This Fall 2026 the Jewish holiday season comes very soon at the start of the year, Rosh Hashanah begins the week after Labor Day, two weeks from the start of classes. Most of the Fall holidays fall on weekends this year, which makes it much easier for class schedules.
Click on calendar image to enlarge the image or click here for the same handy half-page in a crisper PDF calendar view of the Jewish holiday season at UAlbany, all the prayers, festive meals and celebration at Shabbos House, this year all in the month of September 2026 and a little bit into October 2026.
There is no cost to students for any holiday meals or prayers. There’s no dress code, no attendance, no expectations. Prayers are traditional but explained and student-centered and student-friendly.
These are wonderful times of Jewish celebration, student-centered and student-friendly, with good food, good friends, good times. Each holiday offers a special flavor and atmosphere and creates a special set of memories. Sukkot and Simchat Torah are especially rich in celebration, connection and are very memorable times at Shabbos House.
CLASSES ON THE HOLIDAYS
UAlbany does not give off for the holidays anymore. Rosh Hashanah falls on the weekend this year, but there will be classes on Yom Kippur, though some teachers may cancel. All faculty are notified that religious holidays (and they have a University list of them) are excused absences and if there are tests or such on those days students are very much entitled to ask to have them rescheduled.
Obviously, out of respect and courtesy, students should not tell this to the professor last minute, it is best that they are told of your observance dates and observance level at least a week or more prior. We write explanatory religious letters for students to share with professors, please use the RSVP form and/or contact Rabbi Mendel to request such a letter.
Not all students observe the holidays the same way. Some will go home to be with family, some will miss class to attend services and holiday meals, some will attend class but not write or take tests – whatever your or your family’s observance level or style, this is something UAlbany is committed to respect.
If there should be any issues with any professor in this regard please contact Rabbi Mendel and the Deans Office and they will promptly address it.
ROSH HASHANAH 2025 AT UALBANY
Pre-Rosh-Hashanah Events:
8/31: Goodyear Shana Tova Fair 11am-3pm at Small Fountain
9/5: Midnight Selichot Sat Night 12am food and music, 1am Selichot prayer
9/9: Challah Babka Bake 8pm at Shabbos House
Your RSVP isn’t required but is very helpful. Please use this High Holidays 2026 at UAlbany RSVP Form. It helps us be better prepared.
Also on RSVP form is option to request religious holiday letter for professors/classes. Please do this ahead, and please use this RSVP form, as it is easier for us to work off one form for all the letters.
ROSH HASHANAH AT UALBANY 2026
9/11: Friday night, first night of Rosh Hashanah
Prayers 7pm, Holiday Dinner 8pm
This is the night of symbolic foods: apple & honey, pomegranate, carrot-stew, plus a delicious meal of salmon and meat, sides and salads and more!
9/12: Shabbos, First Day of Rosh Hashanah
Prayers 10am, Holiday Lunch 1:30pm,
(As it is Shabbat, no Shofar and no Tashlich this first day of Rosh Hashanah)
9/12: Saturday night, Second Night of Rosh Hashanah
Prayers 7:45pm, Holiday Dinner 8:15pm
This is the night of the Exotic Fruits, lots of variety – just after Kiddush, followed by a delicious meal.
9/13: Wednesday, Second Day of Rosh Hashanah
Prayers 10am, Shofar Service approx 12pm, Holiday Lunch 1:30pm, followed by waterside Tashlich.
meat and chicken and a variety of sides and salads and more!
Tashlich & Shofar at Parker Pond 5pm
Sushi & Shofar 6:30pm
Holiday ends: 7:51pm
YOM KIPPUR AT UALBANY 2026
9/20: Sunday, Yom Kippur Night
Pre-Fast Meal 5pm-6:15pm at Shabbos House
Kol Nidrei Service 6:45pm at CC
9/21: Thursday, Yom Kippur Day
Traditional Morning Prayers 9:30am-2pm at CC
Mincha Prayers 5:30pm in CC
Neilah Closing Prayers 6:30pm in CC
Shofar & Hillel’s Break-Fast 7:36pm in the CC
SUKKOT
Sukkot is all about atmosphere! There are lots of meals in the Sukkah, opportunities to shake the Lulav and spend quality holiday time together.
Sukkot is filled with vibe and atmosphere! It is a special time of togetherness, uplift, good food and good times. It’s a light and chill holiday, pleasant and accessible, outdoorsy and nature-oriented, it has a really good feel to it. And it all leads up to the joyous Simchat Torah!
WEDNESDAY, 9/23
Sukkah Building BBQ, 4-6:30pm
Hot Dogs, Burgers, Corn-Salad, Tri-Color Pasta Salad, and more
FIRST NIGHT IN THE SUKKAH, FRIDAY 9/25:
Holiday prayers 7:30pm, first dinner in the Sukkah 8pm
FIRST DAY OF SUKKOT, SHABBAT 9/26:
Prayers 10am, followed by holiday lunch in the Sukkah 12:30pm
SECOND NIGHT OF SUKKOT, SAT NIGHT 9/26:
Holiday prayers 7:30pm, 8pm dinner in the Sukkah
SECOND DAY OF SUKKOT, FIRST DAY OF LULAV SHAKES, SUNDAY 9/27:
Prayers 10am, with Lulav & Etrog, followed by holiday lunch in the Sukkah 12:30pm
3-5pm Small Fountain Lulav Shakes – stop by for a quick Mitzvah
Light meal at 6pm
Havdalah and holiday ends 7:25pm
SUNDAY NIGHT 9/27 COMMUNAL MUSIC NIGHT IN THE SUKKAH
this annual Sukkot musical event is in memory of Mendel’s sister Esty (Rubin) Cohen
8:30pm in the Sukkah
Sukkot is a long holiday, but its middle/intermediate days are more like weekday days of the holiday.
MONDAY-FRIDAY 9/28-10/2: – Coffee & Snack Bar in the Sukkah
Stop in to the Shabbos House Sukkah for a Coffee Bar & Snack Bar and Lulav Shakes
TUESDAY 9/29 – Sukkah Party
8pm in the Sukkah
LOOK FOR SUKKAH BIKE ON CAMPUS
Making its rounds on Monday thru Friday, flag us down or schedule us for accessible Lulav shakes!
KASHANI SHUL DEDICATION EVENT – THURSDAY OCT 1ST
Special historic event at Shabbos House. Look for grazing boards, music, a special program. 6:30pm.
HOSHANA RABBA, LAST DAY FOR LULAV, MONDAY OCT 13:
Hoshana Rabba Prayers TBA.
But it doesn’t end here and goes straight into the finale of Shemini Atzeret and SIMCHAT TORAH! (see next tab)
These incredibly special and opportune 48 hours (of Shemini-Atzeret and Simchat-Torah) climax the whole long holiday season, that climaxes everything that began on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and takes it spiraling both upwards & downwards to totally new levels that spin off off into the whole year!
Friends don’t let friends miss Simchat Torah (especially Tuesday night… even if you/they can only come for a short while). It’s a once-a-year type celebration, an incredible ourpouring of the joys of Judaism and of being Jewish. We dance with our feet (any old way, fancy steps not required) and closed Torahs, Simchat Torah celebrates the heritage, the core connection, it’s not about knowledge or specifics.
FRIDAY NIGHT 10/2:
SHEMINI ATZERET, LAST DINNER IN SUKKAH
Candlelighting 6:17pm, Prayers & Kiddush 6:30pm, mini-Hakafot 7pm. 8pm last holiday dinner in the Sukkah (weather-permitting)
SHABBOS 10/3:
SHEMINI ATZERET DAY
Prayers 10am followed by 12:30pm the last lunch in the Sukkah (weather-permitting)
SAT NIGHT 10/3:
****SIMCHAT TORAH NIGHT!****
The Big Night of Lively Spirited Jewish Celebration!
Don’t miss it – even if you can only come for a short 15 minute or half-hour window, come anytime between 8:30pm and 11:30pm… 8:30pm Hakafot dancing start, hopefully until midnight! Food buffet all night, dancing, singing, uplifting vibe and energy, annual collectible souvenir. TBH, especially from a Chabad lens, the SImchat Torah celebration is more of a celebration of the Jewish people and our core essential connection to G-d, the Torah and our heritage, than it is about the Torah or any of its particular teachings..
Prayers and Ata Horaya 7:30pm, Hakafot Dancing and Buffet starts 8:30pm
SUNDAY, 10/4:
SIMCHAT TORAH DAY,
9:30am Prayers, more Hakafot, reading, completing and restarting the Torah cycle… Lunch by 2pm
Subs/deli sandwiches, Sides, and Kiddush buffet etc…
Holiday ends (and with this the whole long holiday season) at 7:13pm
MONDAY 10/5:
Sukkah Take-Down…
Rosh Hashanah prayers and festive meals will all be at Shabbos House. Yom Kippur prayers will be in the Campus Center Assembly Hall with pre-fast at Shabbos House and Break-fast by Hillel in the Campus Center. All Sukkot holiday meals and prayers climaxing with the joyous Simchat Torah will be at Shabbos House.
Stay tuned for updates and details – best way to get the full info is to be on the weekly student email list from Shabbos House. The Shabbos House Whatsapp student list is also helpful way to keep informed with any last minute updates or changes.