Today at sundown, Jewish students at UB will begin celebration of the Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. For members of the Jewish faith, the New Year begins at 6 p.m., marking the commencement of 10 days of reflection, atonement and resolution.
"As a member of the Jewish faith, I look forward to this time of year where I can repent for my sins, and take a moment to visualize my plans for the New Year," said Ben Lopatin, a senior business major.
Due to the university's decision to end classes at 6 p.m., Jewish students have to decide whether or not to sacrifice classes to be home by sundown in order to observe the holiday correctly.
In the Jewish faith, the High Holidays are traditionally spent with the entire family. Some say this tradition poses a problem for Jewish students at UB, as a trip home in the middle of the semester is often difficult plan.
"The High Holidays are important to my family," said Josh Lynn, a senior business major. "Each year we all do the best to get together to share the end of the year and the beginning of the New Year. However, traveling back to Long Island is a long, difficult drive."
While some Jewish students may struggle with the little time they have to prepare for Holiday celebrations, other students wonder why Christian holidays are not observed on the academic calendar.
"I don't understand why we get off for Jewish holidays and for some Christian holidays we don't get off," said Francesca Owoo, a sophomore psychology major.
Kerry Grant, the vice provost of Academic Affairs offered an explanation.
"Each year there is controversy among some students who complain that the Jewish holidays are on the campus calendar and holidays of other religions and sects are not," said Grant. "Although some students feel that the provision of select Jewish holidays on the university calendar is discriminatory, they fail to recognize that many Christian holidays have become incorporated into the secular calendar and, in that sense, are observed."
Teddy Parson, a senior Caribbean studies and management information systems major, said non-Jewish students should not balk at the fact that Jewish holidays receive recognition, but take it as an opportunity to learn more about other students' cultures.
"I take pride in learning about other peoples cultures and celebrating along with them, just as they do when Black History month comes around," Parson said. "The most important thing is that we celebrate each other all year round."
Jewish students who cannot go home in time for the holidays have the opportunity to observe the High Holidays on campus, utilizing the services of the Hillel of Buffalo.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
