Anyone Jewish recognizes the two redheaded children, Ariel and Kfir, and their parents, Shiri and Yarden, after seeing footage of their brutal kidnapping by Hamas on October 7th. Many of us felt connected to the children and deeply identified with…
Statement by Bella Brannon and Eli Tsives on the Resignation of Alicia Verdugo
By Bella Brannon and Eli Tsives Restoring a truly inclusive campus climate requires accountability and Alicia Verdugo’s resignation is a step towards that goal. While she has framed her departure on their own terms, the reality is that her tenure…
Judicial Board Grants Hearing Regarding Alleged Antisemitic Hiring Practices by UCLA Cultural Affairs Commissioner
A Petition for Consideration alleging antisemitic hiring policies by the Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) was filed last week with the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) by Bella Brannon, Editor-in-Chief of Ha’Am. The petition has been granted and will proceed to…
Lost In Translation: A Letter from the Editor
Ha’Am is celebrating the release of our Fall Print Edition today, themed ‘Lost in Translation.’ Readers can pick up a copy from Hillel, at our Thursday Challah Bake with Chabad, or at media kiosks around campus starting tomorrow, 12/04. The…
Evidence Suggests Jewish Students Denied from Cultural Affairs, Judicial Board Petition Claims
On Monday, Bella Brannon, Editor-In-Chief of Ha’Am, filed a Petition for Consideration with the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) Judicial Board, alleging that the Cultural Affairs Commissioner discriminated against Jewish students during the Fall hiring process for staff positions. The…
From Darkness to Light: UCLA’s Oct 7 Memorial
Leonard Cohen once wrote, “there’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” It’s impossible to find a silver lining on the anniversary of the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Shoah. But UCLA’s community is a source…
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…
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…
Protesters Defy UC-wide Encampment Ban as Ben Shapiro Event Sparks Controversy at UCLA
Just months after a UC-wide ban on encampments, anti-Israel students at UCLA set up tents in Dickinson Court North at 6:30 pm on Oct. 21, alongside a Gaza solidarity Sukkah— a religious structure that traditionally commemorates the Jewish exodus from…
Four Jewish Students Banned from ‘Fuck Your Bans’ Event
By Bella Brannon and Mia Toubian, Cover Image by Grace Overman UCLA’s Cultural Affairs Commission promotes its open mic series as “inclusive,” but if you wear a Jewish star, you may be barred at the door. On October 23, four…