Commencement 2011
Information for religiously observant Jewish families
who are planning to attend Commencement
The University has again made certain arrangements to help religiously observant Jewish families who are planning to attend Commencement activities on Friday and Saturday,
May 13-14, 2011.
These special accommodations include on-campus lodging within walking distance of all Commencement venues, and religious services and kosher meals at Hillel and Chabad. (These meals may require advance reservation or payment; see below for details.)
NOTE: The Commencement schedule has been significantly changed from last year. The main undergraduate Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 13 at 5:00pm (ending at 6:30pm), and the smaller School and College "senior recognition" ceremonies will be held at various times on Friday 5/13/11 and Saturday 5/14/11. The times and locations of the smaller ceremonies can be found here.
On-Campus Lodging
The University will provide low-cost lodging in the Southwest Residential Area, within walking distance of all commencement venues, on Friday and Saturday nights. The cost is $65 for one person or $75 double occupancy. Rooms must be reserved in advance, no later than April 29, 2011 (but make your reservation early to ensure a room on a lower floor).
More information about lodging
Online room reservations or mail-in registration with payment, must be received
by 5:00pm on Friday, April 29, 2011.
Families who cannot use elevators for religious reasons may request rooms on the lower floors. Use the "Special Needs" or "Note" box at the bottom of the online reservation form to indicate this need.
Metal keys will be provided for individual rooms, and the buildings themselves will remain unlocked, to avoid the need for electronic card access.
A cash deposit will be required for keys, which will be refunded upon check-out.
If necessary, you may arrange for late check-out on Saturday evening. (Indicate this need in the "Special Needs" box on the room reservation form.)
Kosher Meals and Services
Both HILLEL and CHABAD will provide kosher meals on Friday evening and Saturday. Arrangements for these meals must be made in advance, directly with Hillel or Chabad.
The schedule for minyans and meals at HILLEL is as follows:
Erev Shabbat...
7:00pm Candle-lighting followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner (at 8pm)
Shabbat day...
9:00am Shacharit services
1:00pm Lunch
Dinner on Friday, May 13 .... $15, $12 for students
Lunch on Saturday, May 14 ... $10, $8 for students
Online registration for commencement meals at Hillel
For more information about meals and services at HILLEL HOUSE,
please contact Rabbi Yosi Eisen or call 413-835-0254.
For more information about meals and services at CHABAD,
please contact Rabbi Chaim Adelman or call 413-549-2008.
For More Information
For more information about this year's commencement, including a detailed schedule of commencement activities, visit the University's commencement web page.
If you have any problems making arrangements for meals or lodging,
please email or call Larry Goldbaum in the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life,
(413) 545-9642. We will do our best to assist you.
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