As the Jewish holiday of Passover comes to an end, many busy students are left wishing there was more they could have done to celebrate.

Due to their hectic schedules of school and work, and the great distance between many of them and their families, students either made time to balance school and the holiday, or gave it up altogether.

“This year, I’m not celebrating at all,” said senior Marissa Marks, 20. “I don’t have any Jewish friends and my parents are too far away for me to visit.”

Passover, which is a remembrance of the Israelites’ liberation from enslavement in Egypt, began on April 12 at sundown and ended on April 20. In the land of Israel, the holiday is a seven-day celebration.

According to Jewish studies lecturer Ken Cohen, the historical details of the enslavement of the Israelites and the history of their emancipation are less important than the concepts enshrined in the holiday.

“Passover says that every human being is deserving of dignity and liberty, but adds the notion that dignity and liberty must be earned through commitment to the acceptance of responsibilities inherent in being decent human beings,” Cohen said.

The eight days of Passover begin with a traditional Seder meal, a dinner in which family and friends gather to engage in prayer and remembrance and eat symbolic foods to celebrate liberation from Egypt. Seder food traditionally includes bitter herbs to symbolize the bitterness of slavery under Pharaoh, a central ritual plate to commemorate a sacrifice, and four cups of kosher wine, said Fred Astren, professor and director of Jewish studies.

While most Jewish students have traditionally spent Passover with their families, many are forced to make due with what they have at SF State.

As part of the celebration of Passover, Jews are forbidden to eat leavened food, which includes any type of food that contains yeast and can be raised to make bread. Matzah, which is unleavened, is the only type of bread permitted.

“As tough as it is, I’m working on keeping Passover in the dorms,” said Spencer Neustadt, 19, a theater arts freshman. “The dining center is very unaccommodating to people celebrating Passover, but I’m getting through it.”

Many Jews get rid of all leavened food in their house, which can be a time-consuming project in itself. Cohen goes through the contents of his house with his family, searching for cereals, breads, buns and breaded fish sticks. The Cohen family then makes a ceremonial visit to the local food bank so that his children can experience the importance of charity to the ethos of Passover.

According to Astren, some traditional Jews give up all grains and ingredients that are used to make bread, including oil and corn syrup, which can be difficult for many Americans.

In addition to dietary changes, Jews also make trips to their synagogues and pray, which some students cannot balance with other obligations.

Although Marks, a liberal studies major, wished that she could be with her family and celebrate the holiday, she simply did not have the time.

“I think that school and work are both more important than celebrating,” she said. “I know in the future I will celebrate with my family, but right now it is too hectic to miss school or work.”

For those who performed a juggling act with Passover and school, staying on top of both got difficult.

“My teachers have been crazy with the amount of homework that was given this week,” Neustadt said. “I wasn’t able to finish some of my homework because of Passover.”

It is not just the students who are missing school for Passover. Since it is the policy of the Jewish studies program to not conduct classes on Jewish holidays, Astren took the day off on Wednesday, and Cohen canceled the two Wednesday classes after spring break, meaning his class missed three weeks in a row.

Although Passover may be time-consuming for many, the underlying message of the holiday is meaningful to both celebrating and non-celebrating Jews.

Cohen sees that his children understand this message most when they bring bags of food to charities.

“When religion advises the giving away of one’s Cap’n Crunch, kids understand the idea of sacrifice for the benefit of others,” he said.