Monica Arbetman was more than a little annoyed by the people handing out Bibles on campus Tuesday.

Arbetman, a junior family and consumer sciences major, has no use for a Bible.

She’s Jewish.

Arbetman said she’s a little disappointed in Eastern’s lack of publicity for a Jewish place of worship.

There isn’t a synagogue in Charleston, and Arbetman is three and a half hours away from her home in St. Charles.

That’s why she plans to make a traditional Jewish holiday dinner celebrating Rosh Hashanah for her and her roommates in Charleston.

Rosh Hashanah begins tonight at sunset and lasts through nightfall Sunday.

For ingredients for matzo ball soup and brisket, Arberman’s mom told her to check the kosher section at Wal-Mart.

Arbetman told her she didn’t know if the Wal-Mart in Charleston even had a section like that.

The closest synagogue to campus is the Jewish Community Center in Mattoon.

Approximately 10 families worship weekly at the synagogue, said Ben Zeidman, the center’s new rabbi.

Zeidman is a student at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The 22-year-old grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and did his undergraduate work at Michigan State.

Although it’s not required for Zeidman, a second-year student in the program, he chose to take a pulpit and will serve as the center’s rabbi for this academic year.

Zeidman will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish New Year, in Mattoon.

“I really like it there,” Zeidman said.

Mattoon is a good place to learn, he said. “The community is very open and understanding.”

Because Zeidman is still a student, he comes to Mattoon periodically throughout the year, coordinating his schedule with the synagogue.

He will visit the synagogue, a former home, about once a month and additionally for holidays.

The center has a new student rabbi each year.

Next year, Zeidman will go wherever his school places him, he said.

He’s been in constant contact with last year’s student rabbi, Micah Streiffer.

Zeidman said he has only heard good things about Mattoon from Streiffer.

Nancy Farber, an assistant professor of counseling and student development, is also a member of the center.

She said she loves having a student rabbi each year.

“They bring a fresh perspective and energy,” she said.

Zeidman said he’s often asked the same question: Why become a rabbi?

“I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life,” he said. “Whatever you end up doing, you have to be happy with it; you have to find something that makes you happy.”

Farber said she doesn’t think many students even know about the center.

Very few students attend services, although many Eastern professors attend.

“We’d like to see more students,” Farber said.

One of Zeidman’s goals is to get more students to attend services.

“Any students that want to come to services for the holidays are welcome,” Zeidman said.

Farber said Rosh Hashanah is a time of personal reflection on the last year.

It’s usually spent with family and friends, she said. Part of the holiday is attending services.

Eastern has a policy stating accommodations for students who celebrate holidays aside from those of Christian faith.

According to policy No. 61, “The University shall reasonably accommodate its students who are unable to fulfill their regular duties on the occasion of a religious observance. Students who are unable to attend class or take examinations for religious reasons shall be given information needed to make up classes and work missed, including examinations. Students should make arrangements for their absence at least five days in advance through established procedures for verifying absences.”

The university president approved this in the summer of ’97.

But last year, Max Estes, a sophomore business education major, had some trouble receiving an excused absence for Rosh Hashanah.

Estes had to speak to the head of his academic department and was told it’s an unwritten rule on campus.

He said he still has one or two professors who haven’t been “100 percent receptive.”

Estes will go home for Rosh Hashanah but said he might pay a visit to the Mattoon synagogue.

“There’s nothing else down here,” he said. “It’s either that or drive to Champaign.”