In Hassidic tradition, they tell the story of Rebbe Zusha of Hanipol, a true tzaddik (righteous man), crying on his deathbed. His students and the community surrounded and offered consolation. One student said, “Rebbe Zusha, why do you cry? You…
The challenge of prosperity: Dustin Hoffman vs. Haman
Written by Rabbi Dovid Gurevich, Co-Director of Chabad House at UCLA Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer, the founder of the Chassidic movement and known as “the Baal Shem Tov” (“possessor of a good name”), famously interpreted the Mishnah’s dictum regarding the…
Israel and Palestine: Beyond two states
Mainstream public discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict revolves entirely around the two-state solution. Under such a peace agreement, the Palestinians recognize Israel’s right to exist and jettison terrorism, tacitly proclaiming that violence is neither an an act of justice nor…
ISRAEL21c, moving forward
In today’s world, a consistent hot topic on the daily news is Israel. Many news magazines and media outlets are oftentimes biased in favor of a single viewpoint, or portray a story leaving out significant information. It is often hard…
Fierce Jewish women
Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are two popular holidays celebrating women in the lens of love and maternity. As lovers, wives and mothers, women are (most often) characterized as warm, nurturing, soft and delicate. And while there is value, beauty…
The first-ever Mr. Hillel competition
12 nice Jewish boys vying for our hearts in an effort to raise money for admirable causes? Don’t mind if we do. Taking place this past Tuesday night at the Kerckhoff Grand Salon, the first-ever Mr. Hillel Competition was a…
Taste of Torah: More than just a Tabernacle
One of the perks of writing a Taste of Torah article is the oppurtunity to look at the weekly Torah reading and find an element within it that resonates with readers, even today. In this week’s Torah reading, Parshat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20),…
Ha’Am chic
Every day is a fashion show, and Bruinwalk is our runway. The outfit a student chooses to wear to school can reveal a lot about his or her character— unless it’s finals week, during which there is a mutual understanding…
Anti-Semitism and today’s desensitization
A few strokes of graphite, easily erased. Technically speaking, that’s all it was. My initial reaction upon finding a swastika drawn on my desk, where my Hebrew 1B class and other sections of Hebrew are held, was somewhat one of…
New Jewish fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu redefines what fraternities are all about
If you’re a Jewish UCLA student, and unless you live under a rock, you’ve definitely heard of the new Jewish fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu, also known as Sammy. Just kidding! Sigma Alpha Mu is still small, but is growing rapidly…