On Friday, Sept. 27, Ramapo’s Chapter of Hillel, an international Jewish student organization here on campus, hosted their yearly cultural dinner party in the Trustees Pavilion. This dinner is one of the two that are offered by the club each semester, and this one was their Shabbat dinner. This Shabbat dinner in particular is for Rosh Hashanah, which is the New Year in Judaism.
At the event, the club offered students the chance to decorate honey jars while eating food and relaxing with fellow students. Students were able to bring home the honey jars that they decorated for the special holiday.
The honey in Jewish culture is seen to be significant for Rosh Hashanah and Passover because it symbolizes sweetness, blessings and hope. Despite Rosh Hashanah being the following week, Ramapo Hillel hopes to give students the chance to connect with their culture here on campus and celebrate the holiday with others of the same faith.
Publicist of the club, sophomore Rebecca Harelick, says, “This event means a lot to me as it was our first Shabbat dinner this semester.” She says, “Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year where we make goals and reflect on the past year.” She says that this event means a lot to the club and students, making the Shabbat dinners a set event for every year.
The event ended with students talking about their yearly goals and what they hope to accomplish as the year progresses.
Hillel is open to anyone to come and join in to experience Jewish culture here on campus. You do not have to be Jewish to partake in their weekly events or become a part of their welcoming community present here at Ramapo.
rbleich@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Rebecca Bleich, Ramapo News