Dear Barnard Community,
Ramadan is a spiritual month for Muslims that is marked by special observations such as fasting and nightly prayer.
This year in the New York area, Ramadan begins at sunset on Wednesday, March 22 and ends at sunset on Thursday, April 20. The 30-day lunar month is normally commemorated with an Eid holiday celebration, falling for many on Friday, April 21. Observation of the start and end dates may vary by one day depending on different locations and on different schools of thought within the Islamic tradition. Ramadan moves up 11 days annually.
Many practicing Muslims observe fasting and additional nightly Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan and commemorate certain special nights in this month. Taraweeh prayers last for about an hour every night during Ramadan and are generally considered to be highly recommended rather than mandatory. Fasting is typically observed by abstaining from food and water from dawn to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan.
The Jewish holiday of Passover, centered on themes of liberation, justice and redemption arrives in April.
Our diverse community of Jewish students observe and celebrate this holiday in different ways. The two most popular aspects are participating in festive gatherings called a Seder, and refraining during the holiday from eating foods that contain “chametz”. Chametz includes leavened bread, or anything else made with wheat, barley, oats, spelt, or rye. Some traditions also place legumes in the list of prohibited Passover foods. Some students will spend the holiday on campus, with minimal change to their daily routine. For more traditionally-observant students, their day-to-day lifestyle is fundamentally altered for the duration of the holiday. Our purpose is to be respectful and inclusive of the variety of Jewish religious and spiritual practices during this important holiday.
Passover begins with a Seder on Wednesday, April 5 in the evening, but many religious practices commence the night before, Tuesday, April 4. The holiday ends on Thursday night, April 13.
The essential breakdown of the Passover week is as follows:
- First Days of Passover: Wednesday evening, April 5 through Saturday night, April 8
- Intermediate Days of Passover: Sunday, April 9 through Tuesday, April 11
- Additional Days of Passover: Tuesday evening, April 11 through Thursday night, April 13
Many students, staff and faculty within Barnard celebrate Ramadan and Passover. Accordingly, below you will find relevant information and opportunities to participate.
For Administration and Faculty:
Ramadan
- As noted, Ramadan is calculated to begin on Wednesday night, March 22 and end on Thursday, April 20.
- Students observing the fast may ask for a 15-minute break during class to pray and/or eat a snack if their class coincides with sunset. This year, for most Sunni Muslims, sunset during Ramadan will range from 7:11 p.m. at the beginning of month, to 7:41 p.m. at the end of month. Shia Muslims generally observe their break of the fast about 10-15 minutes after the given sunset times.
- Due to fasting practices, Barnard will make religious accommodations for students.
- If faculty need guidance about how best to accommodate students or have questions about any students in their classes, they may reach out to the student’s Class Dean.
- For specific inquiries about Ramandan, email Imam Ebad Rahman (imam@columbia.edu), Columbia’s Muslim Life Coordinator.
- Students on campus can dine in or take campus meals to go to break their fast, and can be encouraged to pickup a pre-packaged Suhoor bag for one meal swipe in Diana Center Cafe (Monday-Friday) and Liz’s Place (Friday afternoon-Sunday) for the pre-dawn meal. The time for beginning one’s fast (dawn) in New York at the start of the month of Ramadan will be at 5:39 a.m. and will be a minute or two earlier every day thereafter. Dawn at the end of the month will be at 4:47 a.m.
Passover
- Many observant Jewish students are prohibited from attending class or doing coursework during the first two and last two days of Passover; some religious traditions also preclude using electronics – phones, transportation and computers – during these days. Barnard will make religious accommodations for students.
- If faculty need guidance about how best to accommodate students or have questions about any students in their classes, they may reach out to the student’s Class Dean.
- For specific inquiries about the Jewish holidays, please reach out to our Campus Rabbi, Yonah Hain (rabbi@columbia.edu).
For Students
- Students seeking religious accommodations for their observation of the holidays should contact their professors as soon as possible.
- Students are responsible to make up their work and be prepared for the next session.
- If students encounter any difficulties in completing work for their classes, they should contact their Class Dean for support and guidance.
- For specific inquiries about Ramandan and religious accommodations, email Imam Ebad Rahman (imam@columbia.edu), Columbia’s Muslim Life Coordinator.
- For questions about the Jewish Holidays and religious accommodations, students can reach out to Rabbi Hain (rabbi@columbia.edu).
Programming
Ramadan Iftars and other Opportunities
Barnard’s Dean of the College’s Office, Office of DEI, and Student Government Association are pleased to sponsor two iftars for students, faculty and staff observing Ramadan on Wednesday, April 12 and Wednesday, April 19. Attendees can break their fast with dates and water and pray the sunset prayer in the Altschul Atrium on the 1st floor of Altschul, and then have dinner in the Diana Center Event Oval. Please try to arrive between 7-7:15 p.m. SGA will also sponsor a raffle. These iftars are open to the BC/CUID community. Register here.
Muslim Life at Columbia is offering a number of iftar dinners in the Earl Hall Auditorium (117th Street and Broadway). Students are also welcome to join the nightly taraweeh prayers in the same location. There will be an Eid al-Fitr prayer and celebration on campus on the morning of Friday, April 21.
Passover Seders and other Opportunities
Barnard’s Office of DEI and Student Government Association are pleased to host a Black Liberation Seder on Tuesday, March 28, from 5-6:00 p.m. in the James Room, Barnard Hall 4th Floor. The Black Liberation Seder is a pre-Passover Seder exploring the story of Exodus through Black American art, storytelling and activism. Sometimes known as a "Freedom Seder," the first Black Liberation Seder occurred after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. when Black and Jewish communities found solidarity through shared histories of oppression. Since then, Black Liberation Seders have become a hallmark of Black American Jewish culture. Join us as we center the experiences of and pay homage to Black and Jewish history and tradition. Register here.
Jewish life at Barnard/Columbia offers many ways to celebrate the holiday. The festive meals, prayer services, community service opportunities, and other holiday-themed experiences are open to all students. Many of these offerings are housed in the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life (W. 115th between Broadway and Riverside).
To register for a Passover Seder, or to host your own Seder in your own way with all of the necessary materials provided for you, please see here.
Dining
Beginning March 22, Barnard Dining will have pre-packaged Suhoor bags for one meal swipe in Diana Center Cafe (Monday-Friday) and Liz’s Place (Friday afternoon-Sunday).
- Students observing Ramadan may request to-go boxes from the cashier at Hewitt Dining (Halal dining venue) after entering.
- At Hewitt Dining, dates and watermelon are available by request after entering.
- On Saturday, April 15, Hewitt Dining will be open an additional hour, closing at 8pm.
Barnard Kosher at Hewitt Dining will offer Kosher-for-Passover food in the Kosher Servery during the Intermediate Days of the holiday (April 9-11), and registered-required to-go options for the other days of the Holiday (April 5-8, April 11-13). More information about the Barnard Kosher-for-Passover at Hewitt Dining will be posted soon at https://dineoncampus.com/barnard.
We wish all who are observing a blessed and fulfilling Ramadan and a chag sameach, a happy Passover!
Sincerely,
Leslie Grinage
Vice President for Campus Life and Student Experience
Dean of the College
Jennifer Rosales
Vice President for Inclusion and Engaged Learning
Chief Diversity Officer