Playing religious hooky

The idea of missing class is distressing and stressful — unless, of course, a Monday just sounds unbearable.

One particular Monday approaching on the calendar speaks particularly loudly: Sept. 17. That day is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

On that day, Jewish students face a great dilemma: to go to class or to go to
synagogue.

Although a form exists that can exempt a student from class for a religious observance, many students opt out because they do not want the hassle, do not want to fall behind or do not want to cause trouble.

Many professors at IU are particularly helpful in crafting their schedules to avoid conflicts. Those professors who observe the holiday often cancel class, while others are more than happy to make accommodations.

The students are usually the ones standing between themselves and services.
Not wanting to miss class is understandable. It can be particularly overwhelming to not get the material given in one lecture. At the same time, Rosh Hashanah service is often one of the only times during the year Jews can get to synagogue and really connect with their faith.

Many students identify particularly strongly with the holiday because of family traditions, religious connection and a sense of home.

Yet in college, especially for many freshmen, this is the first year religious services are not a family requirement but something of a choice.

What, really, is the goal of going to college? To learn all we can.

Learning, though, doesn’t come exclusively in the classroom. The most important element of learning is figuring out what we can do to grow and become the best people we can be.

Although ditching class is not necessarily the best way to grow, the reason for missing very well could be.

The right thing to do is different for everyone. There are only choices that will help each and every one of us better connect with ourselves.

So when Monday, Sept. 17, rolls around, do what is right for you.

­— azoot@indiana.edu