Wednesday is a normal school day for the vast majority of students on campus, however for a couple of Jewish students on campus, their routine will look a little different as they will be fasting from Tuesday evening until after nightfall Wednesday in observance of Yom Kippur.  

“Yom Kippur also means the day of Atonement, it’s basically the day we ask God for forgiveness for anything bad we’ve done,” junior Chloe Zonis said. “We fast because it is a way to focus solely on reflection for any sins. Honestly it’s not the most fun Jewish holiday but I would say it’s the most important.”

For Leanne Shirazi, fasting is a way of asking for forgiveness.

“People generally fast to show that we’ve learned from our mistakes,” Shirazi said. “I personally fast because my parents tell me too and because it’s part of the holiday.”

Even though Shirazi lives in America, she stills feels it’s important to fast to stay connected to her Israeli roots.

“I do feel like I have to fast,” Shirazi said. “It makes me feel like I’m closer to Israel even though I’m actually far away.”

Living in America has taken away from the fasting experience, and the meaning of Yom Kippur itself for Shirazi.

“Fasting in America versus Israel is very different,” Shirazi said. “In Israel the entire country is participating and all the stores are closed and the streets are all empty and cleared. Whereas here it seems like a normal day because all the stores are open and people are still driving. The atmosphere is just completely different now that I’m in America.”