High Holidays

The High Holidays are here and Penn State Hillel offers a variety of ways for you to participate.  We hope you will attend for one of our prayer services (led by Rabbi Rob Gleisser and our ritual life interns) and a holiday meal! Fill out the forms (one each for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) to join us!

Hillel is here for you. If you need support advocating for extensions or excusals from your professors please reach out to Rabbi Rob (rabbirob@pennstatehillel.org) for assistance. Please review your class syllabi for necessary information about excused absences and student support systems.  

2023-24 High Holiday Schedule

Rosh Hashanah – RSVP TODAY!
Begins sunset of Friday, September 15, 2023
Ends nightfall of Sunday, September 17, 2023
Traditionally observed as “yom tov” or “chag,” observed similarly to Shabbat.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. This year the Hebrew year will be 5784.

Yom Kippur – RSVP TODAY!
Begins sunset of Sunday, September 24, 2023
Ends nightfall of Monday, September 25, 2023
The holiest day on the Jewish calendar. This day is also a yom tov in which people refrain from working. This is also a fast day, from sunset to sundown the next day.

Sukkot
Begins sunset of Friday, September 29, 2023
Ends nightfall of Friday, October 6, 2023
The first two days of the holiday are yom tov and observed similarly to Shabbat. Sukkot celebrates the harvest and during this time a hut is built in which to enjoy meals.

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Begins sunset of Friday, October 6, 2023
Ends nightfall of Sunday, October 8, 2023

These are the two days of yom tov that conclude Sukkot. Simchat Torah is a festive holiday celebrating the conclusion and restarting of the annual Torah reading cycle.