Few political terms have such a hazy and imprecise definition in popular discourse as “Zionism.” In part, this is due to the political agenda behind the views of both self-professed Zionists and anti-Zionists. And yet, it is critical for us,…
Keeping friends close and enemies closer: a look into the world of self-hating Jews
We are always our own greatest critics. And rightly so, for only we can truly possess the fundamental understanding of the motivations and inner machinations that drive our transgressions. No one else can judge and scrutinize with a parallel level…
Thinking scientifically about religion
What would it even mean for science and religion to be compatible? Science acquires knowledge by examining the evidence presented to us by our senses. The meaning of evidence in this context is expressed very clearly in the following example,…
Opposites attract: the compatibility of science and religion
When one looks at a list of best-selling books for the last ten years he is almost guaranteed that a few of those books will be written by what pop media is now calling militant atheists. These writers, who have…
Misconception of the Jew
A commonly asked question is: What is a Jew? There is no simple answer to this question. Jews vary from their geographic location to their religious beliefs (whether it be Orthodox, Reform, etc.). However, no matter where they may come…
The health and hypocritical horrors of “Hookah in the Sukkah” parties
Not just a public-health concern! A holiday hypocrisy! Coming from a proud Persian family, my exposure and experience with hookah was an integral component of family life. As a young girl, I vividly recall parties where my family, particularly the…
The Great Mechitzah of Trump
Editor’s note: This article may be satire. On June 16th, 2015, the very face of America was irrevocably changed: businessman, entertainer, and (now) politician Donald Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States. Of particular interest was Trump’s…
Wake up, world: It is not just Paris
Unless you live under a rock or do not have a Facebook account, you have probably noticed that almost everyone on Facebook has changed his or her profile picture to include the French flag filter. People have done this to…
The question of woman Orthodox rabbis
I have always had a love-hate relationship with the Jewish laws and traditions pertaining to women. There are various accounts in Judaism where women are held in high esteem, and others where women are caught in a multitude of restrictions…
Lo Od Kahane Chai
The first part of this article is a political perspective on a recent event that took place at the Coffee Bean at Hillel at UCLA, written by Samuel Bressler. An event that took place a few weeks ago is a…