In Spirituality House here at Drew University, all forms of the word graduate are considered bad words. We don’t talk about graduating. So the four seniors in the house–myself included–will G-word in May.
At Drew, the only non-Jewish head of a school is the dean of the Methodist seminary on campus. Drew has a Jewish president, Bob Weisbuch–Presbob, to his detractors, like me. We hava a Jewish dean of the College of Liberal Arts and a Jewish dean of the Grad School. And we have no shortage of Jewish professors and Jewish students.
Yet, every single admissions event is on Shabbat. There are no Sundays in sight. And, by a long-standing Drew tradition, G-word is held on Shabbat morning.
I don’t want to comment on the religiosity of our Jewish administrators. I like to observe Shabbat and they don’t seem as concerned with it, which is fine. There’s no judgement here.
If it were up to me, I’d skip G-word to go to services. Of course, it’s not up to me. My Mom and Dad have something to say about that idea, I’m sure.
So, in May, we at Chavurat Lamdeinu–which I go to every Shabbat morning, usually the youngest person in the room by a good twenty years, at least–will forgo Shabbat morning services. After G-word, we’ll convene for Mincha and then break for Seudah Shlishit/graduation party-reception thing.
I like my clever Mincha plan. I’m still a little pissed though.
