the Student Executive Board of SUNY Albany Hillel wish to re-affirm our support of the long tradition of SUNY Albany sustaining its Jewish student population. We are concerned at the recent news of SUNY Albany considering the elimination of support for the observation of the most significant religious holidays in the Jewish religion, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The High Holidays or High Holy Days, in Judaism, are more properly known as the Yamim Noraim (Hebrew: ימים נוראים‎ "Days of Awe"), and encompass the holidays of Rosh Hashanah ("Jewish New Year") and Yom Kippur ("Day of Atonement").

Over many years, SUNY Albany has provided a supportive and welcoming environment to the Jewish student population with many programs including: World of Jewish Culture LLC, Kosher Dining, comprehensive curriculum (30 courses) in the Judaic Studies Minor, as well as associated Jewish support programs at Hillel and Shabbos House.

As a result of SUNY Albany's reputation of strong support to the Jewish student population, Hillel.org estimates that the undergraduate Jewish population both undergraduate and graduate is a significant percentage of the overall student body. Estimates are available for the Jewish members of the SUNY Albany students and faculty, but likely the percentages are similar to the student ratios.

It is our hope and recommendation that the SUNY Albany administration continue the long standing tradition of observing the High Holy Days in the official school calendar to accommodate the large percentage of Jewish students and faculty that call SUNY Albany home. If the administration were to delete these observance days from the official calendar, Jewish staff and students would be forced to make the impossible choice of supporting faith vs academics. Given the size of the Jewish student and faculty population at SUNY Albany, a large percentage would choose faith and be absent from class. This would likely cause significant disruption as students (and faculty) are absent and then wishing to make up work and tests after the holidays. In addition, the disruption will cause significant stress and anxiety to the Jewish student and faculty population that will be required to manage the observation of faith vs academics during these "Days of Awe".

Signed,

The UAlbany Students