“So, am I really going to Hell?” I asked, with the nonchalance of a person inquiring about the weather. It was a Monday, and I was walking back from class with my best friend, Samantha, who was Christian. She shifted…
Students for Justice in Palestine Fails to Appreciate Nuance, Value Truth
This week, Students for Justice in Palestine is holding its annual “Palestine Awareness Week,” a rebranding of their Israel Apartheid Week. Typically, this week serves as little more than an opportunity to spread false or misleading information about the state…
One Jew, Much Opinion.
A staple of any Jewish argument are the extraneous opinions and questions that are lobbed back and forth. As the saying goes, “if you have two Rabbis in a room, you end up with 3 opinions”. I realized that I…
The National Identity of Iranian Jews, As Manifested in their Intellectual & Judeo-Persian Contributions
Historically, Jews settled in Iran, and other areas later considered a part of the Iranian Empire, on four significant occasions. The first occasion was after the Fall of Israel in 744 BC when the Israelites were relocated by the Assyrian…
A Centrist Manifesto on Israel
I am a Jew devoted to Israel. I believe that Jewish life cannot be sustained without Israel at its core, and Israel cannot be sustained without the Jewish people at its side. When I look at Israel, I do not…
The American-Jewish Songbook: Love Songs
When I think back to my earliest Jewish experiences, it’s hard not to think about music. Passover was the euphoria of “Dayenu”, Yom Kippur the devastating elegance of “Avinu Malkeinu”. I remember birthdays and bar mitzvahs and weddings–lots and lots…
Why You Should Get Involved in your Local Jewish Community
Getting involved in your local Jewish community may seem like a daunting task, but you may not realize how welcoming and open most Jewish communities are. Unlike most “religious” communities, people can get involved in their local Jewish community without…
I’m Keeping Shabbat This Year, Here’s Why
There are five days of the workweek and two days of the weekend, and many of us work on every one of them. Such is the life of a young adult in 2019. Shabbat served as a continuation of my…
TV Shows that Celebrate Judaism
With so many Jews prominent in the entertainment world, Jewish themes, characters, and holidays are bound to come up in TV shows. As a fellow Jew, it is joyous to see my religious background expressed on television. By foregoing the…
Meaningful Clothes: Spiritual Attire Then and Now
When I was a kid, I wasn’t very enthusiastic about going to synagogue, but I especially hated having to get dressed up for temple. Putting on fancy clothes just reinforced the formality and discomfort of the whole experience. If prayer…