It may be 2012, but Sunday marked the start of 5773 as well.
About 150 Jewish students donning orange and blue yarmulke gathered for a candle lighting ceremony to start off Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, at UF Hillel.
This year’s Rosh Hashana marks the 5773rd year in the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashana began Sunday night and ends Tuesday evening.
“It’s a time to reflect on the past year,” said Melissa Stern, engagement associate at UF Hillel, “and to think of the good and the not so good.”
Stern said there are about 8,500 Jewish students at UF.
The candle lighting ceremony Sunday night at the Norman H. Lipoff Hall lobby was led by campus Rabbi Gail Swedroe. Before she began the blessing of the candles, Swedroe asked students to think about what light they wanted to bring into the new year.
“Rosh Hashana always coincides with the beginning of the school year,” Swedroe said. “It’s a great opportunity to make new resolutions to make things better.”
A few students held tealight candles while two larger candles were lit with a small Albert figurine.
Swedroe, a conservative rabbi, and Hillel’s first female rabbi, joined Hillel in July.
“It’s always exciting being in a new community for the first time,” Swedroe said.
After the ceremony, students separated into three services. Hillel held Reform, Conservative and traditional services to cater to every denomination. A meal followed the service at 9 p.m.
The Reform Jewish service was the largest of the three services. Rabbi Melissa Zalkin Stollman, a UF graduate, traveled from New York to Gainesville to help with the service. The service, with a congregation of about 100, was held in the dining hall decorated with white lights strung across the ceiling.
Keith Dvorchik, CEO and executive director of Hillel, said he was happy to see students excited about the holiday.
“It’s one of those times when students connect, even if they’re busy,” Dvorchik said.
Health science freshman Serena Martin, 18, attended the candle lighting ceremony with her roommate and said she enjoyed participating in the tradition.
“We’re starting 5773 the right way,” Martin said.
