Oberlin College Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

Happy Shavuot!

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Shavuot celebrates the joyful conclusion of the Counting of the Omer and is understood as the day the Israelites received the Torah and the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.
The harvest is a main theme of the holiday, and it is traditionally marked by studying religious texts, eating dairy foods, and staying up all night to learn.

Thank you to the Interfaith Student Council for an incredible year! We are so grateful for your hard work and commitment to interfaith bridge-building. To our graduating seniors, congratulations and best wishes as you begin your next chapter. We cannot wait to see all of the incredible things you accomplish. And to everyone else, we look forward to seeing you again in the fall:) Wishing you all a wonderful and restful summer!! ☀️☀️

Last Interfaith Student Council meeting of the year ✨✨ we had such an amazing year working together. To our graduating seniors, you will be missed! Can’t wait to see where the journey takes you next 🌎❤️

Thanks to for a delicious lunch 😋

Happy Lag BaOmer!

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Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, the ritual count of the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot, the time between the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and the giving of the Torah.
This is celebrated today with bonfires and enjoying the outdoors.

Happy Vesak! 🪷

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The Buddhist holiday of Vesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.
In Theravada Buddhist tradition from Southeast Asia, this holiday is called Visakha Puja.
Buddhists may avoid killing animals on this day and leave offerings of incense, flowers, and candles at temple which will wither and burn out, symbolizing the inevitable decay and destruction of all living things.

Shoutout to Interfaith Student Council members Reyah and Melaina for organizing the panel discussion on Sexuality and Religion! Immense thank you to our amazing panelists, Father Andy, Rabbi Vann, and Multifaith Chaplain-in-Residence Saly, and to Reyah for facilitating the conversation!

Shoutout to Interfaith Student Council member Lekan 🎉 for organizing a panel discussion featuring some of our amazing faculty to discuss Islam and Hinduism in Southeast Asia. Thank you to Juwayria and Nimala for facilitating the Q & A, and to our faculty, Professors Emilia Bachrach, Francesca Chubb-Confer, and Asif Iqbal.

Happy Festival of Ridván! 🌹

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April 21st to May 2nd
The “Most Great Festival” of the Bahá’í tradition marks the 12 days Baháʼu’lláh spent in Baghdad’s Ridván (paradise) garden.
On the first day, the Bahá’í spiritual assembly is elected.
Tents surrounded by roses are set up as recreations of the story.

Happy Student Employee Appreciation Week to ORSL’s student assistant ! We are so grateful for your work supporting religious and spiritual life on campus! 🩷🧡💛💚👏👏

Happy Vaisakhi!☀️

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Vaisakhi, April 14th, 2026
Vaisakhi is a festival that originated in Punjab, India to celebrate the grain harvest.
In 1699, the holiday transitioned to having religious significance when the 10th Sikh guru-prophet declared 5 men, who were willing to sacrifice their lives as Khalsa. The Khalsa’s lives and spirits are the sole property of the One Universal Creator.
The One Universal Creator is a core tenant of the Sikh tradition, stating that everyone is equal.
Vaisakhi is celebrated today with parades and “Nagar kirtans”, special processions that involve singing hymns from the Sikh holy book called the Guru Granth Sahib.