With the approach of Rosh Hashanah and more than 2,500 Jewish students on campus, sensations of tradition and celebration fill the air.
Rosh Hashanah, translating from Hebrew to “first of the year,” is considered the Jewish New Year, commencing a ten-day span of prayer and self-recognition.
Jordan Lerner, a junior civil engineering major, said for him the holiday is about a new start.
“Rosh Hashanah, to me, is all about having a new start,” Lerner said. “It doesn’t feel like a distinct end to a year, but a tradition.”
Various traditions are a part of the holiday, but most circulate around two constituents: prayer and meals.
“The most important parts of Rosh Hashanah are two things: services and also the meal, the dinners with their families,” said Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm, director of Chabad, a Jewish student organization at CU.
Though traditionally some students celebrate Rosh Hashanah with their families, other students have said they consider their family to be the Jewish community at CU.
Courtney Miller, a senior marketing major and president of Hillel at CU, said she celebrates on campus.
“I usually stick on campus and celebrate my holidays with Hillel and my friends at CU,” Miller said.
Both Chabad and Hillel create a strong Jewish student community within which students can celebrate Rosh Hashanah, students said. During Rosh Hashanah, both organizations hosted free dinners and religious services open to any CU student.
Hillel hosted a dinner Wednesday night in the UMC. The food served included traditional challah bread and apples with honey.
A similar, but more Orthodox dinner was held at Chabad, thus slightly different traditions were followed. Though the organizations’ styles of service and dining differ, many Jewish students said they don’t have a major preference.
Dani Salinger, a senior communication major, said she loves Chabad.
“The past couple of years I have attended Chabad and loved it,” Salinger said. “Rabbi Wilhelm and his wife Leah are so welcoming and their services and dinner are so much fun.”
Though many Jewish students are states away from their families, they said this community emulates the familial warmth and comfort they remember from home.
Those students who do return to their families for Rosh Hashanah know CU faculty and friends understand their religious needs.
“CU is, from what I have experienced, very supportive of the holiday,” said Jason Schreiber, a freshman jazz studies major. “I have not had any problems with professors after telling them I would be out for two days, which I feel is wonderful.”
Students said they feel supported and that there are many opportunities on campus for them.
“The Jewish population is growing in importance on this campus as well,” Miller said. “And with that, the opportunities are numerous.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Devon Barrow at Devon.barrow@colorado.edu.