“I hope god smites you for your blatant disrespect for rabbis in general who have light years of experience in life more than you..” “You’re the dog that the satan has to send to bark against him to try and…
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…
What is SWANA?
Cartography by Simone Dvoskin _________________ A new paradigm has been gradually emerging at UCLA. Iranian students, Armenian students, students from Arab countries and others are coming together to create a new, broader identity. SWANA, which stands for Southwest Asia and…
Reconciling Judaism and Atheism
Judaism is an ancient faith that remains strong even to this day, with over 12 million “members of the Tribe” and its own Jewish-majority state. Atheism, on the other hand, is the lack of belief in the existence of G-d…
Is marrying Jewish still relevant?
Illustration by Angelina Ellyason ________________ With its many laws and customs, Judaism has always valued the sacredness of marriage. Consequently, marrying Jewish has prominently been seen as non-negotiable for many in the Jewish community. The apprehension of assimilation and having…
A New Kind of Israel Advocacy
Illustration by Rivka Cohen _______________ The end of the year marks an unexpected beginning for our Jewish community: a new pro-Israel group. Students Supporting Israel has been growing internationally since 2012, recently embarking on a chapter here at UCLA. The…
Judaism: healer of all Wounds?
How does traditional Judaism define mental illness? What remedies does it prescribe to treat it? Is adhering to the halachah and espousing the ways of G-d itself a treatment, in the halachah’s eyes?
The Pope’s Good Intentions
Pope Francis’s first couple of years as pontiff have been remarkably successful. His commitment to ending child abuse in the church, his dedication to ‘radical equality‘ between men and women, and his rejection of the overwrought vestments of the papacy…
Israel-Germany relations: based on interests or on emotions?
“Every German deserves to die … their hands are covered with Jewish blood … Therefore, there is neither absolution nor forgiveness, and no normal relations will ever be possible between us.” These were not the rantings of a madman. This…
Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 and anti-Semitism
Despite its increasing presence and impact on college campuses, anti-Semitism’s definition has become inexplicably blurred and political. The Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 was proposed this March urging University of California campuses to condemn anti-Semitism and racism. Responses have varied; however,…