April Spotlight: Religious Diversity: Easter, Passover, and Ramadan

This month we celebrate and recognize three religious observances that are celebrated in April: Easter, Passover, and Ramadan. The Office of Diversity and Belonging honors the rich religious diversity of our law school community. We are pleased to have engaged student organizations that include the Christian Legal Society (CLS), Jewish Law Student Association, and Muslim Student Association, which are devoted to the spiritual life and development of students in religious traditions.

Easter marks the end of the Christian Holy Week and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an observance that will occur on April 9th this year. When describing the importance of Easter in the Christian faith, CLS president Ana Rodriguez says, "Easter is a joyful celebration of Jesus Christ’s triumph over death. It is a reminder of God’s radical mercy, loving kindness, and pursuit of humanity. Jesus desires to reconcile us to Himself and give us the hope of eternal life."

Passover this year begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 5, and ends on Thursday, April 13th. The traditional Passover meal is the Seder, which includes foods that symbolize and honor the liberation of the Israelites, along with prayers and recitations. President of the Jewish Law Students Association, Ariela Mottahedeh, describes the importance of Passover within the Jewish community as “Commemorating the freedom of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II. Passover is understood and appreciated by so many, regardless of their religious background, because the core meaning behind the holiday is justice for all”.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims, which will be observed this year between March 22 to April 20.  In elaborating on the importance of Ramadan, president of the Muslim Student Association Eleezay Bokhari explains, “Practicing Islam is a huge part of my life and identity. Observing Ramadan during the school year is difficult, but it allows me to prioritize my relationship with Islam and God”.

We see from each of these traditional celebrations the importance of individual and collective relationships with God, the support and liberation of all people, and the hope that faith can bring in difficult circumstances. We encourage you to learn more about the important celebrations occurring this month and uplift Caruso School of Law as a place where faith is incorporated into our diverse community and academic experiences.