The Penn State chapter of Hillel began the Jewish New Year by honoring 5,768 years of reflection, family, repentance and spirituality last night.

The student-led organization held the first of three services at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center for the beginning of Rosh Hashanah.

Penn State President Graham Spanier opened the service, which began at 8 p.m., and extended a special welcome to Aaron Kaufman, the director of Hillel, for his first year of work.

"It's time to think about how we might advance our own spiritual identity," Spanier said to a crowd of 275 students, faculty and State College residents.

He challenged all Jewish students to "be leaders and get involved, participate while still taking your studies very seriously."

Kaufman has been working for Hillel, an international non-profit organization, for seven years, but this is his first year in Happy Valley.

He said he believes this holiday carries a lot of weight in the Jewish community.
"It's very important to have programs like this on campus, whether religious events or something else," Kaufman said. "We're trying to provide an opportunity for students about what it means for them to be Jewish. Rosh Hashanah is one of the most important holidays on the calendar."

Daniel Greenstein (senior-meteorology), co-leader of service and vice president of Hillel, agreed.

"Students are happy that we are able to put on a service. To unite on this kind of holiday -- people get a good feeling from that," Greenstein said. "An event like this brings that home feeling on campus. Hillel is students' home away from home."

Spanier, who has attended this event since being named president 13 years ago, said he believes this holiday is the beginning of an important time for the Jewish community.

"The High Holidays are a very important time of the year for students. Having these services here is very meaningful to them," Spanier said. "This is really a day of reflection and remembrance, and a time of renewal. It's a time to look back and forward."

Julie Hochman (senior-advertising) will be going home tomorrow to spend the holiday with family but still made time to attend the opening service.
"Coming here today is so nice," Hochman said. "I think it's very special that they do something like this. It's great, it's kind of like a taste of home."

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day holiday that, this year, started yesterday at sundown and ends tomorrow at sundown. Services will also be held today and tomorrow in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and for Alyssa Rosenblum (sophomore-marketing), Hillel education and Holocaust program chair, these services are of great importance.

"I've always been involved Judaicly at home," Rosenblum said. "I like that Hillel puts this on. It gives us, the students, a sense of community."

Kaufman said these services in accordance with Hillel are "helping students redefine their Jewish identity."

Drew Day (freshman-department of undergraduate studies), who is new to Penn State, concurred.

"Any service like this is a bonding experience," he said. "It brings us together. When singing and worshiping together, it's a way to get in touch with people of the same faith."