UF Hillel will hold services in the Reitz Union on Tuesday and Wednesday to observe the Jewish High Holy Days, which began this week with Rosh Hashana.
The holiday began on Monday night and ends Wednesday night.
"It's the Jewish New Year, but it's not a party holiday," said Corey Smith, the program director at UF Hillel. "It's a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the upcoming year."
Rosh Hashana is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, which also include Yom Kippur.
According to the UF Hillel Web site, services on Tuesday will begin at 10 a.m.
Smith said the center is expecting about 700 people for services and about 500 people for dinner.
Students usually attend the services, but they are open to everyone, said Rabbi Yoni Kaiser-Blueth, the associate director of Jewish student life.
Students with schedule conflicts are welcome to come in and out of services, but Kaiser-Blueth hopes that everyone who attends will be able to stay for a period of time that will allow the services to be meaningful to them.
Naomi Fireman, the vice president of communications of the Jewish Student Union, said she is glad UF Hillel puts on these services.
There is a large population of Jewish students at UF, and even though they may not attend the center's services and events regularly, they might be looking for a place to go on the High Holy Days, she said.
"People at Hillel are extremely warm and welcoming," Fireman said. "It's the only other place I'd want to be on Rosh Hashana besides home."
