Maundy Thursday

The Thursday before Easter, holds deep Christian significance in faith-influenced schools and colleges. It commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, where he instituted the Eucharist (Holy Communion) and issued a “new commandment” (mandatum in Latin, hence “Maundy”) to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).Central rituals include foot-washing (symbolizing humility and service) and the sharing of bread and wine. Many Anglican, Episcopal, and Christian-affiliated institutions mark the day with chapel services, special assemblies, or reflective events that teach values of compassion, equality, and servant leadership.

It often signals the start of Easter school holidays, with some faith schools closing early or hosting observances. In faith-based US and Canadian colleges it begins the solemn Paschal Triduum leading to Good Friday and Easter; reminding educational settlements of sacrificial love in a historically Christian cultural context that lies at the foundation of the American Republic toward which so many international students flock.

Passover (Pesach), one of Judaism’s most important festivals, commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt, as recounted in the Book of Exodus. Celebrated for seven or eight days in spring, it emphasises themes of freedom, redemption, justice, and compassion.Passover holds growing significance amid increasing religious diversity. Jewish students observe the festival through family Seders — ritual meals featuring the Haggadah storytelling, symbolic foods like matzah and bitter herbs, and the Four Questions often asked by children.

Many institutions support observance with religious accommodations: excused absences for Seders and holy days, kosher-for-Passover dining options, and events hosted by Hillel or Jewish student societies. Universities often provide guidance for staff and students on academic adjustments.

Beyond Jewish communities, educational programs in faith schools, multicultural assemblies, and interfaith dialogues highlight Passover’s universal lessons of liberation from oppression and the pursuit of freedom, fostering greater cultural understanding of the spiritual underpinnings at the foundation of the American Republic.