Students balance classes, religion

Students might have noticed a low attendance level in their classes Thursday, as many of IU’s 4,500 Jewish students took the day off to observe the High Holiday of Yom Kippur.

While these students are excused from classes for the holidays, many of them said it was difficult to balance their religious observances with their academic obligations.

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the single most holy day of the Jewish calendar and is celebrated 10 days after the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashanah. On Yom Kippur, Jews fast for 25 hours and spend the day in quiet reflection, searching within for self-improvement and purification.

“It’s a 25-hour fast period where we’re supposed to purify ourselves for all our sins and ask God for forgiveness for the past year,” said sophomore Ari Ginsburg.

Jews also typically take time to apologize to anyone they’ve wronged, all the while refraining from any form of work or labor on Yom Kippur.

The Office of Academic Affairs states on its Web site that, “because of the prohibition against work, including writing and driving on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, students observing these holidays are not able to attend classes, take examinations or perform other class requirements.”

Students who know they will be absent are required to fill out excused absence forms by the second week of classes and turn them in to their professors.

They are allotted time to make up for missed work so long as the makeup does not “create an unreasonable burden upon Indiana University,” according to the Web site. Professors are required to schedule alternate times for students to take exams that fall on the holidays.

Despite this, many Jewish students said they spent the day doing homework and that taking the day off for the holiday takes a lot of planning in advance.

“If you are stressing out about missing classes, that’s going to impact the significance of the day,” said senior Dena Kranzberg, who said she had to go to her professors’ office hours and turn in papers early to allow herself time to observe the holiday.

Sophomore Melissa Alper said one of her professors held a “mini- class” for her and her fellow Jewish students.

But students said not all professors are so accommodating. 

Senior Rachel Wolfson said she has turned in the excused absence forms every year but has had professors express verbal disapproval of her absences.

“I know a lot of Jewish students don’t take off for holidays because they don’t want to deal with professors,” she said.

Senior Alan Rosenbloom suggested IU do away with the excused absence forms completely and said he felt offended by them.

“Why do I have to explain what I’m going to be doing?” Rosenbloom asked. “I don’t think anyone should have to explain. It’s a religious thing, and that should be it – no more questions asked.”

While many students use the day for reflection and repentance, some said they know people who use the excused absence as a day off, rather than a day of religious recognition. Though many said they find this offensive, they recognize that they cannot control the actions of others.

“I had Jewish friends who were surprised that I took the day off, and I have Jewish friends who took the day off even though they don’t celebrate,” said sophomore Jon Igielnik.

Wolfson said she feels students should be accountable for their own actions and that using the holiday as an excuse to leave class is irresponsible.

Despite the roadblocks of celebrating the High Holidays as a busy student, Yom Kippur brings many Jews back to even ground. Kranzberg said in the 10 days since Rosh Hashanah, she has received e-mails and phone calls from Jewish friends apologizing for their wrongdoings and asking for her forgiveness.

“In order to be truly forgiven by God, you also have to get forgiveness from your fellow man,” she said. “It’s traditional to say to anybody that you know, ‘If I’ve wronged you, please forgive me.’”