Fall term classes will be starting on Sept. 16 instead of Sept. 14 to accommodate the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, which begins on the 13th of the month and ends on the 15th and coincided with the original start date, college spokesperson Diana Lawrence wrote in an email. There will be classes on two Saturdays in the term, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24, to make up for the two missed days.
On Sept. 26, classes scheduled in the 9, 10A, 2A, 3A and 3B periods will meet between 8 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. On Oct. 24, classes scheduled in the 10, 11, 12 and 2 periods will meet between 8 a.m. and 12:50 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday celebrating the New Year, the celebration of which typically lasts for two days.
Executive director of Chabad Rabbi Moshe Gray said that this is the first time in his memory that the College has adjusted the schedule for a religious holiday, although he said that the change was likely due to input and pressure from a variety of faculty members.
Gray said that he was not personally involved in the decision-making process, but several professors consulted him after realizing that the holiday coincided with the start of classes. He added that he mentioned the overlap between the holidays and the academic schedule to College President Phil Hanlon last spring, specifically the overlap between move-in day and Yom Kippur.
The decision was ultimately made by the Committee on Instruction, Lawrence wrote, which consists of the dean of the faculty along with a combination of administrators, faculty members and students.
The purpose of the committee is to review requirements for a bachelor’s degree along with proposed changes in courses and student seminars and other matters regarding academic instruction.
Gray said that, as a result of the College’s decision, students could come to school early and celebrate without the stress of choosing between academics and religion, or just stay at home with their families for the holiday.
He said that the College should consider other holidays when making its calendar, but it should not necessarily make adjustments for each one.
“I think it is really important that professors need to be aware, as best as possible, of major religious holidays and understand that, at least in the Jewish faith, these holidays often preclude you from being able to work,” Gray said. “For example, most Jews fast during Yom Kippur, which makes it hard to attend classes.”
Rosh Hashana is a major holiday for the approximately 400 Jewish students on campus, Gray said. He added that, if the schedule had not been shifted, it would have forced many of them to choose between academics and religion, which he said would not be in line with the College’s aims.
The proposed Saturday classes, however, would also fall on the Shabbat, which is a day for services and rest in the Jewish faith.
Hillel president Sam Libby ’17 said that he was happy about the College’s decision to change the schedule, as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are the two biggest holidays in the Jewish calendar.
Libby said that he was glad that Jewish students who choose to celebrate the holidays will not need to miss the first two days of classes.
Hillel holds services for the holiday on both days. In 2013 services were held in the Hanover Inn and were co-sponsored by the Tucker Foundation and open to the public.
Chabad also holds services. This past year, their services were held in the Chabad House and the Paganucci lounge in the Class of 1953 Commons.
This article ran in print under the headline "Fall classes will meet on two Saturdays" on May 20, 2015.
