It’s that time of year again…. Friendsgiving season
By Hannah Davidson
For Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
At Maryland Hillel’s second annual Friendsgiving Holiday Fundraiser, there were three large trays of pasta, a panini-making station and salads of every kind along one wall. Along the opposite side was a table covered with every sweet imaginable—pies, cookies, candy, whipped cream and hot chocolate...
Holiday commercialization great for all
By Jake Baum
For the Mitzpeh
@JakeatUMD
Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, after people finish their Black Friday shopping, the snowflakes, string lights and Christmas trees immediately go up. “Jingle Bells” starts blaring in every grocery store, shopping mall and public venue you can imagine. The most powerful forces of ...
Christmas decorations on campus receive mixed views from Jewish students
By Alyson Kay
For the Mitzpeh
@AlysonLyn
At this university’s School of Public Policy in Van Munching Hall, a large green Christmas tree sits lit up and adorned with round ornaments near a framed picture of Testudo next to the main entrance. Garlands make their way up the railing and a wreath encircles the university plaque. ...
From the Archives: Illumination and Dedication (Dec. 1989)
By Rabbi Laurence Glestein
One of the most widely celebrated holidays on the Jewish calendar is the festival of Chanukah, which will be observed this year from the evening of December 22 until sundown December 30. What is the meaning of this festival?
On a simple level Chanukah commemorates the ancient military victory of the Jewish Hasmon...
Exam policy clarified (Sept. 1989)
Campus Jewish students are reminded of the University policy governing absences and the administration of examinations and tests on religious holidays.
Under University policy, students are excused from absences which result from religious observances. Instructors must provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and other ...
Excessive holiday drinking not in spirit
Intoxication at festival events detracts from community
By Jacob Schaperow
Editor-in-chief
@jschap1
A few days in advance of Simchat Torah each year, students affiliated with either the Orthodox or Conservative student groups at this university receive the following communication from Ari Israel, executive director of Maryland Hillel, ...
Better religious accommodations needed
Every year, there’s a plethora of Jewish holidays all squished together during the fall season. From Rosh Hashanah to Simchat Torah, Jews are busy observing the holidays by attending shul, fasting on Yom Kippur and more. Many Jewish students miss an excessive amount of classes because the Torah prohibits work on these holy days. The University ...
High holidays are about worship, not money
By Jacqueline Hyman
This year’s high holidays have come and gone, and countless families have spent days in their synagogues. But not only have they spent days, many of them have spent money. Lots of it.
Most synagogues today require people to buy tickets in order to be admitted into their high holiday services. These ticket prices can ...
University policies not strong enough to accommodate religious students
By Jacob Schaperow
I think I’m a pretty good student. I pay attention in class, I do the readings and homework, I go to office hours, and I never cut class. But I skipped nine classes last semester. And, thanks to the way my Thursday/Friday classes fall, I’m going to miss 18 classes this semester. This is because, for me, as an observ...
