Rosh Hashanah
In honor of Rosh Hashanah, on-campus groups are doing everything they can to provide Jewish students a home away from home. The three day celebration of the Jewish New Year begins Wednesday. However, it can be hard for university students to be observant while on campus.
That is where groups like Chabad and Hillel come into play.
"Being away from home for holidays can be tough," said Rabbi Dov Wagner of Chabad. "We try and provide a little bit of home to connect with all the people they may not be sitting around the table with." To fill that table, the group has spent three days preparing all sorts of traditional celebratory dishes.
For students like freshman human biology major, Eva Hilton, the effort is appreciated. Hillel has been her "family away from home," Hilton said. While Hilton is there for dinner every Friday night, she said the extra effort the organization puts in for the New Year "means the world" to her.
While Rosh Hashanah may be the celebration of a New Year, Rabbi Wagner says it's the symbolism of new beginnings that makes it so special.
"We celebrate a new chance to reconnect," said Wagner. "It represents when man was first created and given a job to do."
Services will be held at 6:30 PM at both Chabad and Hillel.