Instead of making their way to Founders or Chaffee for class, the Loomis Chaffee community began September 23 in a different way: by celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Some traveled off campus to a local synagogue while others brought traditions back to the dorms. Across the Island, the day became a chance for reflection, food, and community.
Rosh Hashanah is one of the holiest days in Judaism. It begins the Ten Days of Awe, a period of reflection and renewal that ends with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. According to Jewish teaching, Rosh Hashanah marks the birthday of the world. Families and communities gather to hear the shofar, a ram’s horn blown during synagogue services, and to eat symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey, representing the wish for a sweet year ahead.
This year, around six Loomis students joined the Jewish Student Union’s trip to Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury. The synagogue service lasted about two and a half hours and included prayers, readings, and the sound of the shofar. “It was really meaningful to be surrounded by a larger Jewish community and to celebrate with other Loomis students,” said Simone Magdo ’28. Afterward, the group stopped for food before heading back to campus.
Later that evening, the celebration continued in a different form. Lily Glasser ’27 and other students made matzo ball soup in the dorms and shared apples dipped in honey with Jewish and non-Jewish friends alike. “For Rosh Hashanah this year, I reflected on my past year by cooking a meal of matzo ball soup and apples with honey, inviting both Jewish and non-Jewish students,” Glasser said. “Sharing food and tradition allowed us to bond over the new year and build a sense of community together.”
The day off from classes gave Jewish students the time to celebrate, but it also opened the door for others to join in. Friends who had never previously attended a service or tried holiday foods had the chance to learn through experience. For many, this mix of faith and fellowship turned Rosh Hashanah into not just a religious holiday, but a cultural exchange.
The timing of Rosh Hashanah also felt fitting on the Island. Coming early in the school year, it gave students a seemingly much-needed pause. Between adjusting to new classes, fall sports, and dorm life, the reminder to reflect on renewal resonated beyond just those participating in the holiday.
Loomis’s recognition of Rosh Hashanah reflects a broader commitment to inclusion. By offering transportation to services and supporting student-led traditions on campus, the school underscored its role in making space for different faiths and cultures. Looking forward, the Jewish Student Union hopes to continue building on this momentum with events for Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, and other holidays. These gatherings not only strengthen the Jewish community at Loomis but also invite the wider student body to take part.
For Loomis, Rosh Hashanah was more than just a day off from school. It was a pause at the beginning of a busy term, a reflection on the past year, and a reminder of starting fresh. Whether at synagogue in Glastonbury or around a dorm kitchen table, the holiday carried its central message of renewal across campus and served as a strong start to the 2025-2026 school year.
