Higher Ed. and the High Holidays

Do classes, study sessions and a budding social life conflict with observing the High Holidays? Not for these college students. Here’s how local coeds and young Angelenos attending out-of-state schools are planning to spend Rosh Hashanah.

Aaron Kachuck

Age: 18

School: Yale University

Year: Freshman

Hometown: North Hollywood

I volunteered to lead the davening for the Conservative and Orthodox minyanim here on campus. I’ll be leading the same service I led at home at Adat Ari El when I was the chazan (cantor).

Jan Epstein

Age: 21

School: USC

Year: Junior

Major: Film writing

Hometown: Mequon, Wis.

I plan to go to Hillel because I don’t have any family around here, so I always spend the holidays with my surrogate family. I’ll go with friends from my sorority, AGG [Alpha Gamma Gamma], which is a Jewish house.

David Buchwald

Age: 18

School: University of Judaism

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Torrance

Since the UJ only offers Yom Kippur services on campus, I’m going home for Rosh Hashanah. My dad and I will probably go to the Chabad temple. I’d like to try services here at the university for Yom Kippur since it’s my first year.

Maya Engelberg

Age: 22

School: University of Arizona

Year: Senior

Hometown: West Hills

Major: Physical education

I haven’t figured out where I’ll go for Rosh Hashanah because most of my of my friends at school aren’t Jewish. I’m thinking of going to Hillel or one of the temples around town.

Tami Reiss

Age: 21

School: UCLA

Year: Senior

Hometown: Hollywood, Fla.

Major: Physiology

Because UCLA starts so late, I’m normally home for Rosh Hashanah. This is the first time since my freshman year that I’m staying here. I will be going to services at Hillel and on one of the nights my friends are throwing a wine, apples and honey party.

David Fasman

Age: 19

School: University of Judaism

Year: Freshman

Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.

I’ll probably go to Temple Beth Am. Also, since my dad is a rabbi, these will be my first High Holidays without him leading the services I’m attending. When you’re part of the rabbi’s family, going to synagogue is like going to work.

Robert Diamond

Age: 22

School: CSUN

Year: Junior

Hometown: Granada Hills

Major: Kinesiology

I think I’ll end up at Hillel or I’ll go with my buddy, Sean, to Temple Beth Emet in Burbank. My parents don’t belong to a temple, but I like to get my “four-day Jewish status” of observing Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanukah and Passover.

Alex Fern

Age: 18

School: Cal State Northridge

Year: Freshman

Hometown: North Hollywood

Major: Psychology

I’ll probably go home. My family usually goes to services and then has a big dinner. This is my first time away from home and I’m discovering the Jewish community here on campus. I have a decision between sticking with the community I grew up with or spending time with the new one here.

Joe Geffen

Age: 20

School: Occidental College

Year: Junior

Hometown: Savannah, Ga.

Major: Psychology

It seems like most people at Oxy who say they’re Jewish aren’t observant, but there are a fair number of us who are. My plans are to go with other “Hillelians” to the university of our choosing. Also, a number of professors have extended invitations to their own congregations.