For two of the past three years, Ohio University senior Jessica Segal has spent the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in Athens. This year, however, she's packing her bags and leaving Athens to spend the holiday with her family.
The holiday takes place between sundown on Friday and sundown on Saturday this year, so Ohio University students have the chance to go home for the weekend to celebrate with their families and friends.
There's nothing wrong with staying at school
but I grew up every single year celebrating the holidays with my family. It's just a family holiday Segal said.
Yom Kippur, known in the Jewish faith as the Day of Atonement, is the tenth day of the Jewish month of Tishri. The month begins with Rosh Hashanah, the two-day celebration of the Jewish New Year. A week later, beginning at sundown and lasting for 25 hours, Yom Kippur is devoted to the repentance of sins committed during the previous year.
It's your opportunity to walk out with a clean slate. It's starting the new year off on a good foot Segal said.
OU sophomore Ben Mendelsohn also values quality time with his family as one of the most important aspects of the holiday.
Family is what makes the holiday important to me. (I) don't really care about the observance of the actual holiday; the holiday is just the time I get to spend with my family
Mendelsohn said.
Fasting also is an integral part of Yom Kippur.
Because it starts at sundown
and because it is a fast day
most families have a big meal right before sundown to try to get through the fast
said Eli Balkin, an OU junior.
Hillel, the Jewish center at OU, also offers a traditional observation of Yom Kippur for students who choose to stay in Athens for the holiday.
Every community has their own sort of customs and traditions
but for the most part
the words we're saying and the way we're saying them are pretty consistent
said Danielle Leshaw, the rabbi at Hillel.
Mendelsohn agreed.
In general
Jewish people have a very strong sense of community
