Members of the local Jewish community, including Penn State President Graham Spanier, gathered this weekend in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center to commemorate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Rosh Hashanah is one of the High Holy Days in Judaism.

It marks the beginning of a 10-day period of repentance, culminating in Yom Kippur.

Spanier, who is Jewish, said a few words during a service Friday evening held by Penn State Hillel.

Hillel director Tuvia Abramson led the service and introduced Spanier as his long-time friend.

"I will not tell you the jokes he made on my account," Abramson said jokingly.

Spanier remarked on the importance of forming a spiritual community on campus.

"This is an opportunity here on campus to come together through Penn State Hillel," Spanier said.

He also remarked on the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center as a unique location for people of all different backgrounds to come and exercise their faith.

"It is very unusual for a public university in this country to have a religious center in the heart of campus," Spanier said.

"We believe that the spiritual development of our students is every bit as important."

Elizabeth Paris (senior-advertising) attended the service after gathering with some friends earlier that evening.

"We had a couple of friends get together and we had the traditional dinner with apples and honey," she said.

Paris said she appreciated Spanier's presence at the service.

"It's cool that he participates in the Jewish community and takes the time," she said.

Yifat Shemmer, program director for Hillel, said it is an honor that Spanier continues to support Hillel.

"It means a lot for the students," she said. "He's being part of the community."

During the service, Abramson used various lines from the Garth Brooks song "The Dance" to help encourage all students to make the most out of life.

"Our lives are surrounded with dance and pain, without one there is no other," he said.

"On this Rosh Hashanah, I challenge you to take the best you can from this university, this community and from each other."