A history of symbolic violence It does not appear coincidental that a recent rise in rhetoric leveled against Jews across the world has coincided with a devaluation of the term anti-Semitism. Jews often use the term not only to describe…
President Barack Obama — what it’s like to have an anti-Semitic president
It’s no surprise that President Obama has once again shocked the world with his outrageous and ignorant comments of anti-Semitism. After the attack at the Hyper Cacher kosher market in Paris in early January — committed by a man claiming…
Who said it — world leaders or fifth grader?
Please note: This article contains strong language. In the modern day, you may find yourself shaking your head and wondering what on earth our leaders are thinking. We all have had times when we heard a situation involving world leaders…
Upcoming address to Congress: the next move in Netanyahu’s chess game vs. Obama
If one considers a single word that best encapsulates President Barack Obama’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu throughout the past six years, the colloquial portmanteau “frenemies” immediately comes to mind. Dictated by circumstance, Obama and Netanyahu’s arranged matrimony…
Above and Beyond: My night at the film premiere
Last November, I had the pleasure of attending the 28th Israeli Film Festival LA premiere of Above and Beyond, a documentary produced by Nancy Spiegelberg about the foreign airmen of Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. That eventful Thursday night was…
Battling apathy towards Israeli politics in the Jewish student community
J Street and the Jewish Agency recently hosted discussions about the upcoming Israeli elections, in which UCLA students were invited to learn about and debate over the issues that caused the calling of early elections, and discuss how those issues…
Speaking different languages, hearing nothing at all
Have you ever had difficulty trying to find the right words to say? Language allows us to communicate with one another but also tends to limit our ability to say what we mean and mean what we say. It is…
Twitter terrorism: a stab in the back
Barely two weeks have passed since a catastrophic wave of terror shook Paris, leaving 17 people dead. The impact of the attacks was felt across the world — the media overcome with expressions of shock. As day faded into night,…