There are certain moments in our lives that are particularly suited to self-reflection. As graduation is steadily approaching, I’ve found myself more enveloped in these moments, thinking about how I’ve changed — and noticing the changes in others. Thinking about…
‘The Most Influential Rabbi in America’ on Judaism, college, and dating
Photo courtesy of Rabbi Wolpe ______________ Entering Rabbi David Wolpe’s office in Sinai Temple was a surreal experience for me. The last time I came to his office, I was 13 years old and with my parents; we all discussed…
Jamaican and Jewish: overcoming adversity and finding G-d
Photo by Elinor Samuel ____________ Hughlin Boyd, a UCLA PhD candidate, frequenter of Hillel, and successful lawyer and politician, shares his story about how he crossed countries and cultures to reach his goals despite the challenges he has faced. Boyd,…
Taste of Torah: Like an arrow
Written by Sharona Kaplan, Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at UCLA “So, what are you doing next year?!” A simple, yet potentially dreaded question for so many graduates who have yet to concretize their future plans. Silently detracting from the…
The Pope’s Good Intentions
Pope Francis’s first couple of years as pontiff have been remarkably successful. His commitment to ending child abuse in the church, his dedication to ‘radical equality‘ between men and women, and his rejection of the overwrought vestments of the papacy…
Poem: “I wear this dot on my head”
I wear this dot on my head because I exist in an ever-elapsing ellipsis which began on the head of that mountain Sinai when we heard Moses sigh n’ I cried ‘I will do and I will listen’ and we…
Taste of Torah: stand up and be counted
Written by Rebbetzin Elisa Gurevitch, Chabad at UCLA The holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah, is always preceded by the Torah portion of Bamidbar (the first chapters of Numbers) — “In the desert.” The reason for…
Israel-Germany relations: based on interests or on emotions?
“Every German deserves to die … their hands are covered with Jewish blood … Therefore, there is neither absolution nor forgiveness, and no normal relations will ever be possible between us.” These were not the rantings of a madman. This…
Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 and anti-Semitism
Despite its increasing presence and impact on college campuses, anti-Semitism’s definition has become inexplicably blurred and political. The Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 was proposed this March urging University of California campuses to condemn anti-Semitism and racism. Responses have varied; however,…
All in the same: a walk through four quarters in “Jerusalem 3D”
My Mother’s Day was spent visiting the mother of all lands, Eretz Israel. After a short drive to the California Science Center in downtown, my family and I were graced with a long line for the sold out screening of…