This year it falls on September 7, 2002 (Jewish year 5763).

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. The Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the New Year.

The shofar is a ram's horn that is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which lasts (I think) 10 seconds minimum. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar's sound is a call to repentance. The shofar is not blown if the holiday falls on Shabbat.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there is a special prayerbook called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year.  We also dip bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same reason.

Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). We walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins. This practice is not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom.

The common greeting at this time is L'shanah tovah ("for a good year"). This is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

Judaism has several different "new years.  Here are the cliff notes version:  Nissan 1 is the new year for the purpose of counting the reign of kings and months on the calendar, Elul 1 (in August) is the new year for the tithing of animals, Shevat 15 (in February) is the new year for trees (determining when first fruits can be eaten, etc.), and Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for years (when we increase the year number. Sabbatical and Jubilee years begin at this time).

What is the JCSC's role during Rosh Hashanah?

At Hillel, there is a great influx of students that enter the building during High Holiday time.  There are several services that are staggered throughout the day to accommodate the number of students and their religious preferences.  Although you will be working many hours during the High Holidays, it is a great engagement opportunity.  I suggest positioning yourself at the door greeting people or inside making sure that everyone has a Machzor.  Remember that the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (in fact any holidays) you will experience at work are very different than those you have experienced in the past.  There is a great benefit of helping others have the opportunity to celebrate a Jewish holiday, just remember to take a bit of time for your self to celebrate. 

What is Sukkot?

Sukkot is the festival of booths - the sukkah we build during Sukkot is to remind us of the temporary dwellings the Jewish people built for their 40-year journey through the desert to the Promised Land. Sukkot is a harvest festival, like Passover and Shavuot. Sukkot begins on the 15^th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri.

We are commanded to dwell in a sukkah for the seven days during Sukkot. Dwelling can mean eating, gathering, or sleeping in a sukkah (we had students who did all three!). The other mitzvah associated with Sukkot is the shaking of the lulav and the etrogthe lulav is a palm branch (lulav), myrtle branch (hadas), and willow branch (aravah), and the etrog is a fruit also known as the citron. The lulav and the etrog are the four species of plants described in the Torah. By saying a blessing and shaking the lulav and the etrog in every direction, we symbolize G-ds presence everywhere.

What is the JCSC's role during Sukkot?

The JCSC Fellow can take time off or work during Sukkot. The primary role of the Fellow is to bring a Sukkot experience to students on campus. We did this by building a Sukkah on the Quad for one of the days of Sukkot. The Sukkah can be built each day on the Quad for as many days as feels appropriateeven for a whole week. Inside the Sukkah, have snacks, materials to make decorations, and a lulav and an etrog to shake.

The JCSC's role is also to support Jewish student life, so you can visit any sukkahs that students build. Bring a camera!

What is Chanukah?

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for 8 days. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.

During Chanukah, we light a candle in a menorah for each of the 8 nights. We make and eat potato pancakes, or latkes, and other foods cooked in oil (like jelly donutssufganiot!). We play the game of dreidel and exchange gifts.

What is the JCSC's role during Chanukah?

This past year, Chanukah fell during finals, so we brought Chanukah study breaks to the Greek houses and residence halls. Chanukah is a family-oriented holiday, and students do miss their families at this point in the year. Its important to organize some kind of community celebration. Hillel organizes a Chanukah party (this past years had an open mike and lots of food), but go above and beyond that. One student built a menorah out of Rolling Rock bottles and lit it with real oil - that's something to see in action.

What is Purim?

Purim commemorates a Jewish victory over oppression with the telling of the story of Esther, a Jewish woman living in Persia who had a unique opportunity to save her people. Purim takes place on the 14^th and 15^th days of the Hebrew month of Adar.

Esther's story is told through the reading of the Megillah, or the Scroll or Book of Esther. Purim is a festive celebration - we dress in costumes and shake groggers and other noisemakers during the Megillah reading. It is traditional to bake triangular cookies, or hamentaschen, representative of the villain Hamans three-cornered hat.

What is the JCSC's role during Purim?

There is so much that can be done during Purim! Baking hamentaschen in the residence halls, dressing up and tabling, organizing an interactive Megillah reading, having conversations about the truth about Esther and Vashti, delivering Purim baskets (mishloach manot) to the Greek Houses, donating money or gifts to the poor (matanot le-evionim). Jewish themes abound in Purimgiving tzedakah, telling a story, Jewish resilience being just a few.

Have fun! Purim is an excuse to act silly.

What is Passover?

Passover, or Pesach, commemorates the Jewish journey away from slavery in Egypt. We celebrate Passover by retelling the story of the Exodus at the seder meal. We remember when the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt and tell the story of their Exodus as a celebration of freedom. Passover begins on the 15^th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan.

What is the JCSC's role during Passover?

Passover is the second-busiest time of year at Hillel, the High Holidays being the first. Before Passover, we tabled with matzah and different matzah toppings for a matzah taste test (Jelly, cream cheese, or butter? Egg, traditional, or wheat?) During Passover, JCSCs eat every meal at Hillel with students. Hillel offers first and second night sedarimthe first usually draws a bigger crowd than the second. This past year, we attempted to make both sedarim a little more interactive (more student involvement and staff facilitation, instead of staff leadership and students just showing up). JCSCs can have sedarim throughout the holidayGreek Seder was on the first night of Passover and drew over 150 students. A women's seder and a seder in Allen Hall at the end of the holiday were smaller and more target-group oriented. Sometimes these smaller sedarim allow for the JCSC to have a more normal Passover experience. Facilitating a seder for hundreds of people isnt normal, but participating in a seder with 15 people is closer to normal. The most important thing we learned from Passover this past year was to stick with the status quo. As much as the status quo concept is antithetical to the JCSC position, it isnt worth a lot of work, time, and effort to organize something that students just dont respond to. It's better to spend the time connecting with students during the holiday.

What is TuB'shvat?

This year it fals on January 18, 2003 (Jewish Year 5763).

Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, is a holiday also known as the New Year for Trees. Tu B'Shevat is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing.  Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B'Shevat.

Tu B'Shevat is not mentioned in the Torah. Only one reference to it has been found in the Mishnah, and the only thing said there is that it is the new year for trees, and there is a dispute as to the proper date for the holiday (Beit Shammai said the proper day was the first of Shevat; Beit Hillel said the proper day was the 15th of Shevat. As usual, we follow Beit Hillel. GO HILLEL!)

There are few customs or observances related to this holiday. One custom is to eat a new fruit on this day. Some people plant trees on this day. A lot of people go around collecting money to buy trees in Israel.  Also, some partake in a TuBshvat Seder.  We had one this year, student run, and it was great!

A Seder resource online: http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/festivls/tubish/seder.html

What is Yom Ha'Atzmaut?

Israel's independence was declared on the 5th of Iyar, 5708, (of the Jewish calendar) which fell out on May 14th, 1948. Five neighboring Arab states attacked the fledgling state that very night. Miraculously, the newly formed Israel Defense Force (IDF) managed to push them back and gain territory. This was known as the War of Independence, and Israel paid a high price in terms of soldier and civilian casualties, and in financial terms.

Yom Ha'Atzmaut falls on the 5th of the Jewish calendar month of Iyar.

Yom Ha'Atzmaut begins the moment that Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance) ends, and in Israel, there is a drastic change in mood as people go from mourning for those fallen for the state to rejoicing and celebrating Israel's statehood. On Independence Eve, towns all over Israel teem with revelers, partying, dancing, spraying cream and streamers, bopping passers-by with toy hammers and enjoying live concerts in the town squares and parks. The entire country is decked out in blue and white, and Israeli flags fly from every car. Yom Ha'Atzmaut is a public holiday in Israel, and the parks and beaches (and even the nature strips along the highways) overflow with families and groups of friends, relaxing, rejoicing and enjoying their barbecue picnics. Often the Israeli Navy and Air Force put on special shows for the public.

In the Diaspora, parties, BBQs, special programs and Israeli dancing at the local synagogues and community centers often mark Yom HaAtzmaut. Many wear blue and white (the colors of the Israeli flag).

School Holidays:

The holidays for fiscal year 2002-03 will be observed on the Urbana-Champaign campus as follows:

Mom's Day Weekend is a spring event and features a wide range of activities for students and their families. Some weekend activities include the Atius-Sachem Moms Day Sing, the Black Chorus Moms Day Sing, the Horticulture Club Open House, and the Illini Union Board Spring Musical and Fashion Show. The Mother's Association annual meeting is held on Saturday morning.

Dad's Day Weekend is a fall event scheduled to coincide with a home football game. At the Friday banquet, the Dads Association honors outstanding student, student organization, staff, and faculty award winners and King Dad and his court are announced. Other weekend activities include the Atius-Sachem Dad's Night Out, the Varsity Men's Glee Club concert, and frequently a special event at Assembly Hall on Saturday night.

Dad's Weekend 2002 - October 11-13 (Illinois vs. Purdue)

Mom's Weekend 2003 - April 11-13

*Siblings weekend was officially canceled this year, but is usually held in early November.