Prodigious Babes of Jewish History: Imma Shalom

Exposition of remarkable, yet obscured, women of holy Jewish texts.

Running it into the ground: moderate musings on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict

It is natural that in times of war the voices of moderation are stifled. A threat to the health of the community awakens a deep internal defensive stance while the scrutiny of one’s peers only reinforces this attitude. For over…

Why Are Student Leaders and Jewish Bruins Under Attack at UCLA?

There will always be that one person who does not like you. There will always be that one person who thinks you can do no right. And while you acknowledge your own faults, that one person sees them as far…

On the up and up: is Passover price inflation real?

Perhaps no holiday tests the Jewish imagination to the same extent as does Passover. Each year, irrespective of locale, Jews are asked to explore their ancestral heritage by recreating the Passover story that traces the Jewish excursion from bondage to…

Israel in three dimensions, no glasses required

I love Israel. You love Israel. We all love Israel — but in order not to descend into childish song and let the discussion end there, it is necessary to educate ourselves about the nation we love so much. For…

Israel refuses to take sides on Ukrainian crisis

While the maelstrom that has enveloped Russia-Ukraine relations continues to whirl, Israel has done its best to steer clear of the fray. The Jerusalem Post reported Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s statement on the matter: “[Israel’s] basic position is that…

Is Israel’s tourism industry poised to take off?

As Passover slowly ebbs into its remaining days, it is worth noting that on three specific Jewish holidays — Passover, Sukkot, and Shavuot — Jewish law dictates that one should pilgrimage to the city of Jerusalem. For many contemporary Jews,…

Amendment advanced to allow Israeli singles and queer parents use of surrogate mothers

On Sunday, March 2, the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved an amendment to the existing surrogacy law, which would allow singles and same-sex couples to have children through surrogacy. The law currently specifies that only heterosexual couples may hire…

Bruins at AIPAC

“Being a part of sending 40 UCLA Bruins — the largest long-distance delegation — to take part in the biggest gathering of the pro-Israel community truly inspired me to continue the advocacy work I do on campus and encourage and…

Charedi Jews and Israeli draft exemptions

Mandatory army service and religious exemptions from such service constitute one of the most provocative issues in Israeli society. This has been a hotly debated topic since 1948, when David Ben-Gurion authorized the postponement of the draft for a small…