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This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious and spiritual observances. If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.

May 14-16th, 2013 is the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

Historical Context

Shavuot is the Jewish holiday that commemorates the day when God gave Moses the Torah, a summary of God’s laws, on Mount Sinai. The word “Shavuot” means weeks. The festival of Shavuot marks the completion of a 7-week period between Passover and Shavuot. The Torah commands that Jews count forty-nine days between Passover and Shavuot. The last day of Passover, a sacrifice containing an “omer”-measure of barley, was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. The day before Shavuot, an offering of wheat is to be brought to the Temple. An “omer” is equal to about 3.64 litres. In antiquity, grain harvest lasted seven weeks. Barley was harvested during Passover and the harvesting of wheat began during Shavuot.

Shavuot is celebrated in Israel for one day, but is celebrated for disapora (Jews not living in Israel) for two days.

Mood and Common Greetings

Mood – Festive, merriment that celebrates the harvest and God’s provision

Common Greeting – “Chag Sameach!” which means Happy Holiday!

Modern Significance

Shavuot, unlike other Jewish holidays, does not have commandments in the Torah. The traditions of Shavuot highlight the importance of tradition for the preservation of Jewish religious observance. Shavuot remembers that is a connection between Judaism, agriculture, and healthy communities.

Dairy foods are popular during Shavuot, which are symbolic for several reasons:

When they received the law of the Torah and had to follow kosher, Jews chose to eat dairy foods as they transitioned into the new laws
The Torah is compared to milk by King Solomon, “Like honey and milk, it lies under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11)
The Hebrew name of Mount Sinai is etymologically similar to the Hebrew word for cheese

Rituals/Traditions

Eating dairy foods – blintz, cheesecake, cheese-filled pancakes, basically any kind of amazing cheesy, dairy food you can think of
One night meal and day meal
Public readings of the book of Ruth – because the events of Ruth happen during harvest time
Greenery decorates homes and synagogues
All-night Torah study, called Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Hebrew: תקון ליל שבועות – this represents the night the Torah was given to Moses, Israelites overslept and Moses had to wake them because God was waiting on the mountaintop
Confirmation ceremonies for students aged 16-18 who are completing their religious studies

Additional Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavuot

http://theshiksa.com/what-is-shavuot/

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/shavuot

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/shavuot

OSU Religious Accommodation Policy

It is the policy of the Oregon University System and Oregon State University that no one shall be subject to discrimination based on age, disability, national origin, race, color, veteran status, marital status, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

With regards to religion, this policy prohibits the University, and its employees while at work or representing OSU, from taking action that promotes religion or promotes one particular religion over another. The University may not create an atmosphere which in anyway suggests it favors one religion over another, or religion over non-religion. As a public university, it is equally important not to inhibit voluntary religious expression. The University’s obligation is to balance these two elements — to refrain from promoting and at the same time to refrain from inhibiting. This policy is premised on respect for each individual’s right to make personal choices regarding the nature, if any, of his or her religious beliefs and practices.

This policy does not preclude a faculty member or employee from being an advisor to a recognized student organization which may have a religious affiliation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 7, 1997

WHO TO CONTACT

Any student or employee who feels he or she is being treated inappropriately based on religion is encouraged to contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion, 526 Kerr Administration Building, (541-737-3556).

My little family! Richard, myself, and our dog-child, Toby McGruff

Kayleen Salchenberg’s Bio:

I am from Salem, Oregon (born and raised) and traveled all the way to Corvallis, Oregon for my undergraduate degree in 2005. My path WAS going to be nursing and after a couple study abroad trips I decided to major in Spanish before my luxurious career as a nurse.

Following four very social and fun years at Oregon State, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Salem Hospital. I worked there for a year and realized the health field was not for me. Once I learned that Student Affairs was a career choice, I made drastic changes in order to work towards being a qualified CSSA applicant.

Beyond my experience as a student worker in the Office of Foreign Language and Literatures and teaching English to Spanish speakers in the Corvallis Community, I did not have a lot of experience in Student Affairs. I therefore became a Property Manager at a 95% college-aged populated apartment complex next to Western Oregon University and volunteered at the Service Learning Career Development Office. I got my big break as a teaching assistant/administrator for Chemeketa Community College working at an alternative high school, Winema West. These experiences continued to strengthen my passion for not only education, but for students and their goals. I continued to better my ability to serve them as a resource, and got a lot of joy from it.

I now work as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS). I assist students daily with a variety of Financial Aid issues. I maintain the Social Media for the office and I am able to be a part of many workgroups. Currently I am involved in the Assessment Council and I am able to not only learn how to assess, but I connect with professionals in an array of Student Affairs functional areas and share diverse perspectives from interdisciplinary areas on campus. In June, I will go to the NASPA Persistence and Assessment Conference and present a poster on my assessment. I have been to one other conference, the Northwest Returnee Conference for students that have returned home from studying abroad. These experiences are shaping my abilities to be a professional in this field.

My areas of interest in higher education are all over the map! I love teaching the topic of Academic Success, I adore my assistantship in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, I like the topic of Transitions and helping students through that process, studying abroad, and I am open to explore what academic advising/counseling is like. With every new term, class, project, and internship, my career goal changes! The beauty of this program is having the support to explore the vast terrain of higher education.

Personally, I have transitioned from a “rolling stone” or a “free bird” to a more settled path. I have a peace and clarity in my life that was missing. I am engaged and very humbled to marry my partner in crime, Richard Steeves. Together, we are buying a home in West Salem and have recently celebrated our three years as a couple by purchasing a dog-child, Mister Tobias McGruff. I live near all of Richard’s immediate family and mine. I love to travel, but there is now home for me beyond a short car ride from my family and close friends. This page is a short version of a long biography, but I will spare you the rest!

April 13th, 2013 is the Sikh holiday of Vaisakhi.

Context

The celebration of Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, is the Sikh New Year harvest festival and commemorates the founding of the Sikh community. Baisakhi began as a harvest festival in the India region of Punjab but became a significant Sikh holiday in 1699. Sikh’s have a long history of standing up against tyranny and oppression against humankind, to defend the defenseless.

While celebrating the Vaisakhi harvest festival in 1699 Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, asked if five people would be willing to die for the sake of their religion, to defend humanity by becoming a Saint-Soldier. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib asked this question while holding a sword in his hand and five men stepped forward, expecting to give their lives on the spot. Guru Gobind Singh Sahid baptized these men and began the group of Khalsa.

The Sikh religion commemorates the first five men who comprised the Khalsa with five symbols called five Ks. The five Ks include the Kesh(uncut hair), the Kangha (comb), the Katchera (underwear), the Kara (steel ring), and the Kirpan (sword).

Significance

Baisakhi is also celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists since the harvest festival began as a Punjab regional holiday and New Year. Hindus celebrate this New Year by bathing in the Ganges River for ritual baths that honor the Goddess Ganga who descended to earth thousands of years ago.

In Kerala, another region in India, the festival is called “Vishu” which means “equal” in Sanskrit and commemorates the vernal equinox. In Assam, another part of India, the festivalis called Bohag Bihu, where the first crops of the season are offered in hopes of peace and prosperity in the coming year.

Buddhists celebrate Vaisakha as a remembrance of the Awakening and Enlightened Passing Away of Buddha Bautama, who was born as the Indian Prince Siddharta.