An unsuspecting theatre in the Gindi Auditorium at the American Jewish University was filled with a bunch of nostalgic Israelis last week — and it was beautiful. Yoni Rechter, one of the most notable figures in modern Israeli music, was…
Off Campus
Laniado Hospital – a paragon of coexistence
And it continues. Every morning we wake up hearing about more horrific attacks in Israel, and it seems that there is no way to stop them. The mainstream media carelessly throws around the word “Intifada,” seeking to grab attention, but…
Israeli-Druze Delegation Panel results in uproar, tears
This past Monday, October 26, UCLA welcomed seven Druze Israelis to speak at the law school as part of their two-week long tour in the United States. The event was hosted by several Jewish and Jewish-affiliated organizations, including Bruins for…
Avigdor Lieberman’s political silver lining to the current tensions in Israel
The recent uptick of interethnic violence in Israel is likely to benefit Avigdor Lieberman, one of the biggest losers of the last elections. Lieberman is the head of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, whose base is the large number of…
Shabbat 3000: this year’s Shabbos Project in Los Angeles
Observance of the Sabbath, also known as Shabbat (שבת in Hebrew), is one of the most well-known, yet least understood, commandments of the Torah. Non-observers might think of Shabbat of a day of full restrictions and limitations; however, it is…
“Allegedly”: the latest rage in media bias against Israel
Every day my heart falls as I see yet another article about attacks in Israel. As if to add insult to injury, these articles are usually titled something like this Boston Globe article, “4 Palestinians shot dead in latest violence,…
Peace of Art
Last Thursday afternoon, I had to ward my house from cops. Apparently the good Samaritans on frat row, or perhaps passersby, were concerned and decided to let someone know that four “vandals” (as some people had assumed) were parked in…
A conversation with Ethiopian actor and activist, Shai Fredo
Picture this: it’s 1984, you are eight years old, and you have just taken a year-long journey to a new country. Everything in this land is different. You cannot speak the language, you do not understand the culture, you are…
As Israel stands alone, her people stand strong
Every morning, after snoozing all of my three consecutive alarms, my eyes finally adjust and open long enough for me to begin the first step of my morning routine, a step that often sets the tone for the rest of…
Old mosaic, new eyes: Israel in 3D with the Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies
Two weeks ago I wrote an article about Jerusalem, its vibrant energy, and the stubborn distance between its different groups. I ended with a suggestion, a hope, and a recycled Lennon lyric: let us recognize that despite the differences, we…