Every fall, as the High Holy Days roll around, Jewish students on campus are faced with the decision of whether or not to return home and celebrate these holidays with family.

Numerous students, especially from Maryland and the surrounding states, have made a habit of going home for at least the Jewish New Year.

When asked to describe the services that are organized by Hillel here every year, Shuli Berman, a senior accounting major, responded, “I've never been here for services,” adding, “I don't know anyone who stays for Rosh Hashanah.”

In fact, although many other students were asked about services on campus, almost all replied that they had always gone home and would be doing the same this fall, as well.

Sarah Comerchero, a sophomore psychology and hearing and speech sciences major, stayed on campus last year for the High Holy Days. “I went to Hillel. It was a good way to get familiar with Hillel,” she says.

This year, Rosh Hashanah falls on Thursday and Friday, and Yom Kippur is on a Saturday. The fact that the holidays fall on, or right before, a weekend could possibly give more students the opportunity to go home than if these holidays were in the middle of the week.

Josh Rabin, KOACH president, believes that although attendance will be down for Rosh Hashanah services, the numbers will probably remain the same for Yom Kippur service attendance. This difference can be attributed to the fact that while many students see Rosh Hashanah as a time to be with family, that sentiment is not the same for Yom Kippur.

Because Maryland Hillel does not give out tickets or require reservations for services, there is no way of knowing the exact amount of students that were at High Holy Day services last year and the number of students who plan to attend this year.

However, Rabbi Ari Israel, Maryland Hillel Executive Director, confirmed the popular prediction for holiday service attendance, noting that “we expect a much smaller turnout for Rosh Hashanah”.

He went on to explain that although Maryland Hillel provides University of Maryland students with services to attend on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a minority of students are actually in need of this aspect of Hillel.

Still, the services are big enough to warrant the need for three separate locations. Orthodox services will be held at Hillel, while Conservative services will take place in the Memorial Chapel and Reform Services will be in the Colony Ballroom in the Student Union. Also, both Hillel and Chabad offer Rosh Hashanah and break-fast dinners.

Wherever you choose to spend the holidays this fall, l'shana tova v'matuka!

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