In an effort to provide a better understanding between faiths, AU Hillel held a special Shabbat service in Kay Spiritual Life Center as part of Interfaith Month.
The service was held to mark the beginning of the day of rest in accordance with God creating the Earth for six days and then resting, according to a guide passed out for non-Jews at the service. Students from all faiths were welcome as an opportunity to expose themselves to different faiths, a goal of Interfaith Month.
According to Aviva Perlman, a senior in the School of Communication, Hillel holds Shabbat services every Friday and they are open to the public and those of other faiths are always welcome to attend.
Two separate services were held, Reform and Conservative. During the Reform service, prayers were performed in song with an accompanying guitar to lead the prayer. One song, called Hashkiveinu (Shelter Us), was a prayer asking for shelter from harmful things.
Some students sang along with the prayer, while others stood and observed. A silent meditation, written by Albert Einstein was also done.
The Conservative service was more traditional and participants sang unaccompanied.
Student's also marked the death of friends with a mourner's prayer and students recalled deceased friends in silence. The prayer also marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in Israel after a peace rally.
Students felt the Interfaith services were successful. "We should all help each other out...[It's] a great way to bring kids together," said Aaron Bregman, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
"We did learning services and prayers were explained," Perlman said. "I got something out of it and learned a lot.
Other students brought other non-Jewish friends to participate in the service. "I think it was a great idea and a really good experience," said Rachel Levitin, a freshman in the School of Communication. "I brought along some friends who are not Jewish and they said it was a good experience, I'm very happy they enjoyed it."
Perlman was open to the idea of an open service. "I think it's a good idea because everyone is in Kay and we interact on a day-to-day basis together," she said. "We should experience the respective religions of our peers"
