Jewish Life at Vassar

Jewish Life at Vassar supports all students to connect to meaningful Jewish communities, rituals, learning, culture and food. Whether you have been connected to Judaism all your life, starting your Jewish journey, and/or simply curious about Jewish Life at Vassar welcome!

Jewish Life at Vassar is made up of students from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you come from a background of day school, youth group, Jewish camping, or have never engaged in Jewish community until coming to Vassar or fall somewhere in between we are delighted you are here!

Come to the Bayit for our semesterly Jewish Life kickoff dinners, Challah Justice Initiative's weekly challah braiding and baking, Vassar Jewish Union's Shabbat Services, Jewish Life Shabbat Dinners or to relax and hang out.

No matter where you are on your Jewish journey, whether it is your first time engaging with Jewish Life or you’ve been coming regularly during your time at Vassar feel free to drop by any of our events, hang out in the Bayit, reach out to any of our student leaders, and/or find a time to chat with Rabbi Bryan to learn more.

High Holidays at Vassar College

Rosh Hashanah

Friday September 11th

6:00 PM Erev Rosh Hashanah Services in the AULA
Join Rabbi Bryan and Adah Hetko with music accompanist Lysander Jaffe for a meaningful, song-filled, egalitarian Rosh Hashanah evening service. Come when you can for as much (or little) as you want

7:15/30 PM Rosh Hashanah Dinner in the AULA
Join Jewish Life at Vassar for a delicious Rosh Hashanah dinner. We will begin with blessings over wine or grape juice, apples and honey for a sweet new year, and challah.
Dinner will begin shortly after services conclude. If you are coming for dinner and come in while services are still happening you're welcome to quietly grab a seat for the rest of services or come back a little later.

Saturday September 12th

10:00 AM Rosh Hashanah Morning Services in the AULA
Join Rabbi Bryan and Adah Hetko with music accompanist Lysander Jaffe for a meaningful, song-filled, egalitarian Rosh Hashanah morning service. Our aim is for 11:15 AM Torah service and 12:00 PM Shofar service. Come when you can for as much (or little) as you want. Other than our start time all timing is projected and subject to change.

12:30/45 PM Rosh Hashanah Lunch in the AULA
Join Jewish Life at Vassar for a delicious Rosh Hashanah lunch. We will begin with blessings over wine or grape juice, apples and honey for a sweet new year, and challah.

Lunch will begin shortly will begin shortly after services conclude. If you are coming for lunch and come in while services are still happening you're welcome to quietly grab a seat for the rest of services or come back a little later.

4:00 PM Tashlich with Vassar Temple at Sunset Lake

Join Jewish Life at Vassar and Vassar Temple, the local Reform synagogue in Poughkeepsie for a short guided tashlich where we will symbolically cast off the things we want to let go of from the previous year. We will also reflect on who we want to become during this new year.

For those interested in doing tashlich at another time, Rabbi Bryan created this Tashlich guide for Vassar College to help prompt individual reflection


Vassar Rosh Hashanah services will have musical instruments throughout the services

We will not have services on campus on Second Day Rosh Hashanah. You are welcome to check out the local Poughkeepsie synagogues for second day Rosh Hashanah. Vassar students can attend most synagogues at no charge. Please contact the synagogue you are interested in going to in advance.

Yom Kippur

Sunday September 20th

6:30 PM Kol Nidre in the AULA
Join Rabbi Bryan and Adah Hetko for a meaningful, egalitarian, contemplative Kol Nidre service.

Monday September 21st Yom Kippur Day

10:00 AM Yom Kippur Morning Services in the AULA
Join Rabbi Bryan and Adah Hetko for a meaningful, egalitarian, song-filled Yom Kippur morning service.
Our aim is to begin the Amidah which will include Unetaneh Tokef around 10:45 AM and to being Torah service around 11:15 AM. There will be a brief Yizkor toward the end of services around 12:15. Other than our start time all timing is projected and subject to change

6:30 PM Neilah in the AULA
Join Rabbi Bryan and Adah Hetko for a meaningful, egalitarian, contemplative Neilah service.

7:36 PM (or as close as we can get) Break Fast Meal in the AULA
Join Jewish Life at Vassar for delicious food to end Yom Kippur. If you do not fast nor otherwise limit your food intake on Yom Kippur please be mindful of those fasting and allow them access to food first.

Vassar Yom Kippur services will not have instruments.

Vassar students regardless of background and Jewish experience are welcome to join us for all High Holiday services and meals.

If you want to familiarize yourself with some of the melodies we’ll be singing during the High Holidays this year check out this Youtube playlist and these two additional songs Galeh Birkot Hashachar

Community members are also welcome to join us for High Holidays at Vassar College. Services are free. There is a charge for meals. If you are interested in joining for meals please email Rabbi Bryan at bryanmann@vassar.edu to RSVP and for more information. Please know we organize our services with our students in mind. High Holidays sermons, learning opportunities, and kavanot (short intentions) will geared toward our students. Our Yizkor service is a short ten minute (or so) service during the Yom Kippur Day service, and there may be other things you would experience at a synagogue that you might not at our campus services. We are delighted to have you and if this description does not match your hopes for your High Holidays experience you are welcome to check out the local synagogues on our Hudson Valley Jewish Communities Page.