Jewish Holiday, Move In Create Scheduling Conflict

Holiday stress took on a new meaning for some new Harvard students this week, as first-year move-in weekend coincided with the beginning of the Jewish High Holidays.

Harvard officials opened dorms early, cut short some Freshman Outdoor Program trips and rescheduled opening exercises to accomodate students observing the holidays, but Hillel leaders said the confluence still made for a stressful weekend.

Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish new year, began Friday night and ended Saturday night for Reform Jews. For Orthodox and Conversative congregations, the holiday ended Sunday at sundown.

"Hillel fielded many, many phone calls from parents worried about being away from their kids on the holidays," said Tova A. Serkin '02, who organized Harvard Hillel's first-year open house yesterday. "I think, in the end, it was a very positive experience."

April acceptance packets included the option for Jewish students to move in on Friday afternoon, Sunday or Monday morning. About 130 first-years took the FDO up on the offer, many choosing to pick up their keys Friday.

Hillel volunteers in rain slickers and bright blue t-shirts directed arriving first-years to their dorms Friday and helped unload minivans and U-Hauls. After the move-in, most of the first-years and their families made their way through the deluge to begin Rosh Hashanah services at Hillel.

"It was really difficult because of the pouring rain, but I think their parents were really impressed that students worked so hard to make things roll as smoothly as possible," said Serkin, who is also a Crimson editor.

By 7 p.m., the building was packed to the gills with first-years, parents and other undergraduates.

Hillel wasn't the only group that had to reshuffle things for first-years. Pre-orientation programs had to make arrangements for Jewish students to leave the programs early for Friday services.

The First-Year Outdoor Program (FOP) had to transport some students from wilderness trips in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont back to Harvard a day early so they could move in before the holiday.

"It really didn't cause any problems," said Ollie S. Lewis '00, a member of the FOP steering committee. "It changed logistics."

Dean of Freshmen Elizabeth Studley Nathans said the aborted FOP trips and overcrowding at Hillel were unavoidable.

"The date of first year orientation each year is obviously determined by the date set for the start of classes," Nathans wrote in an e-mail message.

Nathans said the FDO has been working with Hillel since January to make the move-in weekend as painless as possible.

"We met with the Hillel staff and confirmed that a four-day move-in (rather than the usual two days) would best accommodate students of all traditions," Nathans added.

In addition to the expanded move-in, students' holiday meals were included as part of the regular meal plan. First-years' families were also invited to dinners at a cost of $14 per head.

Concessions from the College also included rescheduling opening exercises in Tercentenary Theatre to take place Sunday at 8 p.m., after sundown--the official end of the holiday.

According to Nathans, a handful of Jewish students chose to move in after Rosh Hashanah ended. First-years moving in today missed the crowds, but they may also miss out on things like required physical exams for athletes and proctor meetings along with registration and the activities fair.

Nathans said the FDO will establish make-up dates for Jewish students who miss registration or the expository writing test, which will be given this afternoon.

But Serkin said students who spent the High Holidays at Harvard got the best end of the deal.

"The freshmen met a lot of great people, both upperclassmen and people in their class," Serkin said. "I think that's the best part of the experience."