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 our prayer services (led by Rabbi Rob Gleisser and our ritual life committee) and holiday meals! 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 ([email protected]) for assistance. Please review your class syllabi for necessary information about excused absences and student support systems.  

2026-27 High Holiday Schedule

Rosh Hashanah – RSVP TODAY!
Begins sunset of Friday, September 11th, 2026
Ends nightfall of Sunday, September 13th, 2026

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 5786.

Yom Kippur – RSVP TODAY!
Begins sunset of Sunday September 20th, 2026
Ends nightfall of Monday September 21st, 2026

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 25th, 2026
Ends nightfall of Saturday, October 3rd, 2026

The first two days of the holiday are yom tov and observed similarly to Shabbat. Sukkot celebrates the harvest and during this time a Sukkah is built in which to enjoy meals.

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Begins sunset of Friday October 2nd, 2026
Ends nightfall of Sunday, October 4th, 2026

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.