The front steps outside Gerlinger Hall were crowded with members of the Jewish community Friday as they waited for the 6:30 p.m. opening service to begin.
Hal Applebaum, the executive director of the Oregon Hillel, eagerly greeted new arrivals with “happy new year.”
Applebaum circulated throughout the crowd of nearly 100 Jewish University students, parents and family members who gathered prior to Yom Kippur, considered one of the holiest holidays in the Jewish religion.
“Yom Kippur is the most serious, humble holiday on the Jewish calendar,” said Stephen Jaffe, a freshman pre-journalism major who attended the service with his family.
The observance, which has taken place at the University for the past eight years, attracted many first-year students and their families because the holiday coincided with move-in week in the residence halls.
The Jaffes came from Seattle to move Stephen into the residence halls, and they chose to stay to observe the holiday together.
“This is a day of atonement, but also a day to ask God for forgiveness,” said Janni Jaffe, Stephen’s mother.
From sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, Jews practiced “self denial,” where they abstain from eating, drinking, bathing and sex, among other things, according to www.oregonhillel.org, the Hillel Web site.
Yom Kippur is one of the most widely observed holidays on the Jewish calendar.
“It’s the Super Bowl of holidays for the Jewish community,” said Jodi Roth, a graduate from Colorado State University and the Jewish Campus Service core fellow for Oregon Hillel.
Friday’s Kol Nidre {kohl-nidrey}, which stands for ‘our vows’ in
Hebrew, took place on the eve of Yom Kippur and marked the holiday’s beginning, according to the Hillel Web site.
Adam Stein, who has been studying to become a rabbi at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, led the service.
“I’m a little nervous, but it’s exciting. I’ve met a lot of students,” Stein said before the service.
Stein said this is the first time he has led Yom Kippur services at the University.
Applebaum began the ceremony by recognizing that people have different traditions and levels of knowledge when it comes to the Jewish faith, but encouraged those in attendance to get to know their community. The silent crowd immediately erupted with chatter while people introduced themselves to each other.
Stein then took the floor and began the candlelighting ceremony, which was led by three students. The services held during Yom Kippur were performed by Stein, along with the help of student volunteers, according to Andi Lipstein, program director for the Oregon Hillel.
Lipstein estimated that there are approximately 1,000 Jewish students at the University.
“It’s important that students have a place to be Jewish on campus, regardless of their level of observance,” said Lipstein.
The Oregon Hillel organizes activities for students from the Jewish community. It is funded by foundations, the Jewish federation, Hillel International and private donors.
“It’s pretty awesome that we’re able to offer Yom Kippur services to students free of charge,” said Lipstein.
In addition to Friday’s Kol Nidre service, Hillel also held both morning and afternoon services for Saturday as well as Break the Fast, which ended the Yom Kippur holiday Saturday evening.
For more information regarding Oregon Hillel or Jewish activities on campus, contact Andi Lipstein at 343-8920 or by e-mail at [email protected].

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