Rosh Hashanah begins today at sundown. For Jewish students on campus, the holiday signifies a time to look over the past year and begin to look at future goals, according to UGA Hillel director, Joel Marcovitch.

“It’s where we kind of take stock of our year, apologize to people we may have offended, and check in with people we haven’t talked to much during the year,” Marcovitch said. “We think about what our goals are for the coming year. Kind of like a New Year’s resolution, without the New Year’s resolution-esque feel.”

Marcovitch said students interested in participating in services for Rosh Hashanah are welcome to attend a dinner preceding the evening service. The dinner will take place at 5:30 p.m., with the service following at 7. Hillel will be providing services on Saturday and Sunday. Conservative services begin at 9:45 a.m. on both days, and reform services begin at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday.

The dinner provided this afternoon will be free and open to the public, Marcovitch said.

“One of the great things about Hillel is we’re open to everybody, and anyone can come by and participate and have a great dinner,” he said.

Elizabeth Moser, vice president of public relations at Hillel, said she had often used Hillel as a place to relax and feel at home before she joined the board.

“This is the main Jewish outreach service at UGA,” Moser said. “The fact that Hillel is offering these services is great … and it’s going to be a very welcoming atmosphere. I’m on the board, but I spent three years just being active as a student, and it was really nice to just have some place to go.”

Hillel will also be offering services for Yom Kippur. Services will start on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., and a dinner will be provided on Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. for students to break the Yom Kippur fast. Marcovitch said students could expect a wide variety of food at the provided feast.

“Imagine the premium buffets in the world, and imagine that at Hillel,” Marcovitch said.

Moser said students were encouraged to bring canned food to the breakfast, and that food donated would be donated to The Jewish Family and Career Services food pantry.

“During this time, even though we’re feasting, we’re encouraging people to think of those who don’t have as much,” Moser said.

Moser said most students go home for the High Holy days but that students who choose not to would find that Hillel was their “Jewish family at the University for them to come and celebrate with”.

“It’s not just the Rash Hashanah spirit that makes it a home atmosphere. It’s the fact that we’re open to everyone,” Moser said. “… So students can come by anytime and just sit and study and always see a friendly face. So students can feel comfortable coming in on the High Holy days because they popped in a few times during the week, and they’ll see familiar faces.”