The Daily Tar Heel

Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: DTH/Ricky Leung Josh Blumenthal, Executive Director of N.C. Hillel, shares Challah bread with student members and staff at N.C. Hillel on Tuesday. The bread was ordered from Brooklyn and was accompanied by apples and honey to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana.

For freshman Scott Neidich, today marks a special occasion.

Neidich, a Charlotte native, will celebrate his first Rosh Hashana - the Jewish holiday that begins tonight and lasts through Friday.

Neidich, who is half Jewish, wasn't raised practicing the faith but chose to convert. He said he was influenced by his brother's switch to Judaism.

"I just really want to experience what it's all about and get a feel for my Jewish roots," Neidich said. "Right now that's one of the biggest things that's important to me."

He said he plans to attend services at N.C. Hillel during Rosh Hashana. The holiday is a period of reflection and is one of the High Holidays of the Jewish faith.

Services will include traditional ceremonies, such as the sounding of a note on a ram's horn, called a shofar, and the tashlich, a prayer ceremony conducted near a body of water so sins can be cast away.

Traditional Jewish Challah bread and apples dipped in honey - symbols of a sweet year to come - will be abundant during the holiday.

Students said they plan to mark the holiday in a variety of ways.

Senior Lexie Kuhn said she will go home with a friend to celebrate Rosh Hashana. Kuhn said she went to services at N.C. Hillel her first two years but decided it wasn't the same after growing up celebrating the Jewish new year with her family.

"It's a different experience because when you go home with somebody, you're with a family," Kuhn said. "It's more like being at home."

Before college, the Springfield, Ill., native took walks with her family each year during Rosh Hashana. At UNC, she said that just isn't possible.

Those who choose to stay at the University during the holiday can attend services at N.C. Hillel or Chabad.

"A lot of students will stay and celebrate the holiday," said Sheila Katz, the program director for Jewish student life at N.C. Hillel. "Whatever works for them. What we do here is try to create some kind of family environment."

The flexibility of choosing a plan of worship reflects the deeply personal nature of Rosh Hashana.

Rabbi Zalman Bluming, a leader at the campus Chabad, said Jews are encouraged not to work during the two days so they can focus on getting in touch with their roots.

The holiday is an opportunity for a person to right wrongs and start the year with a clean slate, focusing on new goals and expectations.

"This is my last year in college," Kuhn said. "I really want to dedicate myself to keeping up all the hard work I've done over the last three years, having fun and spending time with all my friends, because who knows where we're going to be a year from now?"

N.C. Hillel has set up boxes across campus where people are encouraged to anonymously submit goals for the new year or apologies to people they wronged in the last one.

Andy Schwartz, a freshman from Milwaukee, said he isn't worried about spending his first Rosh Hashana away from home.

Schwartz said his family usually has a big dinner on the first night of Rosh Hashana, and this will be the first time he can't attend.

He said he plans to attend the N.C. Hillel services.

"I think I'd stay on campus even if I could go home," he said.

"I guess I just kind of want to see what it will be like."



Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu.



N.C. Hillel

Wednesday
6:15 p.m. Conservative Services at N.C. Hillel (210 West Cameron Ave).
6:15 p.m. Reform Services at University Baptist Church Sanctuary (corner of South Columbia and West Franklin streets; entrance on Columbia).
7:30 p.m. Student
dinner at N.C. Hillel.

Thursday
9 a.m. Conservative Services at N.C. Hillel.
10 a.m. Reform Services at University Baptist Church Sanctuary.
Noon lunch following services at N.C. Hillel.

Friday
9 a.m. Conservative Services at N.C. Hillel.
Noon Light lunch following services.

Chabad

Wednesday
6:45 p.m. Services in Chapel Hill.
8 p.m. Dinner.

Thursday
12:30 p.m. Shofar Service.
1:30 p.m. Lunch.
3 p.m. Tashlich.
7:15 p.m. Evening Services.
8:15 p.m. Dinner.

Friday
12:30 p.m. Shofar.
1:30 p.m. Lunch.
6:45 p.m. Evening Shabbat and Services.
7:30 p.m. Shabbat Dinner.

Saturday
10 a.m. Shabbat Day Services.
12:15 p.m. Kiddush.

Source: nchillel.org and chabaddch.com

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