New Jewish Student Union Hopes to Build Inclusive Community For Jewish Students
This quarter, a new group of liberal Jews have been introduced to the UCLA campus: The Jewish Student Union. “Over the last few years there have been discussions surrounding what does Jewish…
Explaining Judicial Reform in Israel
Following the election of long-time Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu last November, the Prime Minister…
High Holy Days: Cannabis and its Connections to Jewish Culture.
With April 20th on the way, arguably a national “high holy day” for stoners across…
Bruin Bash on Yom Kippur
Growing up attending Jewish day schools, I never had to worry about choosing between my education and my Judaism. While my friends in public schools stressed about missing classes in order to attend High Holiday services, I had days off…
High Holy Days: Cannabis and its Connections to Jewish Culture.
With April 20th on the way, arguably a national “high holy day” for stoners across the globe, the world of marijuana is given a huge spotlight, especially among the youth. It’s no secret that we’ve seen menorah-shaped glass bongs or…
Beyond the Buzzwords: Debunking the Accusation of Israeli Pinkwashing
In the world of BDS activism “pinkwashing” has become the new black, but like most fashion trends, it’s all style and no substance. The BDS movement often incorporates catchy, but unsubstantiated phrases like “ecological imperialism,” “homonationalism,” and “pinkwashing” into their…
To Matzah or Not To Matzah?
It is certainly no secret that celebrating holidays on campus is quite difficult as a student; on Yom Kippur, considered one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar, we have mandatory classes or examinations. Likewise, on Passover, which commemorates…
Shavuot Customs and Modern-Day Lessons We Can Take From The Book of Ruth
Background on Shavuot: The Spring Harvest Festival The end of the Spring Quarter coincides with one of the most significant holidays in Jewish tradition: Shavuot. Shavuot celebrates the spring harvest festival and marks the acceptance of the Torah–the Jewish Book…
“Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother”: A Surprising Source for Modern-Day Motivation
Perform a quick search of “motivational quotes” on Google and you will be greeted with a large sample of internet wisdom. Like these: “Dreams don’t work unless you do.” “Nothing is impossible – the word itself says, ‘I’m possible.” With…
The Wonderful Timing of Purim This Year
While children across Jewish Day Schools are reciting the infamous Purim song La Kova Sheli Shalosh Pinot and stuffing their faces with handfuls of Hamantaschen, the reality of the ironically perfect timing of Purim this year rings a more grim…
Purim 5783: Lots of Luck
You know how it feels to search frantically for something – say, your car keys – only to discover that they were in your pocket all along? This is how I felt as I was brainstorming some topics relating to…
Explaining Judicial Reform in Israel
Following the election of long-time Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu last November, the Prime Minister has assigned positions in government to politically repressed right wing politicians who have had long-standing issues with the Israeli Supreme Court. Netanyahu himself was indicted…