Did the pro-Israel and anti-BDS communities do all they could to mobilize support against the divestment bill?
Resilience: the ultimate protection
The recent terror attacks that took place in a synagogue in Jerusalem have led me to reflect on my own experience in witnessing Israel’s resilience to terrorism this past summer. Tragically, these innocent people were killed simply for being Jewish.…
Editorial: USAC President Devin Murphy resigns, timing brings new beginnings
In a surprising turn of events, the Undergraduate Student Association Council President Devin Murphy announced Friday that he would be resigning from the position effective immediately. This move follows weeks of deliberation regarding the parameters of this coming Tuesday’s divestment…
Don’t Call Me “Jewish”
There’s an old joke that less-affiliated Jews tell a lot. “I’m Jewish. Well, I’m Jewish.” This joke is supposed to be funny because, as the suffix ish denotes, they only share some characteristics of a Jew. But what exactly are…
That one time I kept Shabbat
So here’s the deal. I’ve never fully kept Shabbat before. A shame, I know. But this past Shabbat, I decided to give it a try. After a stressful week, a day of rest would be nice. Let’s just say, I’ll…
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…
Shomer Negiah: a touchy subject
When word got out, I braced myself for some interesting reactions (and lots of questions). They ranged from “Wait, are you serious?” to “That’s weird, but cool I guess” to one of my personal favorites from a guy pal, “Ah,…
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…
Disney’s Bears: a children’s film deserving of criticism
As much as I hate to admit it, I am an urbanite. I enjoy spending time away from the city, but going on a hike is somewhat of a hassle. So when my friend told me about a nature film…
Popping the bubble: transitioning from a small, private high school to a public college
According to the Avi Chai Foundation, a small, but growing, percentage of the Jews in America attend private Jewish schools. In general, these schools are much smaller than private secular schools and even smaller in comparison to most public schools.…