In Judaism, it is a commandment to thank one’s hosts in the Birkat Hamazon prayer after a meal. Between Friday night meals with my honored Rebbetzin, my roommate’s homemade soup when I was sick, and the hospitality of strangers who…
UCLA Suspends SJP: Why Did It Take So Long?
On February 12 at 3:18 PM, the UCLA community received an email from Chancellor Julio Frenk announcing the interim suspension of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine (GSJP). These groups were responsible for…
Confessions of an October 8th Jew
October 7th came at the close of my second week of college. I was fresh into my political science studies, full of idealism and passion for liberal-progressive values. I had formed friendships with like-minded individuals who seemed to share the…
No Room for Israel: How the “Drop Hillel” Movement Misses the Mark on Judaism
Since 1923, Hillel has been a safe haven for Jewish students where they can worship, learn, grow, and have a Jewish space away from home. As the largest Jewish organization serving college campuses, Hillel has been there for Jews throughout…
Are Gen-Z ‘Activists’ Protesting or Performing?
In the sweltering summer of 1983, Seneca Falls, New York—a town steeped in the legacy of women’s rights—once again became a crucible of protest. Ten thousand women from around the world set up camp there, where they would remain for…
Inclusivity Excluded: Disabled, Jewish Student Highlights Lack of Accommodation at Cultural Affairs Event
In a room with a sign proudly proclaiming ‘no isms/phobias,’ one student found herself excluded for precisely the thing the event vowed to fight against, ableism. But for a disabled Jewish student, this wasn’t just ironic; it was routine. On…
Art Gone Wrong: A Case for the Role of Women in Orthodox Judaism
On September 21, 2024, I eagerly woke up for the first Shabbat of the academic year, excited to attend Hillel’s Shabbat services organized by the OU-JLIC branch. After the morning prayers, I headed to the OKT lunch room for the…
A Letter to the Friends I’ve Lost Since October 7
To the friends I’ve lost since October 7— my childhood best friend, a high school love, the girl who introduced me to my favorite band, among others. I never imagined that a day would come when I would have to…
World Arts and Cultures Department Displays Pro-Hamas Artwork: Jewish Student Perspectives on Their Culture’s Exclusion
World Arts and Cultures (WAC) at UCLA prides itself on establishing a community that embraces diversity. However, within the halls of Kaufman, the home of WAC, laid a more sinister display. Laden in the central walkway for all eyes to…
Opinion: UCLA SJP Post Implies Violence Against All Israelis
As of this morning, UCLA’s SJP chapter has posted a series of screenshots to their Instagram story originally posted by the account savesheikhjarrahnow. One post reads that “the notion of a good ‘Israeli’ settler is every bit as absurd and…