It’s hard to believe, but the new semester is right around the corner, and we’re looking forward to welcoming a new group of freshmen students to our campus community.

Opening Weekend/Freshmen Weekend Shabbat is Friday Aug 22nd and Shabbat Day, Saturday the 23rd. Shabbat Dinner this week is at Shabbos House (320 Fuller Road, near Great Dane Drive) at 8pm, Prayer services will be held at both Shabbos House and the Interfaith Center at 7pm. See this page for our alternating Shabbat arrangement with UAlbany Hillel.

Walking Groups (to help new students find their way) will leave the Indian and State Quad Archways at both 6:45pm (for those who want to attend Prayers) and also at 7:45pm for those who want to come only for the Shabbat dinner.

Please note that Res-Life OK’s any absences from any planned floor programming for religious services. These events are listed on the UAlbany Opening Weekend website.

There also will be Shabbos Morning Minyan, 10am at Shabbos House, followed by a 12:45pm Shabbos Lunch. Special at this Shabbos Lunch will be a “Siyum” (celebration of Torah study completion) by Eliot H. in memory of his grandfather.

Light end-of-Shabbat dinner 7:30pm on Saturday evening. We’ll do our Dingaling Hotline of call-in Mishnas from Ethics of Our Fathers, pray Maariv and end Shabbat with Havdalah at 8:30pm.

Sunday morning 8/24 we have Minyan Brunch, Minyan with Tefillin at 11am, followed by a Bagel Brunch. Perhaps we will get started on our weekly Talmud study this Sunday, too.

Hillel’s Welcome BBQ will be Monday evening 5-8pm at the Interfaith Center, with Kashruth in accordance with Hillel’s Kosher Policy. It’s a great time to meet new and old friends and sign up for some prizes, too!