Last quarter, my colleague Zev Hurwitz argued persuasively for UCLA’s Jewish community to renew its commitment to social justice. Soon, Jewish Bruins will have an opportunity to do just that by voting for the formation of a new North Westwood Neighborhood Council…
Making Time Count
Perhaps one of the most unique features characterizing Shavuot is the extensive ‘Omer’ count that leads up to the holiday. It’s fascinating that the Torah does not even prescribe a specific calendar date for Shavuot but simply positions it as…
Meet your next Jewish USAC President
I sat down with Claire Fieldman, the incoming president of UCLA’s student government and an active member of the Jewish community on campus. Here’s what we talked about: So let’s start out – Congratulations on winning the election! Thank…
Faculty Corner: Zionophobia – our only fighting word
In this inaugural opening of the Student-Faculty Corner of Ha’Am, I would like to elaborate on an idea that I advocated in my interview two weeks ago. The idea is simple: From my observations of campus life in the past…
Water in the Middle East and Africa conference showcases Israeli innovation
The Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, along with nine other other campus organizations, held a conference on water in the Middle East and Africa on May 7 at the Faculty Center. Dozens of students, faculty, industry professionals and even several…
Submission: Vote “Yes” to move Westwood Forward on Tuesday, May 22
Stakeholders in Westwood are being asked to vote on whether or not a broad coalition of UCLA students, UCLA faculty and staff, Westwood businesses, homeowners and renters should get their own Neighborhood Council to better represent their interests. While this might not…
Taste of Torah: Is Your Judaism Dead?
How much of the material you learned for your last midterm do you still remember? Studies say less than 10%. How come? You studied well. However, most of knowledge we acquire is superficial and does not connect to us on…
Can Jewish Stereotypes in TV Be Used For Good?
As I continue to watch TV shows like The O.C. and New Girl, both of which contain prominent Jewish characters that express their religious backgrounds freely, my immediate reaction is a proud and happy one. I think that it is so cool that TV…
Taste of Torah: Man, Animal and Object
This week’s Torah portion is Parshat Emor. The portion describes the idea of holiness through man, animal and objects. Although they are spread throughout the portion, they all communicate the same idea: We are all holy beyond knowledge and as soon…
Activists Must Avoid Flippant Responses to Protesters
After a major Jewish community leader sticks his middle finger up at protesters, we need to rethink how we engage with those with whom we disagree. An old adage suggests that if you don’t have something nice to say, you…