Holiday stress took on a new meaning for some new Harvard students this week, as first-year move-in weekend coincided with the beginning of the Jewish High Holidays.

Harvard officials opened dorms early, cut short some Freshman Outdoor Program trips and rescheduled opening exercises to accomodate students observing the holidays, but Hillel leaders said the confluence still made for a stressful weekend.

Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish new year, began Friday night and ended Saturday night for Reform Jews. For Orthodox and Conversative congregations, the holiday ended Sunday at sundown.

"Hillel fielded many, many phone calls from parents worried about being away from their kids on the holidays," said Tova A. Serkin '02, who organized Harvard Hillel's first-year open house yesterday. "I think, in the end, it was a very positive experience."

April acceptance packets included the option for Jewish students to move in on Friday afternoon, Sunday or Monday morning. About 130 first-years took the FDO up on the offer, many choosing to pick up their keys Friday.

Hillel volunteers in rain slickers and bright blue t-shirts directed arriving first-years to their dorms Friday and helped unload minivans and U-Hauls. After the move-in, most of the first-years and their families made their way through the deluge to begin Rosh Hashanah services at Hillel.

"It was really difficult because of the pouring rain, but I think their parents were really impressed that students worked so hard to make things roll as smoothly as possible," said Serkin, who is also a Crimson editor.

By 7 p.m., the building was packed to the gills with first-years, parents and other undergraduates.

Hillel wasn't the only group that had to reshuffle things for first-years. Pre-orientation programs had to make arrangements for Jewish students to leave the programs early for Friday services.