Mandatory army service and religious exemptions from such service constitute one of the most provocative issues in Israeli society. This has been a hotly debated topic since 1948, when David Ben-Gurion authorized the postponement of the draft for a small…
Editorial: A more understanding academic calendar
A scheduling decision recently brought to light by the University of California system to push the beginning of the 2014 fall quarter back a week has elicited some harsh responses from UC students. The newly arranged schedule ensures that the…
Problems in Poland
From the shady unveiling of an infamous blood libel painting that could only perhaps be excused in the name of art, to far more egregious transgressions against not just the Jewish community but any veteran and survivor of the Second…
Mein Kampf makes surprise appearance on e-book bestseller list
A glance at the iTunes digital bookstore’s Politics and Social Sciences category may prompt a double take. Among political journalism dynamos such as Charles Krauthammer, Mark Leibovich and Lou Dobbs, another familiar name seems incongruous — Adolf Hitler. Mein Kampf,…
The Jewish Spark at the Western Wall
Some say that the Jewish spark is the indescribable feeling that comes from the combined understanding of the existence of a common Jewish history, the value placed on family unity, and the “messianic” Jewish-harbored drive to change the world. Yet,…
The changing dynamics of Jewish education
The perpetuation of Judaism throughout the millennia has largely relied on one of its most important tenets: education. The Talmudic tractate Kiddushin (“Consecrations”; 29a) dictates that a father is obligated to teach his child three things: how to earn a…
Eden Atias murdered, American media forgets
Controversy is quickly brewing over purportedly skewed media coverage of the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Israeli soldier Eden Atias on a bus en route to Tel Aviv. The suspect is a Palestinian teenager, residing in Israel illegally. The main catalyst…
A brokering of dialogue: Bruin Democrats/Bruin Republicans debate
While Students for Justice in Palestine occupied Bruin Walk, busy practicing moral relativism (constructing a wall perpetuating a one-sided account while supporting Hamas [a terrorist organization]) and actively refusing dialogue with any students who might not share their worldview, Bruins…
Religiously ROTC: the pros and cons of being Jewish in the US military
Rising tuition has long been a favorite gripe of college students, as those of us not blessed with the resources to get through education attempt to reconcile the harsh reality of paying many thousands of dollars per year and possibly…
Ask Yente
Hello everyone. Ha’Am has established a new column called “Ask Yente,” where YOU can ask questions about anything troubling you. I, your wise Yente, will try my best to answer your questions in a timely manner. All I ask is that the questions be…